David Edward Nix, Age 43, died in a bicycle accident on 19 July 1999. The incident occurred in the City of Manchester, NH, within a few miles of his home in Bedford, NH.
A Navy junior, he was born in Honolulu, HI, on 16 February 1956 while his father, a submariner was serving at Pearl Harbor. He grew up in Pearl Harbor, New London, back to Pearl, then Garden City, until his father retired from the Navy and the family settled in Piscataway, NJ, where he completed high school.
Upon graduation from Piscataway High, he entered the Naval Academy with the Class of ’78, spending four years in 31st Company. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
He entered the Nuclear Power Program and attended the Basic Submarine Officers course, and went to sea, first in ROBERT E. LEE (SSBN-601), and then WILLIAM E. BATES (SSN-680). During the latter tour he received the Navy Achievement Medal. Following BATES, he served ashore at the Naval Reactors Division, DOE, in Washington, DC. Following his tour ashore he returned to sea via the Submarine Officer Advanced Training course and joined HOUSTON (SSN-713) in March 1987 as Engineering Officer. During this tour he received a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Achievement Medal.
In early 1989 Dave tendered his resignation from the Navy and left HOUSTON on 1 April 1989. Following his separation, he joined NALCO Chemical Co. of Napierville, IL, in a sales capacity. At the time of his death he was involved in NALCO’s international marketing.
Dave is survived by his father, Henry, ’50; mother, Peggy; his brothers, Robert, John, James and Thomas; his sisters, Theresa and Kathleen; and 11 nieces and nephews.
His ashes were interred at the Columbarium at the Academy on 16 August 1999.