Wyatt Howard Nelson, 62 (February 21, 1959 – October 13, 2021), was greeted by our good Lord in Heaven on October 13, 2021. Living life to the fullest, he loved his family, racing and architecture. Wyatt never strayed far from his upstate NY heritage. Raised in South New Berlin, NY by Fred and Donna Nelson, and alongside his siblings, Sherry, Todd and Eric, where he was everyone’s best friend in the family. He was a standout student athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball at South New Berlin School. Wyatt spent two years at SUNY Delhi and after graduating with highest honors from Syracuse University’s school of Architecture, Wyatt raised his four children in Syracuse where he owned and operated a successful business, Wyatt Howard Nelson Architecture, PLLC.
Complimenting his competitive nature, Fred introduced Wyatt to boat racing at the young age of nine, where he fell in love with the sport. He has been a member of the American Power Boat Association ever since he started racing. In connection with his countless race wins, he earned multiple World, National and Series Championships over the years, progressing to the highest professional ranks of boat racing, competing in the US Title Series and the US Formula 1 racing series.
During a tragic Formula 1 powerboat racing accident, on August 18, 2007, Wyatt was left paralyzed from his chest down. In true Wyatt fashion, he never complained and persevered each day refusing to let his disability hinder him from living his life to the fullest. He continued to own and operate his professional boat racing team, the Screamin’ Eagles, with his father, son and lifelong friends by his side.
Along with great work ethic and determination, his passion for his family, the family dogs, racing and architecture truly defined who he was. When he put his mind to something, he put forth 100% effort with no excuses along the way. His high school quote sums his life up, “nothing ventured, nothing earned.” He is survived by his children David (wife Marie), Erica (husband Chris), Jason and Sydney, his grandchildren Elizabeth, Avery, Micah, Carter and Alice, his granddog Dunkin, parents Fred and Donna, older sister Sherry (husband Nyall), younger brothers Todd (wife Irene) and Eric (wife Lizette), and many loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Wyatt will be greatly missed on this earth, but rests in the arms of God through the love, mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Wyatt’s watchful eye and care will always be with us until God’s Kingdom comes. A funeral service for Wyatt will take place at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 25, 2021 at R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, 116 N. Broad St. Norwich with Pastor Kurt Funke officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 11:00 am until the time of service. After the burial service, a celebration of Wyatt’s life will take place at the South New Berlin Firehouse, 3519 State Highway 8, South New Berlin, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Wyatt’s memory may be made towards Shepherd Center (online: https://give.shepherd.org/; click on top right button to donate, and select “Spinal Cord Injury Program Support” in the “direct my gift to” dropdown menu or 2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309).