Eugene Anthony Nelssen, (died May 26, 2010) was a third-generation Arizona native, and a Scottsdale, Arizona city councilman from 2006 until his death from cancer in 2010. He is the only Scottsdale city council member to die while in office.[1]
Nelssen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (1973), Master of Arts - Secondary Education (1975), and a Master of Fine Arts (1976) from Arizona State University (ASU). He taught Computer Arts and Photography at ASU's College of Architecture and the ASU Art Department; Phoenix College; Scottsdale Community College; and at Paradise Valley Community College.[2]
As an outdoorsman, photographer, and educator, Nelssen was always keen to share his love of the Sonoran Desert and capturing images of it to share with others.[3]
Tony Nelssen was elected with the highest number of votes in the March 2006 election.[4] While in office he continued his legacy of volunteer public service, and continued to attend city council meetings telephonically even after falling ill, until his death on May 26, 2010.[5] Nelssen was campaigning for re-election at the time of his death.
Nelssen was survived by his widow, Margaret Elizabeth Widing "Marg" Nelssen; son Ian Anthony Nelssen; and daughter Hannah Nelssen.[6] Marg Nelssen was appointed by Tony's colleagues on the City Council to fulfill the remainder of his term.[7]
After his death, the City of Scottsdale expanded its WestWorld Equidome equestrian facility and renamed it, "The Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center".[8]
References
edit- ^ "Tony Nelssen". scottsdaleaz.gov. City of Scottsdale Arizona. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Tony Nelssen Scottsdale city councilman resume". nelssen.tripod.com. Tony Nelssen. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Arizona loses truly unique cowboy". jsemmel.wordpress.com. Janice Semmel. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Resolution No. 6861" (PDF). scottsdaleaz.gov. City of Scottsdale Arizona. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Scottsdale Councilman Nelssen dies after battle with cancer". azcentral.com. Arizona Republic. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Late Scottsdale councilman's personal side recalled". azcentral.com. Arizona Republic. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ "Marg Nelssen". scottsdaleaz.gov. City of Scottsdale. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ "Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center expansion". scottsdaleaz.gov. City of Scottsdale Arizona. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.