Gaynor Loomis Nash

NASH, Gaynor L. A. "Bud"
Of Rock Hill, SC Formerly of Kalamazoo
Passed away on August 8, 2009 in Rock Hill, SC following an extended illness. Bud was born on August 7, 1951 in Kalamazoo, MI, the son of the late Gaynor Amos Nicholas Nash and Ida Olinda Haring Nash. He attended public schools in Kalamazoo, graduating from Loy Norrix High School in 1970. It was during this time that he earned his Eagle Scouting Award. He later graduated with honors from Michigan Technological University in 1974 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. At Michigan Tech, Bud was a member of Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honors Fraternity and Phi Eta Sigma, Chemistry Honors Fraternity. He later earned a MS degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University in 1976. He was recipient of a Fieldner Fellowship and National Science Foundation Grant while completing his graduate degree. Bud went on to enjoy a long and successful career in the Forest Products/Paper Industry, first at the Mead Corporation where he served as Process Engineer, Assistant Superintendent, Technical Group Leader, Carbonless Production Manager, Technical director and Operations Manager. He was selected for the 1988 Mead Excellence Award for his turnaround leadership of the Carbonless operation. In 1988, Bud moved to Neenah, Wisconsin where he worked at Repap Wisconsin-Interlake Papers as a Resident Mill Manager, Vice-President and General Manager. Bud was most recently employed as Senior Vice-President at AbitibiBowater Inc. where he had overall responsibility for the company's four largest manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. He was selected as the Paper Industry Management Association "Mill Manager of the Year" in 2005, and the ASPI "Customer Executive of the Year" in 2006. He was honored by his alma mater, Michigan Tech in 2008 with membership in the prestigious McNair Society. Bud's interests included hunting, carpentry, boating, furniture refinishing, and growing and grafting plants, especially roses. He was an avid historian, reader and genealogist. He especially loved his property in the Michigan woods and enjoyed spending time on the lake there with his family. Surviving are one daughter, Olinda Ann Nash of Fort Mill, SC; one son Clayton Emerson Nash of Clemson, SC; two sisters, Jayne Nash Weaver Sid of Richland, Michigan and Joan Nash Robbins of Charleston, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews, and his former wife Kathy Warren Nash of Fort Mill, SC. Visitation will take place from 6-9 pm on Wednesday, August 12 at the Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel in Rock Hill, SC followed by a memorial service at 2 pm on Thursday at The Episcopal Church of Our Savior. Private graveside services will be held at 11 am on Monday, August 17 with a memorial service following at 2 pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 247 W. Lovell St., Kalamazoo. Local arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. 343-1508 In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions in Bud's memory be made to York Place Children's Home, 234 Kings Mountain St., York, SC 29745 or to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 993, Rock Hill, Sc 29731 or to the Kalamazoo Autism Society, c/o Community Advocates, 814 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008.