November 29, 1952 – Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Haller Edward Nutt was born on November 29, 1952 in St. Louis. He was the first son of the union of Haller Levi Nutt and Beatrice Lucille (Duvall) Nutt. He was always called “Ed” to distinguish him from his father.
Ed was baptized into the Catholic Faith as an infant at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He received his other sacraments of initiation at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church. He also attended St. Barbara’s Catholic School where he graduated in 1966. He attended De Andres Catholic High School as well as Northwest High School.
In 1971 he joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from Basic Training at Great Lakes Naval Base in Great Lakes, Ill. A great portion of his naval career was spent in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va. As a naval seaman, Ed earned the National Defense Service Metal.
Ed married Yvonne Denise Ransom on December 14, 1972 in St. Louis. To this union two sons were born, Kenneth Edward Nutt (1976) and Vincent Andre Nutt (1979). In 1989 Bryan Edward Fisher-Nutt was born to Ed and Jennifer Fisher. Ed’s sons were his pride and joy.
Ed completed his service in the U.S. Navy in 1974. He returned to St. Louis where he joined the St. Louis Fire Department as a firefighter. Ed was truly dedicated and committed to his profession as a firefighter. He was an active member of the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.). He served the St. Louis Fire Department in the capacities of fire marshall and investigator.
One of Ed’s greatest passions was his care and concern for social and community issues. After retiring from the St. Fire Department, Ed directed his life’s work to various community development endeavors. He worked for Regional Medical Center, the Community Development Agency, and the Vashon / Jeff-VanderLou Initiative as a project manager. Ed was involved with the NAACP, the Neighborhood Housing Council, Better Family Life, Inc., St. Louis Public Schools Mentoring Program and the Million Man March.
St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Catholic Church has been the Nutt family church since 1967 when they moved to Blumeyer Village. Ed’s mother “Bea” often referred to her beloved “Rock” Church as her “jewel.” Ed was active at the “Rock” Church as a member of the Parish Council, the “Rock” Role Model Association, the Athletic Commission, the Teen Youth Ministry, the Usher Board, Central Catholic/St. Nicholas Catholic School Board and the Grand Rock Community Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.
Above all, Ed was best known for this many years as a dedicated basketball coach in the Rock Church Sports Program, designed by the church to assist at risk youth to develop not only athletic abilities but also to garner skills to become productive citizens. In 2001 the Rock Church Sports Program established the Haller Edward Nutt Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ed joined his ancestors on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Veteran’s Nursing Home at Jefferson Barracks. He leaves to cherish his memory three sons, Kenneth Edward Nutt, Vincent Andre Nutt, and Bryan Edward Fisher-Nutt.; a grandson, Kenneth Edward Seals-Nutt; a grand-daughter, Farrah Andrea Nutt; three brothers, Cordell Vincent Nutt (Kansas City, MO), Maurice Joseph Nutt (Memphis, TN), and Michael Fredric Nutt (Princilla) (Fort Worth, TX); uncles, nephews, a niece, cousins; and a host of relatives and friends.