Nelson S. Gifford

Nelson Sage Gifford of Westwood, Marion, and Wellesley MA passed away quietly with his family at his side on 20 December 2017 after a short illness at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 87 years old.

“Giff” was a captain of industry within Massachusetts and beyond. After graduating from Tufts University B.A. in 1952 and serving one tour of active duty in the U.S. Navy as an officer during the Korean War, Nelson returned home to join Dennison Manufacturing Company in 1954 as an entry level accounting clerk. He advanced rapidly through the ranks to become President in 1972, and later Chairman and CEO in 1985, leading the transformation of a 19th century brick & mortar manufacturing company into a Fortune 500 global player. “Giff” championed innovative strategies (the introduction in 1976 of an  Employee Stock Ownership Program -ESOP). He invested in new technologies (Floppy Disks, Swiftach Tags,  Therimage) as well as strategies to improve efficiency, (Just-In-Time inventory management and  FlexTIME for working mothers). Dennison expanded into 20+ countries before “Giff” orchestrated its merger with AVERY in 1990.

As his success at Dennison grew, Nelson’s business acumen, experience, and strategies  were highly sought after and he was invited onto the Boards of Directors of prominent corporations: Bank of Boston, Boston Edison, John Hancock Life Insurance, NYPRO, M/A-Com, Reed & Barton, Woods Hole Oceanographic and J. M. Huber to list just a few. He was a past Chairman of the Massachusetts Business Round Table (his focus: Health Care) as well as participating in AIM: Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Nelson’s personal benchmark was Did I Just Serve or Did I Make A Difference?

Beyond the business community, Nelson was passionately dedicated to Philanthropy, targeting EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, and THE ARTS.  Mirroring his business philosophy, Nelson aimed to make a difference — through his time, expertise, and resources. Notably his lifelong involvement with  Tufts University,\. Not only was he on the Board of Trustees  1978-1995 (Chairman 11 years), but he spear-headed a series of successful capital campaigns and personally funded multiple scholarships. The following is a sampling of his favorite charities over his lifetime: the Boys Scouts of America, The Pine Street Inn, New England Home for Little Wanderers, New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Old Dartmouth Historical Society, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Fine Arts, The Fenway High School, McLean Hospital,  Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Toby Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, the American Red Cross, The United Way, Dana Farber Cancer Research, American Heart Association, Joslin Diabetes Clinic, and to foster an open-minded discourse, both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Proudly claiming a “Swamp Yankee” heritage, he was the second son of Gordon Babcock and Harriette Rose (Dooley) Gifford. Born in 1930, he and his brother, the late Gordon Babcock Gifford, Jr., grew up in Waban, MA. He had many pursuits, a wartime job as a bank teller, a boy scout and ran an enterprising venture selling ice cream to his neighbors on Sundays. Nelson was one of the winners of the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair, which brought him to the attention of Tufts University.

Married to the late Elizabeth (Brow) Gifford for 50 years, He is survived by his two daughters, Susan Gifford Fay of Reading and Diane Brow Gifford of Marion; his son Ian Christopher Gifford of North Chelmsford; his sister-in-law Gail (Bird) Gifford of Walpole; and his grandchildren: Jacqueline Fay Hickman and her husband Jason of Jupiter, FL; Bridget Lynn Fay of Shrewsbury, MA; Caroline Melissa Fay and John Michael Fay of Reading, MA; and Erin Kathleen Gifford, Kelli Rose Gifford, and Ryan Patrick Gifford of North Chelmsford, MA.

He was an avid sailor with the Beverly Yacht Club out of Marion, MA for over 45 years. He loved cruising the New England Coast with his family and friends, venturing from Nova Scotia down through the Intercoastal Waterway to the Florida Keys.  His core friends & family joined Nelson on charter boats and explored some of the most breathtaking coasts in the world. A few brave souls crewed for him in open ocean racing, including two Marion-Bermuda races.

THERE IS NO THRILL IN EASY SAILING

WHEN THE SKIES ARE CLEAR AND BLUE

THERE IS NO JOY IN MERELY DOING

THINGS THAT ANYONE CAN DO

BUT THERE IS GREAT SATISFACTION

THAT’S MIGHTY SWEET TO TAKE

WHEN YOU REACH A DESTINATION

YOU THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER MAKE.

– George Chilian, Sr.

A Memorial Service will be announced in the new year.  In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Tufts University in Memory of Nelson S. Gifford.

To make a gift through the mail, please write your check to Trustees of Tufts College, in the subject line include “In memory of Nelson Gifford.”  addressed Tufts University, PO Box 3306, Boston, MA 02241-3306

To make a gift on line, click https://tuftsgiving.org/giving-form.html?id=1&areaid=80&dedicate=memory&dedicate_name=Nelson%20Gifford)