Comments on: Nelson Thomas Potter Jr.

By: MELVIN ROSENBALM

MELVIN ROSENBALM — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 22:50:29 +0000

Tom and I were classmates at Mt.Morris high school class of 1957. He well be missed by all. My sincer regrets Kathy and Sophia.

By: Michael L. Radelet

Michael L. Radelet — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 19:41:54 +0000

I met Nelson while we both worked on the Otey case in 1990, and just learned today that he had passed away from an article in the latest newsletter of Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. What a wonderful person he was – bright, hard-working, and tirelessly committed to social justice. I was honored in December when he came to hear me speak in Lincoln, and we had a wonderful visit. He will remain a role model for many of us – he leads us on!
Michael L. Radelet
University of Colorado

By: Dave Bowers

Dave Bowers — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:08:09 +0000

Nelson and I were classmates at Monmouth College and while we couldn’t have been further apart politically, we became good friends which led to great discussions. He was a kind man and when we later served together as trustees of the college, Nelson used his kindness to help us walk successfully through difficult times. He was always the voice of reason in the room. My sincere regrets Kathy and Sophia.

By: Lynne Fleming Wilburn

Lynne Fleming Wilburn — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:29:59 +0000

Nelson(Tom) and I were schoolmates-growing up in this very small midwest village. Coversations with Tom were hard for me -feeling a little more than dumb in his presence….however, he always put me at ease and we thought so much alike even early on-it was always good conversation. Here’s to Tom and those like Tom-damn few of us left…”tho much is taken-much abides”…Thanks Tom….Lynne and the members of the Mt. Morris High School Class of 1957

By: Amy Miller

Amy Miller — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 23:06:40 +0000

Nelson Potter was the true scholarly gentleman ideal. When I was still in law school, I heard him speak about his mentoring of Willie Otey on death row. I remembered wondering how he could go the distance of visiting that terrible place when I was only willing to occasionally write a letter or sign a petition. I will never be as brave or as generous as Nelson was, but what a role model to at least attempt to live up to. It was a beautiful tribute to his life today; thank you all.

By: Norma Bruce

Norma Bruce — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:05:01 +0000

I’ve known Nelson all my life–we rode our tricycles together, were lab partners in chemistry in high school, played in the school band together. I loved his parents and family. So very sorry Kathy and Sophia for your loss.

By: Halla Kim

Halla Kim — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:25:44 +0000

Nelson was the source of inspirations for the students of Kant in America through his influential writings. Please accept my condolences.

By: Edward Abplanalp

Edward Abplanalp — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:12:36 +0000

I took several classes with Nelson, and sat in on many more of his seminars. He also supervised my dissertation. He was a remarkably patient teacher who was generous with his time. He was a good man who loved philosophy, music, and his family. He also threw great parties.

By: Pieranna Garavaso and Lory Lemke

Pieranna Garavaso and Lory Lemke — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:59:50 +0000

Kathy and Sophia, sorry about your loss. We were never able to come back and visit, but we have loved receiving Nelson’s yearly invitations and his kind notes every Christmas. Without Nelson, we would have never know about the inmates in the Lincoln jail who wanted to learn logic.

By: David Moshman

David Moshman — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:22:20 +0000

Nelson was a major advocate for civil liberties and human rights for decades in multiple contexts including Amnesty International, Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, and ACLU Nebraska. He was an activist philosopher. I’m fortunate to have known and worked with him.