Edmund Burr Nash – 50th Reunion Essay

Edmund Burr Nash

304 Pala Avenue

Piedmont, California 94611

utroquefidelis@pacbell.net

Spouse(s): Jennifer Pearson (1980–1987), Lisa Rasmussen, (1994)

Child(ren): Elias B. Nash, Emma B. Nash

Education: BA, UC Berkeley 1969; M. Arch UC Berkeley 1973

Career: Licensed architect, California

Avocations: Various

College: Berkeley

In September 1967 I did not return to Yale for my junior year. What happened?

I transferred to UC Berkeley, graduating in 1969 with a useless degree in art history. I was arrested as a bystander during the Peoples’ Park demonstrations and learned that extremism on any side is simply brutish intolerance of the other. While preparing a conscientious objector application I received a 4F (psycho) and then got a master’s in architecture from Berkeley, without having learned to draw. After many months I got a job and remained continuously employed for the next 36 years, declining an offer to become a firm principal (too many meetings, too many egos). I married for the first time in 1980, divorced amicably in 1987, no kids. I married again in 1994, briefly separated for three years, now together better. I continue to work at understanding my wife’s brilliant and complex character, and helping her to tolerate me. It’s worth every effort. We have two truly splendid kids: a son graduating in screenwriting from USC in May (2018) and a freshman (2017–18) daughter at Boston University. I know, many of you are already grandparents. We are living most of the time in the San Francisco Bay Area, and occasionally in rural Vermont. Our son was born with severe congenital heart defects, compelling me to retire at age 63 (prior to the ACA) in order to convert and maintain family health insurance. Since then I’ve been busy with parents’ and in-laws’ deaths and consequent estate issues, extended family management matters, raising children and trying to help them to be better people than me, fixing small plumbing, electrical and irrigation failures, a 55-year-old MG and two vintage motorcycles. No golf, tennis, or other typical retirement pursuits for me (I do occasionally row a shell on the SF Bay). Oh yes, also some health issues.

What does this all amount to? I did not leave Yale out of anger or disappointment. I arrived, a legacy admit, after four very happy years at a small progressive rural coed school. I just didn’t belong at Yale in 1965, to no fault of the school. My decision was reactionary and a mistake. I tended to be a follower and if there wasn’t a leader, I avoided conflict and risk (within and without) and just kept busy. About 10 years ago I declared I would never look back with regret; well, it wouldn’t be honest to say I haven’t. However, there’s little to be gained from that other than to learn and try to do better with what’s left. I can look back and feel sure that I did little harm and some good, have been honest, worked hard, learned to love and to be loved. I’ll resist going out as long as possible and when I do, I’ll still be able to laugh.