Lavery-log

At a Passover Seder years ago, I brought along a friend who wasn’t Jewish. She knew some of the other Jewish community members-we went to school with Lon Nuell’s son-but she was still nervous about participating in an unfamiliar ritual.

She met Lon beforehand, who welcomed her-as he always did-with open arms. And during the Seder, Lon called on her to read aloud from the prayer book. She did, giggling at her mispronunciation of the Hebrew words, and Lon smiled back at her.And every year after that, she asked to come along.

Lon Nuell was the backbone of Murfreesboro’s Jewish community. We’re a small group, but Lon never failed to make us feel like we had a voice. With his guidance, the Jewish population of Murfreesboro didn’t feel so slight.

At Lon’s funeral Sunday, every chair at Congregation Micah was filled with a person who loved him. People who were touched by him. Helped by him. Taught by him.

Because of Lon, there is now an art teacher in each local school. Because of his help advocating children’s nutrition, the Murfreesboro School Board has received numerous national recognitions for its School Nutrition Program.

During the funeral, the floor was opened up to anyone who wanted to share a story about his or her relationship with Lon.

John McDaniel, the dean of MTSU’s Liberal Arts College, was among those who spoke.

McDaniel called Lon a “fixer,” claiming that he never ceased to find something that needed improvement.

Anyone that knew Lon knew that he always had a project underway. He had the capability, it seems, to look so closely and compassionately at his community that he couldn’t help but see something that needed attention.

Lon’s legacy in Murfreesboro will be mighty. Through his commitment to building inter-faith relationships, he instilled in us a vision of tolerance. Through his work with the school board, he instilled in us a desire to make the community’s schools the best they can be. Through his presence in the community, he instilled in us the idea that we can do more. We can always do more.

Lon Nuell will be missed terribly by all who loved him. But if his death infuses even a fraction of his benevolence into those who miss him, I can’t even imagine the lasting influence he will have.