Carmel lost a great character this morning.
Priscilla Nesbitt Laughing at my poor Pun – at 100, Arriving at Carmel Library Friends Book Sale
Priscilla Nesbitt passed away quietly after leading a life of vibrant curiosity and deeply held passion for trees and wildlife, for caring people and knowledge.
You get an insight into Priscilla’s spirit with how she described her doctor to me. “Dr Kennedy is a tree hugger. I adore him.” I’m not sure she ever knew how much that endeared her to me.
I knew her as a lover of animals, trees and forests, and wild places topped off with a gentle but firm courteous demeanor.
Many, now mature, locals knew her as a no nonsense elementary teacher at River School with a seemingly unlimited understanding of, and passion for, our natural world.
She also loved books. When Priscilla learned her beloved Thunderbird
Priscilla Nesbitt – Inimitable
bookstore was closing she uncharacteristically exclaimed “Oh Shit.” Because I shared that passion, for the past 25 years we had a standing date to attend the fabulous Book sale for Carmel Library. We had almost as much fun standing in line with all the other book lovers as we did browsing the tables groaning with wonderful weighty words and inspiring photographs.
She had a great set of retired live-in friends — Roscoe, Shadow, Lucia, and Trouve (to name just a few) whom most of us would call cats. As Priscilla put it they were “treasures.”
Her daughter Penelope put on a fabulous 90th birthday celebration, to which kindhearted friends and family arrived from far and wide. Such a wonderful caring group of people tells me volumes about the person who drew them there.
At one time she and husband John (a celebrated Radio personality) owned Big Sur’s Big Creek “ranch” that I believe extended South to include where the Camaldolese Hermitage is today. Priscilla gave Malcolm Millard credit for saving Big Creek in Big Sur after husband John died. She described Malcolm as a man with “great integrity and a sense of humanity.” That set of values probably tells you more about her character than she would have wanted you to know.
Many others will recognize her name as a prolific and passionate letter writer to the newspapers, mostly aimed to protecting wild animals and our local forests. She knew important elected officials and some of their parents were her close friends including Fred Farr and Bill Monning’s mother. So some trembled when they knew she’d discovered they’d done something bad for wildlife or wild places.
A few short years ago she announced “I’m 98 and completely healthy and independent.” Growing up with relatives with vigor and mental ability at that longevity, it seemed normal for me. But reflecting on so many other friends lost at earlier ages, makes me realize how special that is.
Born in 1911, on September 5, she allowed me the honor of spending a few moments with her a couple weeks ago on her 101st birthday. She was surrounded with overflowing cards and photographs. We held hands reminiscing about books and trees and animals we’ve known and loved, picnics at her Big Sur cabin and her dear friends and family.
I already miss her warm kind caring spirit for, deeply insightful thoughts and vast knowledge of — our natural world.
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Priscilla’s beautifully written official Obituary at Legacy.com
Thank you for celebrating Priscilla Nesbitt with such a personal, loving tribute. She was our nephews’ grandmother, and both Keigan and Harte adored her. She definitely lived life with grace, passion and determination. She leaves huge shoes of inspiration for us to aspire to make a difference, just as she did. Beautiful lady!
Priscilla Nesbitt was my 7th grade English teacher.
She encouraged keeping a journal in which to write what you pleased, to be critiqued or not. Simply mark the top of the page with a “Do Not Read”, and you knew she wouldn’t.
I fell in love with her from the beginning, and never stopped.
She opened her classroom during lunchtime to those of us who felt like hearing her read while we brown bagged it to the words of C.S. Lewis and the like.
A year or so later, I headed off to high school with bits of wisdom shared by Mrs. Nesbitt in my pocket but it was close to 20 years later before I picked up the phone book and sought out my favorite teacher of all time.
The adult relationship I shared with Priscilla was deeper and more colorful than our days at Carmel Middle School.
Every brunch, lunch or picnic to Big Creek held within it history, insight and humor. I never stopped feeling honored to be part of her life.
What a treat to visit her home and her vast library of books she was eager to share. Or her music, or photo albums chronicling events and moments with family and friends she treasured.
I loved her determined walk, her kind yet direct manner, her ability to share her knowledge with those not as bright and never convey anything but equality. She had that rare gift to bring out the shine in people; their very best.
She was a true teacher in the finest sense. Over lunch one day a few years back, she passed to me a poem. As I read the words that the twelve-year-old me had written almost 40 years before, I realized that this was that person for me: the one that comes along and makes a difference. Caring about me before I did and probably knowing I’d find my way home to her.
Thank you for being Priscilla Nesbitt and for blessing the earth with your presence for over 100 years.
Thanks, Kathleen, for the lovely comment.
Annie, this is a beautiful tribute. Our mother (aka OM) loved you and relished your friendship. Thanks especially for being so attentive to her in recent years.
David, for some reason this article just reached my computer. I just shared it on Facebook. Thank you for being such a devoted friend to OM (Our Mother) for so many years. You were one of the darling young men she so delighted in and whose company made her glow. I hope you and I will stay in touch! I’ll certainly be following your work–online, if not on the news. Love, Penelope