Ronald P. “Rocky” Nelson

Coach Ronald (“Rocky”) Nelson – in Woburn, December 2, 2018. Beloved husband of Alison (Carney) Nelson. Loving father of Courtney Sigsbury, her husband Duane and Tiffany Nelson-Boyd, her husband Matt Boyd, all of Woburn. Cherished “Kucko” to his three grandchildren, Dylan Ronald Sigsbury, Quinn Nelson Boyd and Ali Diehl Boyd. Dear brother of the late Russell Nelson. Longtime best friend of Michael McLaughlin, his wife Mary Jane, as well as survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, past students, coaches and athletes. A Funeral Service will be held in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn,Thursday, December 6^th at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call at the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, Wednesday, from 2 – 8 p.m. At the family’s request PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. In honor of Rocky, remembrances may be made in his memory to The Coach Rocky Nelson Scholarship Fund c/o Winchester Co-Operative Bank, PO Box 758 Winchester, MA 01890. For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.lynch-cantillon.com or Facebook under Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home.

Coach Ronald (“Rocky”) Nelson, legendary Woburn High School Football Coach and lifelong Woburn resident, died peacefully, Sunday, December 2, 2018, after a brief battle with lung cancer, at the age of seventy-four. He was the beloved husband of 47 years to, Alison (Carney) Nelson.

Born in Winchester and raised in Woburn, Rocky was the dear son of the late Paul and Eleanor (Lundholm) Nelson. Rocky was a tremendous athlete growing up, and was a graduate of Woburn Memorial High School, where he served as captain of the Football and Hockeyteams his senior year.

After graduation, Rocky attended Bridgton Academy in Maine for a post graduate year and earned a Division 1 Scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, where he was a proud and dedicated member of their football team starting at offensive tackle for four years. Rocky’s love was football and teaching kids, and he was able to intertwine them as a PE teacher in Woburn, as well as an assistant football/Head Coach for over forty sevenyears. 

In 1986, after being on the coaching staff at Woburn High School for 16 years as the defensive coordinator, Rocky took over as the head coach of his alma mater.He retired in 2016 after an unbelievable Thanksgiving game win over arch rival Winchester. During his time as head coach, he won 208 games and a Super Bowl in 2005, making four Super Bowl appearances during his tenure as head coach.  Rocky was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Hall of Fame in2016.

After retiring from Woburn, Rocky returned to the sideline again as an assistant on his son-in-law’s staff at Billerica Memorial High School.  Helping guide the Indians to the 2017 MVC League Championship and back to back playoff berths.  

Rocky was not only a dedicated and devoted coach, but he was a dedicated, devoted, loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His family meant the world to him and he loved being called “Kucko” by his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his grandsons play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and playing games in the family room with his granddaughter. Rocky loved to vacation in Aruba and Ogunquit Maine and often took the entire family with him so everyone was together.  His family was his life as was all of his assistant coaches and players, WIN ON THREE, 1, 2, 3 WIN!  

Along with his wife Alison, Rocky is survived and will be deeply missed by his daughters, Courtney Sigsbury, her husband Duane and Tiffany Nelson-Boyd, her husband Matt Boyd, all of Woburn. Cherished “Kucko” to his three grandchildren, Dylan Ronald Sigsbury, Quinn Nelson Boyd and Ali Diehl Boyd. Dear brother of the late Russell Nelson. Longtime best friend of Michael McLaughlin, his wife Mary Jane, as well as survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, past students, coaches and athletes.

A Funeral Service will be held in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, Thursday, December 6th at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call at the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, Wednesday, from 2 – 8 p.m. At the family’s request PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. In honor of Rocky, remembrances may be made in his memory to The Coach Rocky Nelson Scholarship Fund c/o Winchester Co-Operative Bank, PO Box 758 Winchester, MA 01890. For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.lynch-cantillon.com or Facebook under Lynch-CantillonFuneral Home.

A Funeral Service will be held in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn, Thursday, December 6^th at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call at the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn, Wednesday, from 2 – 8 p.m. At the family’s request PLEASE OMIT FLOWERS. In honor of Rocky, remembrances may be made in his memory to The Coach Rocky Nelson Scholarship Fund c/o Winchester Corporative Bank, PO Box 758 Winchester, MA 01890. For directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.lynch-cantillon.com or Facebook under Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home.