Donald C. Nystrom's Obituary
Don passed away peacefully on December 14, after a courageous struggle with bladder cancer. He is survived by his sweetheart Jan Reini and a loving family including daughters Karen and Sandra Nystrom, son Mark Nystrom, grandchildren Kirsten and Erik Vaught, Maria and Christopher Barrios, sister Joan Kane, and nieces and nephews. His sister Barbara Scott predeceased him.Born in Oakland in 1927 to George and Winifred Nystrom, Don's family later moved to Burlingame. Don graduated from Burlingame High School where he enjoyed sports, especially basketball and track. During World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, proudly serving his country from 1945-1946. He was a member of Chi Psi Fraternity at Stanford University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Economics in 1950. Don became a journeyman carpenter after working as an apprentice during high school and college. At 21 he received his real estate license and worked for a title company as an escrow officer. He received his contractor’s license at 25, then founded Nystrom Construction Corporation and began a long career as a building contractor and real estate developer. Don was one of the original builders of the Sharon Heights Development in Menlo Park. Don met and married Marjorie Adams, and they raised their family in one of the homes he built in Sharon Heights. He was a founding member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. After they divorced, Don moved to nearby Lido Isle in Foster City where he enjoyed living by the water. He enjoyed tennis, hiking, skiing and golfing. He also traveled extensively around the world and pursued his passion of ballroom dancing well into his eighties.Don served as president and director for a number of building and industry associations. He was also a long time member and president of the Foster City Rotary Club, a major donor to the Rotary Foundation, a volunteer at Samaritan House and a member of Sons in Retirement. Don was also a construction and real estate arbitrator for the American Arbitration Society and a tenant and landlord negotiator for the San Mateo County Human Relations Department. Don was a kind and loving family man. He will be remembered for his honesty, integrity, intelligence, business savvy, wit, boundless energy and love of life. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Donations may be made to Samaritan House, 4031 Pacific Blvd., San Mateo CA 94403. A Celebration of Don's life will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 12:00 noon at Skylawn Memorial Park Hwy 92 and Skyline Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402.
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