By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Nash

SYMMES TOWNSHIP - Thanks to Frederick J. Nash, children who are polio victims in the Congo have leg braces.

Mr. Nash found out about the need from his son Jay, who works for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.

"I told him about it and he said, 'You form an organization to try and raise money for it,'" his son said.

Mr. Nash helped his son and daughter, Elizabeth Nash of Loveland, set up the International Polio Victims Response Committee. The committee is an Ohio-registered charity that solicits donations from organizations to purchase orthopedic equipment.

While his son worked in Africa, Mr. Nash handled the financial details. Last year they raised $68,000 and so far this year $50,000, according to his son.

Mr. Nash died Tuesday of pneumonia at Jewish Hospital Kenwood. The Symmes Township resident would have turned 83 on Wednesday.

A native of Danielson, Conn., Mr. Nash played soccer and basketball for the University of Connecticut. He served with the Signal Corps during World War II.

He began a career with AT&T in 1947. From 1966 to 1975 he lived in Mariemont while working as director of the national sales training center in Cincinnati.

After he retired in 1982, he divided his time between Castleton, Vt., and Sebring, Fla. He and his wife, Arlene, moved to Symmes Township in 1999.

Mr. Nash served as secretary and adviser to the fund-raising committee from its founding until his death.

"He was the one who suggested it, and he was the one who did all the financial aspects of it," his son said. "Without him it would have been very difficult to get it started and keep the money moving to the Congo.

"Right now, we'll have to find another way to do it. I haven't thought that far, to be honest."

In addition to his son and daughter, survivors include Arlene L. Nash, his wife of 54 years.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the clubhouse at Villas at Royal Point, 12090 Maxim Ave., Symmes Township. The funeral is Thursday at Rose Hill Funeral Home in Rocky Hill, Conn.

Memorials: International Polio Victims Response Committee, 10250 Harrison Road, Loveland, OH 45140.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com