TSgt Nelson D. Elias-Columbani, USAF Retired, (Vietnam Veteran), was born on June 9, 1941, and passed away on December 9, 2014, at his home in Browns Mills, N.J. He was 73 years old.

Nelson Dario Elias-Columbani was born in Rincon, Puerto Rico in 1941. Shortly after he was born, his father died while he was very young. Nelson later immigrated from Puerto Rico to New York with no English speaking skills and no father to guide him. He later quit school to take care of his mother.  After some time, he went back to school to earn his GED and joined the US Air Force. This was a turning point in his life. He served as a Crew Chief at various locations all around the world in the aircraft maintenance career field. During his Air Force career, he served in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Strategic Air Command (SAC), and with the 89th Military Airlift Wing (Presidential Support).  It was during his Air Force career that he met his wife Myriam, and was later was married.  He honorably served in the Vietnam War and afterwards had 3 children.  After over 20 years of active duty US Air Force service, he retired at Andrews AFB, Maryland.

Nelson is burried at Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Vet. Mem. Cemetery in Arneytown, N.J.  He is survived by his wife Myriam Elias, his 3 sons: John Elias, Robert Elias, Nelson Elias, 3 grandsons and 2 grandaughters.  We think about him often. His family will miss, love, and remember him forever.