In Memory of

Barry

Jerome

Nelson

Obituary for Barry Jerome Nelson

Barry, know as Jerry to family, was born on September 5th, 1959 in the Bronx, NYC and passed on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023.
He is predesceased by his parents, Alvina and Clive, and his sister Linda, and survived by his husband, Edward Reisert, his brother Clive Nelson Jr and sister Nicole Nelson. He has many neices and nephews, cousins, aunts and nephews and friends, who all loved him dearly and mourn his passing.
Barry attended St. Matthews Catholic school in Brooklyn, and gradutated from the NY School of Printing in NYC. He maintained many friendships with his high school friends to this day.
Barry joined the Navy and served faithfully for 14 years aboard the USS Belknap CG-26, as the ship’s Communications officer. He joined the team at the Navy Public Affairs Center as a journalist second class. He loved his time in service and believed his oath of service to the United States was a source of pride. He gathered a family of friends during his time, based out of San Diego, CA.
Barry was a child at heart, an avid comic book collector who lived to attend his beloved Comic Convention in NYC every October. He collected everything, including wonderful friends and memories.
He was an easy spirit, always kind, always willing to help whoever, wherever, whenever. He had an infectious laugh and a huge smile that brightened a room, and made you join in his fun no matter what it was. To know him was to love him.
He loved everything superhero, his favorite hero was Superman. Barry loved that Superman was non-violent and worked for justice. Barry was always adorned in a hat, t-shirt or some piece of clothing with a superhero on it. He gathered a family of friends through his love of comics, who will sorely miss his vast knowledge that he was always willing to share.
Barry loved all things Disney, and was an avid movie goer. If there was a new blockbuster movie coming out Barry had his tickets secured the moment they went on sale. Barry loved old movies, especially musicals, most notably West Side Story. He loved seeing live theater, mostly musicals, when he attended with his husband regularly. He loved dancing and music, always ready to hit the dance floor and dance with abandon and joy.
Barry met his husband Ed in 1992 at The Monster, a piano bar and dance club located in the Stonewall area of the village. They had an immediate connection and have been together ever since that fateful night. They celebrated their love in 1999, with a Commitment Ceremony held at The India House, located in the Wall Street area of lower Manhattan. It was a wonderful celebration that all guests agreed to this day was one of the most fun weddings they’d ever attended.
Barry and Ed lived in the Chelsea/West Village area for 15years before moving to Brighton Beach in 2006. Their home was always open to all who knocked on the door. They often hosted gatherings, often weekly, with friends and family. Barry was a wonderful cook who loved sharing great food and laughs with everyone. If you were invited to their house for dinner, you surely had a great time and went home stuffed. His ‘fur babies’ were ever present, Phoebe the cat, Nate his Tibetan Terrier who were both waiting for him on the rainbow bridge. He left his current cat Sid, and his Tibetan Terrier Ollie. Both could be found wrapped around his legs whenever they could.
Barry worked for Springer Publishing, and worked at the Ryan-Nina Center as their HIV/AIDS outreach worker. His most recent career was as a Customer Service Supervisor for Libeco, a Belgian linen mill. He made so many friends there, both here in the US that he serviced daily, along with his Belgian colleagues who all fell in love with him as everyone did. He incredibly easy nature and wide open heart was felt by all whom he touched.
He is now flying high and will be forever be our Superman.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to God’s Love We Deliver www.glwd.org