Remembering Halfrid Nelson-Underhill

Subud members, Halfrid Nelson-Underhill and Larry Underhill, tragically died in a fire in their mobile home in Fresno on June 26^h. Many will forever remember Halfrid for her warmth, indomitable spirit, and sense of humor, as well as her heart-filled commitment to life.

Halfrid grew up in the Burbank, California area. As a college undergraduate, Halfrid spent a year in Spain learning the Spanish language and there developed her lifelong love of Spanish and Latin American culture.

Halfrid was a chef for the Upstart Crow Café and for various restaurants in Southern California. Cooking was a strong talent and inspiration she excelled at throughout her life.

Spending much of the 1990’s in Humboldt County, she worked as Executive Director for the Humboldt Arts Council, in the Marketing Department at the Arcata Coop, and with the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater. This began her involvement with nonprofit organizations, a vocation that persisted throughout her life.

She later moved to Fresno to look after her mother and then settled there permanently. She worked with The Fresno Community Foundation where she was Development Director. She was also often heard during fundraisers on KVPR, a public radio station in Fresno, making Norwegian jokes and enlivening the pledge drives. During those years, she did latihan with the San Joaquin Valley group both in Exeter and at Seven Circles. Halfrid was a strong contributor in the early years to the Seven Circles Project in Badger and is remembered for her successful fundraising and later, her service as a site manager along with her husband, Larry, at the Seven Circles Retreat.

Larry and Halfrid met in Fresno at a plant nursery one afternoon. The story goes that they started chatting, continued for a couple of hours, then went to dinner and talked some more. That first date led to marriage when Halfrid was 70 years old and their lifelong conversation continued.  Larry was eventually opened in Subud.

Halfrid and Larry spent several years working and living in Costa Rica and San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. A love of Latin American culture was something they deeply shared. They were hoping that after the pandemic would lessen, that they might be able to return to Latin America. Larry was a gifted high school Chemistry teacher and beloved by his students. He continued to teach in the Central Valley of California until their deaths.

In recent years, Halfrid developed macular degeneration and became blind. She was determined to maintain her independence and worked hard at adapting to her condition, learning to drive her scooter around their community and continuing to cook with adaptive habits.

Halfrid was preceded in death by her son, David Moore and her parents. Grieving her loss are her children, Kari Moore and Eric Moore, her grandchildren, Ryan and Alexa as well as the many friends who loved her. A memorial service is being planned.