John Nash, Grooming Innovator, succumbs to cancer at 58

John Nash, Founder of Nash Academy of New Jersey, Co-Director of Nash Academy Lexington KY, and Co-Director of International Judges Association, has passed away at the age of 58 after a gallant three year battle against bladder cancer.

“Few people in grooming have influenced our industry in such a dramatic fashion,”  stated Shirlee Kalstone. ”He was always an innovator, way ahead of his time.”

Establishing Nash Academy in 1979, John was also a respected international grooming judge, educator and speaker. He won the Cardinal Crystal Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Dog Grooming Industry. In 1988, John and Vivian Nash opened Nash Academy in Lexington, KY and they began an student exchange program with the Sepia School of Dog Grooming in Japan and the KK Grooming School, Frankfurt, Germany.

In 1998, Vivian and John Nash founded the International Judges Association for arm Dog Grooming Competitions, an organization dedicated to standardization and fairness in judging of dog grooming competitions worldwide. They also created the Triple Crown of dog grooming competitions, in which an individual could win prize money of $30,000, the largest ever offered in dog grooming competition history.

In 2004, celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Nash Academy expanded into the world of online training by offering online classes globally. In 2008, Nash, Inc. launched www.CanineReference.com, an online canine encyclopedia and in 2009, they launched www.GroomersReference.com, an online reference with illustrated guides for bathing, grooming and styling every AKC breed. In 2009, Nash opened Nash Europe.

Donations may be sent to the Nash Brighton Project, c/o Global Gain, 449 W. Sixth St., Lexington, KY. This project was established by John and Vivian Nash in 2009 to establish a school for the poor in a small town in Jamaica, that they loved.

John Nash is Remembered him…

Click here to read Sally Liddick's article - My Friend John

Shirlee Kalstone…
This is such an emotional time for all of us who loved John Nash to hear of his passing at such an early age. His death happened too soon … far too soon … for he (with Vivian) had such plans for the future of grooming.
John Nash was my close friend for over 35 years. I first met him in New York in 1973 and we became instant friends and colleagues. For as long as I knew him, everything he accomplished was done with style, elegance and grace.
Few people in grooming have influenced our industry in such a dramatic fashion. From the early days of the Nash Academy in Cliffside Park, New Jersey onward to the Nash Academy in Kentucky, the relationship with the Sepia School in Japan, the founding of the IJA, the online training courses, and the Groomers’ Reference, he was always an innovator, way ahead of his time. On a personal note, I shall miss him terribly. He was a gentlemen and great role model for our industry. Click here to read Shirlee Kalstone's article on John.

Marlene and Angie Romani, MDC Romani, Inc…
Angie and I met him 25 years ago and we watched this great man make a huge commitment to this industry, while not looking for rewards. All of us admire his contributions… He soon added his wife Vivian, who complimented him, and they both began a successful mission to contribute a huge amount of education to all.

Teri DiMarino...
…he will be remembered in every scissor stroke I ever take.

John Stazko ...
Dec 17th is a very sad day for the industry, John's family and friends …he is in such a wonderful place but will be very missed here. God bless you, John.

Barb and Don Kassebaum ...
I will always remember John's smile and his generosity to Barb and myself. I loved his tender way of speaking and yet he was so professional in all his dealings with people in the Pet Industry. He never acted like he was greater than anyone else. For the stature of a man he was, he walked very humbly before God and His people. We will all miss John. We also hold in high esteem, Vivian… the jewel that God used to bring brilliance to their team. They surely were a team.

Linda A Law, Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming, Dumfries, VA
He gave of his knowledge with a open heart. He taught us how to be professional, successful and how to run our businesses. He was never too busy to take a question. He was a Great Leader and empowered us to be greater than we thought we could be. He and Vivian were a true love story. What a beautiful couple.

Marea Tully…
John was an icon and credit to our industry. We all learned a lot from him, especially me. His smile and upbeat personality will be sorely missed.

