For the past 30 years, the nine Coachella Valley cities have come together to honor an active senior volunteer from each city. Terry Nelson was honored to represent Cathedral City at the annual Senior Inspiration Awards held at Fantasy Springs Resort Special Events Center in Indio. Mayor Ernesto Gutierrez presented a gold medal for his volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City. Mr. Nelson has been active with the organization mentoring youth and teaching them about digital storytelling and computer film editing. He currently serves as an entrusted board member.
An entourage of Cathedral City elected officials, city staff, fellow Boys and Girls Club board members, friends, and family came to support and help recognize his invaluable work in the community. The following is a biography of Terry’s life that was provided at the event:
Biography
Terry, 74, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Torrance, California.
He began his college education at El Camino College in Torrance in 1966.
In 1968, Terry left college early to join the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Terry served with Fighter Squadron VF-213 for four years and was deployed on the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier for three tours off the coast of Vietnam. Terry was honorably discharged in 1972, due to exposure to Agent Orange.
For a short time, Terry was a farmer in Spokane, Washington, then moved back to San Diego and worked in finance and as a retail store manager.
While Terry worked at The Gap, he was encouraged to go back to school. He attended National University and received his bachelor’s degree in marketing. In 1983, he received his master’s degree in business.
Terry had a civilian career with the Department of Defense that lasted 27 years, starting as a GS-5 and retiring as a GS-14. After that career, he became a residential real estate Realtor for 15 years, working with Art Gregoire and Kara Robinson. Terry recently retired in January 2022.
Terry met Art in 1986, in Long Beach. His favorite recollection in life is marrying his partner, which occurred in 2008, after it was legal to marry a same sex partner. Terry and Art have now been married for 13 years and together for 35 years. Terry and Art moved to the Coachella Valley in 1995.
Terry enjoys volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City. He finds it very rewarding to help youth find their skills and talents as they grow to adulthood.
Terry is very creative. During his spare time, he enjoys creating different forms of arts, from producing 60 mini movies to baking and decorating cookies. He enjoys sculpting, sketching, oil painting, photographing. His true joy is decorating holiday cookies with his 94-year-old mother, Loretta.
Terry and Art have a love for pets and have owned and fostered many rescue dogs. They currently have six dogs: Billy Jean, Maddox, Lambchop, Honey, Little Bit and Tiny Bit.
