In Memoriam: Christian A. Nast Jr. ’49, P’79
Today, with great sadness, we share news of the passing of Chris Nast Jr. ’49, P’79. He is survived by his wife, Constance “Connie” Nast, and three children, including Christian A. Nast, III, who graduated from Tilton School in 1979.
Though he only attended Tilton as a student for a single year, his impact and his love for the school were lifelong. Nast served as a member of the Board of Trustees in the 1970s and again from 1999-2004, including a stint as the Board’s Vice President from 2001-2003. In 2013, Tilton honored his lifelong commitment to and support of the school by naming him a Trustee Emeritus.
“Chris served on Tilton’s board for many years and at several different times during that tenure — a telling indicator of his unwavering love for the school,” says Head of School Derek Krein. “His lifetime of service and generosity to Tilton epitomizes the term ‘loyal alum.’ He was a dedicated trustee and a warm friend to all — there was no ‘breaking-in’ period with Chris. It was evident upon meeting him during last year’s Alumni Weekend that his intellect was sharp and, if possible, his wit was even sharper!”
That wit was on display during his recent involvement with the renovation of East Knowles Hall. Always looking to leave a mark that was uniquely his, Nast put his support towards the first floor restrooms, where he asked that a sign be affixed to the final product that said: “Chris Nast was here.” Beyond his generous support for the school, Nast remained a dedicated and active alumnus. A fixture as a volunteer and attendee at Alumni Weekend through the years, last year was no exception as he joined classmates for his 75th reunion and held up a Tilton banner with his son in front of the Charles E. Tilton Mansion.
In addition to his status as a Trustee Emeritus, Nast was named Alumni of the Year in 1979 and was inducted into Tilton’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In just one year on the Hill, he was involved in countless activities — including soccer, The Tower, the Tiltonian, and the Dramatic Club — and was voted by his peers as the Student Council President.
Following his graduation from Tilton, Nast served in the Korean War. He then completed his undergraduate education at Bates College and earned a graduate degree from New York University. Nast was the Executive Vice President for Colgate North America from 1989-1995 and later served as the President and CEO of Rexall Sundown Inc., a publicly-held manufacturer of vitamins and supplements from 1997-2000.
To read a full obituary, including information about services in honor of Nast, please click here.