Mr. Gan Wee Yet MCMG, NCM, IJA, President, House Of Groomers Academy, Malaysian Pet Groomers Association
The pet grooming industry has just lost one of the most revered industry makers. We are deeply saddened with the passing of this great man, Mr. John Nash. "Every man dies, not every man TRULY lives."

Dawn Omboy…
I have several special memories of John And Vivian. One just a small thing to them but was huge to me. I had traveled to California to compete in the creative competition in Burbank. I was a very shy self-taught Groomer from Georgia. The day after the competition (back at LAX Airport) I was struggling with my luggage and my dog, and the line was very long. The Nashes saw this and John came over to help me, saying to the airport security “ Oh No , she just won an International competition and she belongs in this line.” He Helped me get the dog checked through. I was so grateful for the help. And feeling so elated that they even knew who I was.

Thank you John and Viv for making me feel so special, and for believing in me. I was always taken with how much love I could see between the two of you. And John looked really hot in his black t-shirt with that heartwarming smile!
I also really loved the model dog that was being auctioned off in Pasadena, last year. I started the bidding on it but had to bow out soon because there were two serious bidders for the beautiful black and white Chinese Crested Model dog. After all other bidders had stopped, the bidding continued between Vivian and John! I think she won. I think they both won. I think anyone who had the fortune to meet them.. won.

My love to you both.

Christine DeFilippo…
John's welcoming smile is what I will remember most in my heart. We all know what he has done for the industry, and the grooming world, as a whole.

Mario DiFante…
He is an irreplaceable innovator and contributor to the growth of our industry. He will be missed by all. Having known him for many years, I had never seen him so happy as when he and Viv became soul mates. When they walked into a room they seemed to glow.

Erick Goldberg, PetSmart…
Heart-broken is about the only thing that comes to mind. He has left a true "void".

Kim and everyone at the Professional Cat Groomers Association of America…
John will always be an icon to the grooming industry. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. For those individuals who didn't have the pleasure to meet him, his legacy will continue to shine with the Nash Academy and their fine teaching.

Don Kassebaum Jr., Cosmos Corporation, Wentzville, MO
My fondest memory of John Nash goes back to the day that I first met him. My dad and I were exhibiting at our first “grooming” show… We didn’t have any products in those days, just this quirky looking shampoo system that we wanted to show to groomers. During the show, two men walked up to our booth and began to look it over.

One of the men, named John Nash, had dark glasses on and spoke only a few words to us. After a few minutes in our booth, he invited us to come to his school in New Jersey and install our shampoo system. The rest is history. John Nash… came to our booth that day, invited us in, and we began installing shampoo systems all over the country. I will always remember John Nash as a man of a few words, but he had a heart as big as Texas. Psalm 112
 
Cynthia & Sam Kohl…
He was one of our very favorite people in the industry and a true gentleman. We will all miss his warm smile.

Daryl Conner …
I only got to "know" John and Vivian through the Gospel breakfasts at Hershey. I was deeply moved by their story and by the richly apparent love they shared. Of course, the contributions they have made to our industry are enormous and will resonate for years to come.

From Naohisa Tsujihara (Japan). Son of Sepia School of Dog Grooming’s, Masahiro and Naoko Tsujihara…
Dearest Father John,

How much I loved and respected you since I joined this Canine Business. (I have the) greatest memories (of you) since you became one of the best friends of my deceased parents and as my best father in the U.S.A.

I put your warmest words in my mind, which you would be my father when my parents passed away even (though) you lived one thousand miles away. I lost my father again (now) with great sorrow. I hardly believe myself upon hearing of the loss of my beloved father… (I have) good memories in which you are still alive somewhere. There is no words to properly express my thanks for what you have done for the people around me in your whole life.

I will make my best effort to endure this tragic burden and to set a good example which you have extended to all the people in this field in the past. You will be alive in our mind forever. Finally, God bless my dearest father, John. Love your son, Naohisa