Roland Anton Nesslinger

Roland Anton Nesslinger, always known to others as Ness, was born June 20th, 1929; a depression baby who came into the world with a big smile and a generous nature that endured his lifetime. He was ninety-six years old at the time of his death often saying he just couldn’t believe he was that old! Ness, our husband and dad, grandpa and great grandpa passed away on January 4th, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

Ness was born on Staten Island, New York to Carla and Karl Nesslinger. He was the middle child and had an older sister, Carlita (Teri) and a younger brother, Ralph (RON). He attended public school on Staten Island completing high school in 1947 at New Dorp High school. Later he graduated from Clarkson College in Potsdam, New York in 1952 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. Ness was drafted into the 5th Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army in 1953 and he and his brother, Ralph, deployed at the same time both serving in Korea from1953-1954. When returned, he and Sylvia, moved to live in Delaware, Ohio where he began a long work history of civil engineering including highway land acquisition, bridge and roadway design and for many years consulting and support to other engineers in the business.

Ness married Sylvia Barbara Pfeiffer on January 24, 1953 in New York. They met years before while he was a counselor at Camp Aquehonga and she was a vacationer staying across Half Moon Lake in Narrowsburg, NY. Upon his return from Korea, they moved to Delaware, Ohio for Ness’s first engineering job with the Ohio Department of Transportation. He worked with ODOT for many years as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT), in various staff positions, as Bureau Chief, an assistant Deputy Director, then served as the Superintendent of Public Works for the State of Ohio (1973). Ness worked with six different Ohio State governors and was always able to be diplomatic and congenial with all persons. He served as an engineer with Parsons Brinkerhoff and retired as an engineer/consultant for Burgess and Niple. Ness was an active member and instructor in the American Society of Highway Engineers and The American Right of Way Association having been named Person of the Year in 2000 by The ASHE national committee. Ness was a licensed professional engineer in eight states living in Ohio, Louisiana and New Mexico and working in those states and many others throughout his career.

Born to Ness and Sylvia during the time they lived in Delaware were three children, Martha Lee Nesslinger (Mark Bittner), Karl Alan Nesslinger ( Victoria Hackman) and Diana Elizabeth Nesslinger (Don Fisher). Even with the many demands of being an

involved dad, beginning a career and being an enthusiastic Boy Scout Troop leader for Troop 93 in Delaware, Ohio and Troop 156 in Worthington, Ohio. Ness, like his father, had interest in one of his most notable pastimes as a weekend gardener who would go on to create lovely outdoor spaces in all their many homes.

In addition to gardening and scouting, Ness loved to hike on the weekends, always took long walks nightly, loved camping, loved to play bridge with the “Delaware gang” and most often enjoyed attending church beginning with William Street Methodist Church in Delaware, Ohio and was an involved member of many other churches throughout his lifetime. Ness always enjoyed good music and a great hymn and would sing with gusto given the opportunity. While at Trinity United Methodist Church, Ness would begin serving with Stephen Ministries. At Northwest Evangelical Christian Church he met Pastor Russ Clark who would then go on to be one of Ness’s dearest friends. Escaping to the outdoors, spending time with people he loved hiking and exploring outdoor spaces was central to Ness’s life until late in his eighties. Into his early nineties, Ness would still walk the neighborhood two or three miles a day. Ness was a college hockey player and great speed skater and an avid tennis player as a young adult. Later in life, he would enjoy golfing with his good friends, Ginny and Bruce Roberts and often his children and grandchildren when they were able.

When asked over the years to describe his service in the military or his work, Ness was always most humble and most appreciative of the people he met along his life path and the scenery and places he saw. Asked to describe “How was it in Korea?”, Ness’s answer was “It was a beautiful country; I enjoyed the hiking.” When asked to talk about a project he was working on, Ness would respond with “We had a lot of good help.” or “It went smoothly.” never illuminating either himself nor the difficult parts of his experiences

Ness is survived by his wife of nearly seventy three years, all three of his children and their spouses, ten (10) grandchildren he enjoyed immensely and five great grandchildren who were just beginning to know all the wonderful things about their great grandpa. So many very good friends have proceeded Ness in death and are undoubtably waiting eagerly for this generous, kind, fun loving man to share in the next piece of the journey.

A Memorial Service will be held in Columbus, Ohio at Shaw-Davis Funeral Homes, 4341 North High Street 43214 on February 7th, 2026 and will start at 2 pm with a service following at 3pm.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to National Church Hospice at https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/donate/hospice/