Nelson Andrew Waite, Jr. (Skip) passed away in Houston, Texas on July 30, 2023. Skip was born on March 31, 1945, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Waite. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nelson A. Waite, Sr, and Anne Dunlap Waite. He is survived by his brothers, Richard D. Waite (Kimberly) of Santa Rosa, CA, and Philip T. Waite of Spartanburg, SC. He is also survived by his son, Gregory Scott Waite (Victoria), four grandchildren Sage, Dakota, Noah & Elizabeth Waite, great granddaughter Kirra and his nephew, Ricky Waite. Lastly, Skip is survived by numerous cousins from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Savannah, GA, where the family roots began, his extended family in California who know him as “Uncle Skip” and several loving friends from Houston, TX.
Skip was quite an athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball in his high school years, where he graduated from Glenrock High School in Glen Rock, New Jersey. He went on to play baseball for Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina where he earned a B.A.in Psychology in 1967. After graduating from Davidson and the ROTC program he joined the Army as an officer in a tank battalion serving our country for 4 years. After returning home from his time in the Army to his then wife, Nancy, and son Scott, he went on to begin his career in the insurance industry in Chicago at Chubb & Sons. Skip later divorced and moved to Houston, TX continuing to work in the insurance industry. He had a stellar career serving as an Officer with Chubb & Son, Inc, VP with Marsh & McLennan, VP with Reed Alexander Stenhouse of TX, VP with River Oaks Insurance Services and retiring with AON Insurance Services.
Skip’s passions in life when not working included teaching his son, Scott, how to play ball, sailing, golfing, playing tennis and spending many hours pouring over the Julia Childs cookbook while cooking fabulous dinners for many friends and family over the years. He belonged to “gourmet supper clubs” with dear friends, and also enjoyed hosting dinners in his home. His favorite annual trips were to California at Christmas time to see his son, Scott, and 4 grandchildren, Sage, Dakota, Noah & Elizabeth…and always an annual trip at Thanksgiving to spend time with his brother, Rick and his family, visiting the wine country and hosting “his dinner” at Bacci Café in Healdsburg with extended family.
Per Skip’s request, no formal services will be held, instead please prepare your favorite meal with your loved ones and toast him with a great bottle of French wine, his favorite!