He died on the UC Berkeley campus. But who was he?
The family of Terrence Walker Nash Sr. only learned recently that he had been found deceased on the UC Berkeley campus in April.
By Vicente Vera
Terrence Nash went out of his way to cultivate a land of adventure in Berkeley for his baby sister as they grew up in the pre-internet age.
They built their relationship, both literally and figuratively, as Nash ensured the brother-sister duo was a constant presence at Berkeley's Adventure Playground — one of the only parks in the world that provided tools to let children help build it.
Sharon Beery said her big brother "Terry" — who was 18 years older than she was — also brought along his two children, making the trips a whole family experience.
"He was also artistically creative and he liked to draw. He was kind of always talking in riddles, it was very poetic," his daughter Kayla Nash told The Berkeley Scanner. "The vibe of Berkeley really matched my dad."
Kayla Nash and Beery would eventually move to Humboldt County but, as a lifelong Bay Area resident, Terrence Walker Nash Sr. continued to make the best life he could for himself in Berkeley — even as he struggled to find housing in the time leading up to his body's discovery on the UC Berkeley campus in April.
(A man whose body was found on campus in June remains unidentified, the coroner's office said Friday.)
Nash was a father of two, to Kayla and TJ Nash, as well as a father figure to Beery. At the time of his death, he was 56 years old.
Nash grew up in Oakland and Alameda and attended Pacific Coast Technical Institute, according to his obituary.
He made his career as a certified welder "and enjoyed showing friends and family jobs he had performed all over the Bay Area," his family wrote.
Growing up, he loved reading to his mother, who is blind. His drawings could be found throughout her home.
When his kids were young, he liked taking them to Alameda beaches.
"You could hear his signature whistle before he came into sight," they wrote.
Family members last heard from Nash in December and January. As months went by, their mother began to worry, Beery said.
Authorities found his body in April but did not alert his family until June, due to delays in the identification process, she said.
Emilie Raguso
Her brother's relationship with the family had changed over the years as his struggles with housing security in the Bay Area meant he didn't always have a phone or a fixed address. He was also not someone to ask for help, and did not always want to cooperate with medical treatment.
"He definitely did fall on hard times and, after the breakdown of his marriage, Terry was still relatively young," Beery said. "He had some struggles that he didn't overcome."
Still, she remembered her big brother as "indestructible."
"He was super brave, scaling down walls and jumping off big rocks, you know?" she said. "He could do anything. Probably how he was able to survive outside for so many years."
Nash was resilient, independent and determined to navigate hardships on his own terms, his family said.
"He could have arms falling off and still say, 'Oh, it'll be fine, rub some dirt on it and get back to work,'" Beery said. "Unfortunately, there's not very many good outcomes that can come with that when your health is poor and you're not getting help."
Despite the circumstances that led to his death, Beery and Kayla Nash said Terry was deeply loved.
They said they hope his story serves as a reminder to remember the nameless and forgotten in our communities.
"People tend to make insensitive comments on the articles, and they should remember that is someone's loved one who they're speculating about," Beery said. "Headlines can be people that matter a lot to others. Be more conscientious of the impact of words for those who are grieving."
The absence of a home, an identification or a public history does not make a person invisible or less worthy of dignity, compassion and remembrance, she added.
Nash's family is raising money for funeral and memorial expenses through GoFundMe.
Read his official obituary on the Chapel of the Chimes Oakland funeral home tribute wall.
The family plans to announce memorial plans at a later date.
Vicente Vera is a freelance reporter based in the Bay Area who graduated from the San Jose State University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He covers politics, community and culture.
