DOB/DOD: March 31, 1925 (New York City, NY) – February 21, 2004 (Norwalk, CT); 78 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Jane D. Ford (1927-) on June 26, 1953, in Norwalk, CT. Jane Ford is the sister of Hobart Ford, who was killed during WWII.
CHILDREN: One son, Peter (1955-). One daughter, Lauralee L. Nestler Gedney (1957-).
MARRIAGE 2: Married Lynn E. Smith (1947-) on January 17, 1976, in Norwalk, CT. One son, Douglas (1981-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 17 Burchard Lane, Rowayton
ENLISTMENT: August 25, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 42008020
DISCHARGE: March 19, 1946
UNIT: C Company, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division
FAMILY: Born to Dr. Edwin J. (1890-1975) and Mabel Ballou Nestler (1891-1969). Two sisters, Leonia Jane Nestler Diaz (1925-2005) and Barbara Nestler Laub (1926-1984).
DECORATIONS: Received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, American Campaign Medal, European – African – Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Expert Badge, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.
Bronze Star Medal citation
THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL
TO FREDERICK B. NESTLER
THEN STAFF SERGEANT, INFANTRY, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
For meritorious achievement while serving with Company C, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division, in the European Theater of Operations from 3 March 1945 to 11 June 1945 in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States during World War II. Sergeant Nestler’s exemplary performance of dirty in active ground combat was in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 387th Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.
From The Record (Hackensack, NJ) May 9, 1945
Private First Class Frederick Nestler, son of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin J. Nestler of Tenafly, was wounded on April 10 near Erfurt, Germany. He was hit by a sniper in the leg and was sent to Belgium and then on to England, where he was operated on. His parents received five letters from him with information regarding his wounds before they received the Government telegram. A graduate of Tenafly High School. Private Nestler entered the Army a year and a half ago and went overseas at the beginning of last March. He was a member of the track team at Tenafly High School.
From The Norwalk Hour February 25, 2004
FREDERICK B. NESTLER; WORLD WAR II VETERAN
Frederick “Ted” Ballou Nestler, the husband of Lynn Smith Nester, passed away Saturday evening at Norwalk Hospital. The son of Dr. Edwin J. and Mabel Ballou Nestler, he was born in New York City on March 31, 1925. His childhood was spent between Tenafly, NJ, and Rowayton, where he spent most of his life. In World War II he served as Staff Sergeant in the Army at the Battle of the Bulge, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals, and later serving at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He attended the Stevens Institute of Technology and graduated from New England College. He was a sales representative for Burndy Corporation in Norwalk and later worked for Pyle National Corporation in Huntsville, AL, supplying electrical connectors to NASA that were used on the first manned space flights. Most recently, he worked as a financial planner for Waddell and Reed. Throughout his life, one of his passions was collecting old cameras, and he taught himself to make pinhole cameras. Some of the pictures he took were displayed at the Rowayton Arts Center, where he served on the board. He also served on the board of the Rowayton Library, and was a member of the Rowayton Yacht Club. In addition to his wife and their son, Douglas Nestler, also of Rowayton. Mr. Nestler is survived by his former wife, Jane Dore Nesler of Rowayton, and their two children, Peter Nestler and his wife Elizabeth of Lebanon, NH, and Laura Lee and her husband Rex Gedney, of Norwalk. He leaves four grandchildren, Michael Nestler, Devon, Cooper, and Morgan Gedney. He is also survived by a sister, Jane Diaz of Hinesville, Georgia, and was predeceased by a sister, Barbara Laub of Longmeadow, MA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 1 p.m. in the United Church of Rowayton, with the Rev. John Livingston officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Contributions may be made to the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, Maple St. Rowayton Library, 33 Highland Avenue, and the Rowayton Arts Center, 145 Rowayton Ave. The family also requests that blood be donated to the American Red Cross, where appointments may be made at 1-800-448-3543.
Ted’s ashes are in The Memorial Garden at the United Church of Rowayton, Connecticut.
END
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