David Nevin

Dr. David A. Nevin, a loving father, a great psychologist, and an all-around good guy, passed away on May 22, 2020 in Reynoldsburg Ohio, from complications associated with Parkinson’s disease. He was eighty-five.
Dave was born and raised in Watertown, NY, “a great place to be from,” where he graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy. After high school, he entered the seminary to become a priest. But he eventually left the seminary because he wanted to have a family. Before settling on a career as a clinical psychologist, he served two years in the army at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. After the army, he earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Assumption College in Worcester, MA—where he met his first wife Dorothy (Dennison) Abbott—and a PhD in Psychology from Fordham University in New York City.

He was a dedicated and talented psychologist who loved his work. In 1972, he founded the Center for Human Growth, a group psychology practice in Albany, NY, which he ran for more than thirty-five years. For many years, he also consulted at Parsons Child and Family Center, St. Anne’s Institute, and St. Peter’s Hospital. In addition to being a licensed psychologist, he was also a licensed school psychologist, alcoholism counselor, and a provider of state mandated training for the identification and reporting of child abuse. Dave was very active in professional organizations. He was president of the New York State Psychological Association and the Psychological Association of Northeastern New York. He also won many awards.

In his free time, he loved being with his family, preferably at the Nevin family camp on the St. Lawrence River. While the long trip to Upstate New York, often towing the family boat, was always an adventure, the boat trips on The River, the beautiful sunsets, and the joyful family meals made it well worth it. He often boasted about the time he ate thirteen ears of corn! Or was it twelve?

After he retired, Dave relocated to the Wesley Ridge Retirement Community in Reynoldsburg, OH. In his almost nine years at Wesley Ridge, he made many friends among the residents and staff. He participated in lots of activities, including chair volleyball (he was the first
man to do so!), a weekly happy hour, and tailgating for Ohio State football games. When he wasn’t cheering for the Buckeyes, he enjoyed watching his family swim at the Wesley Ridge pool and going on the family’s weekly outing to their favorite Mexican restaurant, where he always had two beef tacos, hard shells. He was known by many for his patience, his warmth and kindness, and for his love of chocolate!

He was preceded in death by his father Leonard C. Nevin and his mother Catherine (Bernier) Nevin and by his second wife Nancee Miller.

Dave is survived by sons Mark and Kyle and daughter Dr. Kristina (Nevin) Powell; stepsons Matt Miller and Dave Miller; grandchildren Alex, Connor, Drew, Carrigan, and Sarah; and his three brothers Charlie, Steve, and Jim.
He will be interred in Lowville Rural Cemetery in Lowville, NY. A celebration of his life is planned for next summer on the St. Lawrence River.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Wesley Ridge can be made.