Roger C. Nelson

Roger Carl Nelson, age 82, passed away at UMass Memorial Medical Center on July 1, 2025.

Roger was born in Worcester Massachusetts to parents Gunnar P. and Inga M. Nelson in 1943. He grew up in Shrewsbury, MA where he lived from birth. He graduated from Shrewsbury High School in the class of 1961 and attended community college before marrying his first wife, Linda Putnam, and starting a family.

Roger began his engineering career working as a Draftsman for Heald Machine Company before joining Polaroid Corporation where he worked as a Senior Plastics Engineer for 36 years.

Roger loved to travel and go on cruises. He also had many interests and liked being active spending his time gardening, camping, hiking, biking, playing pétanque and pickleball.

He is predeceased by his wife Virginia M. Nelson and his partner, Joanne Park. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Karin and Robert Sadowski, daughter and son-in-law Tammy and Michael Fuller of Dunbarton, NH, son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Jennifer Nelson of Oxford, MA, his 7 grandchildren (Adam, Jamie, Matthew, Jessica, Nathaniel, Heather and Zachary) and 8 great-grandchildren (Adeline, Hayden, Emma, Ben, Evie, Cam, Skylar and Julian) as well as his nephew, David Sadowski and several cousins.

Roger lived a full life, was loved immensely and will be greatly missed by all.

Private Services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made on Roger’s behalf to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institiute via the below link: