David was my best friend, and I was his when we were teenagers. I used to stay with him and his father Nelson at their house by AC college. The tragic and sudden loss of David destroyed me, for I seen him the night before his brakes went out causing him to wreck. The last time I saw his father Nelson and his little brother was at David's memorial service. I found out about Nelson's passing here while searching for David's obituary. David's father, Nelson, was very good to me. Now he is home with my best friend. 

Professor DeVega got me on the road to fluency in Spanish which has been so meaningful in my life. He was a wonderful person, and such an excellent Spanish teacher. Te quiero mucho!

I learned today of the passing of my college faculty advisor, Nelson DeVega. He made a huge positive difference in my life and many others. Thanks again, Nelson, and happy trails......blessings on you and your family.

As a very young Cuban (I was 17 when I arrived at AC), my parents wanted me to be watched over by another Cuban. Surprisingly, Nelson was THAT Cuban and was such a good friend. I would want to much to eat Cuban food and I would go over his house and have dinner every once and a while with his wife and two sons. I was there with them when they lost David and finally divorced. I met him years later and we met for lunch - he took my husband and I for Cuban food. He was a Cuban at heart, wild and generous, tough and erratic, but a good friend. He cared for me when I was down, he listened when I was home-sick (very often), he fed me (so I didnt have to eat cafeteria food), he hugged me - when I needed a hug and a shoulder to cry on. 

You will be missed Nelson - yes, you were VERY CUBAN and different, but ALWAYS ALWAYS a true friend and father figure to me. 

Say hi to my real Dad! He surely was grateful for all you did for me.

Se te quiere y extraña!

I just learned of Nelson's passing in the latest AC magazine.  My sincere condolences to his friends and family.  Nelson was absolutely larger than life, and I know he inspired so many students with his dedication and passion for Spanish language and literature. I can still hear his voice booming "YENNIFER!" whenever I was late for a class (which was pretty often.)  I also loved reading the remembrances of David DeVega -- I keep David's picture with my family photos. His loss still hurts to this day.  Rest in peace, Nelson and David.

I knew Nelson in august 1979, thus 36 years ago. I was almost 27 years old and he 48 years old. I passed 5 weeks on the campus of Austin College within the framework of a program of exchanges organized by Academics of the City of Nancy, in France. I am from Reims in Champagne, France. We were around thirty French people and approximately about 180 Germans. I almost more spoke German language than English
I got acquainted with Nelson, more in the after school activities. He admirably spoke French and knew the French culture, especially his poets.
It was a charismatic, dynamic, positive, cultivated, generous and sensitive person. Everybody loved him and wanted to be near him. He was magnetic.
I always remembered him, although not having kept contact after my return in France. He cherished the dream to come in France to teach, but without liking it really absolutely, as a distant desire that we evoke.
Remembering me of him, at the beginning of November, 2015, by looking at a small necklace which he had offered me before my departure and which I always kept, I evoked his memory with a friend. Then by examining on the Internet, I learned his death.
We had formed a small group with, among others, if I remember well, Michael (German), Bettina BAUDACH (German), Barbara (an American student).
That of good moments ! It's as if it was yesterday
All my sincere condolences to his family and his friends.
My excuses for the maybe incorrect translation of French in English.
Odile RENAUT, Reims France
odile.renaut@orange.fr

I did not see Nelson de Vega again after he left Austin College in 1996.  He was a complex, multifaceted man but one of the things that I frequently remember about him is what an outstanding pedagogue he was.  

Nelson was his own man, in many ways a rebel, and he rebelled against all the respected teaching  methodologies, old and new, and with great creativity  and imagination he developed his own. When I arrived in Austin College to teach Spanish I was puzzled by this new method and thought it was a little bizarre. But I gave it a try, I had to, and it worked!  Students could be challenged in class, they had their moments of frustration, but they were never bored. Moreover, they were very motivated to see that soon they could communicate using good Spanish. At the end of my first semester I taught there I was very proud of what my students had accomplished

Nelson loved the culture that came with the language and loved for the students to learn about it. With unending energy and enthusiasm he encouraged the students to speak Spanish in every possible context and  making use of every resource available. The best recognition that Nelson would have liked to receive today is that of his students. I quote here the words of one of my outstanding students during my time at Austin College: DeVega was the impetus behind my entire professional career.'

María Cecilia Salisbury
Berlin, October 31 2015

I was speaking of Dr. DeVega with David and Kay Jordan just last week, and it was only today that I learned of his passing. I visited his class as a high school senior in 1988 and loved it. It was instrumental in my decision to come to AC, to major in Spanish, and study in Madrid. He was an unforgettable character.

I learned of Nelson's death at homecoming. I believe I was in the first class he ever taught at AC in 1973. I had just returned from a summer in Puebla and needed one more class. Nelson was lively and energetic.  He was passionate about teaching and really cared about his students. We had so much fun as he tried to draw us out and really speak the language. I will always be indebted to him   RIP

Nelson was a colleague of mine in the language dept. for many years. I always enjoyed his lively sense of humor - and even his loudness was at times a welcome contrast to the quiet studiousness of myself & most of my colleagues.

Nelson had the office next door to mine on the third floor of Sherman Hall during my early years on the faculty. We saw each other everyday. I looked forward to encountering him because he was perpetually interesting. He was a remarkably unique person who could always be counted upon to be colorful, entirely original, and absolutely memorable.

A master of teaching language to all us young pups. He was dedicated in making us all better at the language as well as learners. His classes will always remain one of my favorites. Adios Sr.

I never has him for a class at AC, but always considered Nelson a friend. Prayers for your family.

This news is very sad. I have thought of Nelson many times over the years, always punctuated with a very hearty laugh. We laughed many times together and I'll always remember his smile. Safe travels, Senor DeVega.

Condolences and prayers for Nelson's family and friends. I believe that I met Nelson before my AC days, as a student at SOL, if I am not mistaken. He was a brilliant person, personality and inspiration. I am now quite fluent in Spanish, or so they say, due in no small part to Nelson. May he rest in peace, and may his loved ones know that he is missed by many, and across borders as well.

Nelson and I came to Austin College the same year. One of my memories is of him carrying David around. Another is of his laughter, his vitality, his energy. You always knew when he was around. I remember his grief over the untimely death of George Wingerter. Though I was out of the country when David died, I ached for his pain then. I hope his last years were filled with love and peace.

I will always remember the great friendship that Nelson had for George Wingerter, as well as, great respect for his younger colleague.  Nelson was nothing, if not passionate, and especially when he was discussing teaching.

En Austin College enseñé español al lado de Nelson por varios años. Con toda certeza puedo decir que Nelson era un maestro innato, con una imaginación y una creatividad excepcionales. Excepcional era también su entusiasmo por las clases. Realmente disfrutaba viendo a los estudiantes progresar. Siempre lo recordaré como un pedagogo excelente. Mis sentimientos de pesar a su familia.

My condolences and prayers for Nelson's family and friends.  
We are all very fortunate and enriched to have known this exceptional man.  I have so many fond memories of Nelson.  One was being with him in Campeche, Mexico. I saw Nelson use his extraordinary gifts of relating to people, including the Governor giving me free hotel room and food and access to a driver and a car.  My office was once next to his and I saw what a great teacher he was, in and out of class.  He developed a creative method of teaching Spanish and touched so many in so many ways. I shall always remember his a a great friend and colleague.

Nelson was a teacher/mentor who pushed us to excel beyond what we imagined. He could irritate with his drive but also inspire with his ambition for us. I am thankful he was my teacher.

We are saddened by the loss of our friend, Nelson.  He was a faculty member here at Austin College when I started teaching in 1989, and until he retired you could always tell when he was in the room with his booming voice and laughter.  I went to South America on the group trip he was a part of, and had more than one delicious Cuban meal he cooked.  He was my daughter's Spanish professor, and she uses the language today. He truly cared about his students.  May God grant him peace.

I remember Dr. DeVega well from my early days working at Austin College. He was always helpful and kind to me. My sympathies to his family.

OBITUARY

Nelson R DeVega

August 24, 1931 – October 25, 2015

Earthman Southwest Funeral Home

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