Barry Nestande, In Memoriam, 1960-2010
With great sadness we report the loss of a key member of the Benoit team.
Barry Nestande, my chief-of-staff for over seven years, died suddenly on Friday, March 19, of an apparent heart attack. Barry was 49 and leaves a beautiful wife, Merrilee, and two sons, Tyson, 21 and Brett, 6.
In addition to his duties managing my office operations, Barry was my political advisor, campaign strategist, best friend, and closest confidant. We had developed a working relationship that could not have been closer. He will be sorely missed.
May the good Lord give rest to his beautiful soul.
Barry Nestande
October 15, 1960 - March 19, 2010
Barry Nestande was born to Bruce and Beverly Thunstrom Nestande in Quantico, Virginia, where Bruce was stationed as a Marine. The family moved to Orange County, California, where Barry and his younger brother Brian walked precincts in their father's 1969 campaign for the State Assembly.
Barry graduated from Canyon High School in Anaheim in 1979, and Biola University in 2002. The summer after high school he spent a year traveling the country, experiencing a variety of jobs including mining, butchering, farming, and logging. In 1980, Barry returned to Orange County to work on the assembly campaign of Ken Carpenter, and then worked with Stu Spencer, a trusted political consultant to President Reagan.
In the 1990s, Barry worked as a stockbroker and insurance agent. In 1999 he moved to the Coachella Valley to work as an assistant to the pastor at Southwest Community Church. Then in 2001, he returned to politics, working with his brother Brian on the Benoit for Assembly campaign. In December of 2001 he became John J. Benoit's chief-of-staff, a position he held until his death.
Barry's hobbies included riding dirt bikes, off-roading, hiking, cycling, surfing, and many other outdoor activities. He loved jazz and traveling to New Orleans to enjoy his favorite music. But most of all, he loved family adventures with Merrilee and their two sons. The family attended Grace Chapel in Indio.
Barry is survived by his wife, Merrilee, sons Tyson and Brett, father Bruce and stepmother Pam, brother Brian, niece Sophia, nephew Hayden, and half-sisters Gabrielle and Francesca.
Barry's mother Beverly founded Beverly's House, a shelter for young women leaving foster care. In lieu of flowers, the Nestande Family is requesting that donations be made to Beverly's House, c/o YWCA of Orange, P.O. Box 689, Orange, CA 92866, or, The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 10660, Indio, CA 92202.
A celebration of life was held Friday, March 26, 2010, at 10:00 AM at Southwest Community Church, Fred Waring and Washington, Indian Wells.