Nathan literally means “Gift of God.” From the day he was born on a cool spring evening in Buffalo, New York on May 14, 1981, Nathan was truly a gift to all who knew him, but he was a gift beyond description to me, his mother Elvira and brother Aaron.

How can a father summarize nearly nineteen incredible years with a son who brought so much joy to others and who caused all of us to view the world from a different perspective? Wonder and curiosity are two words that come to mind to describe Nathan’s childhood. He found absolute joy in the simplest of pleasures – playing in the woods with Aaron, finding a salamander in a creek, or riding his bike to explore the world.

Nathan was definitely an active participant in this life but he was an observer beyond comparison. His insight into the feelings and motives of others was a gift that he sometimes found difficult to handle. Nate despised cruelty and unfairness – he was a champion to the underdog.

Nathan was an incredibly complex person who viewed the world unlike most other people. In his own words, he had feelings and experienced life in a manner that was “ridiculously intense.” He never wanted to burden anyone with his feelings, so he buried them deep within himself. His only outlet for those feelings were the writings he left behind in his journals and on the computer. Nathan fought the demon of depression and wondered about his role in life. He looked back on his childhood as a time of simple joy and innocence. He often wondered if adulthood could offer that same simplicity.

Nathan was a loving, sensitive son, brother and friend. He had a sense of humor and wit that was very unique. He was a person of few words, but those that he did utter often left his listeners searching for their deep and profound meaning. On the other hand, he may break into a spontaneous “rap song” of crazy lyrics.

As I write this, seven months after Nathan’s death, the void in our lives seems as large as ever. My greatest consolation comes from knowing that Nate is cradled in the arms of Christ and no longer has to deal with the pain of depression. I wish that he had been able to share that pain with us – his family and friends – and come to realize how very valuable he was in all of our lives.

These comments have reflected only my feelings as Nathan’s father. I encourage his friends and our family to share their thoughts, their memories and stories that reflect the lasting impact that this unique person has had on all of our lives. Please do this in the Reflections section of this website.

We love all of you and are forever grateful for the 18 awesome years that Nathan shared his life with us.

Nate, we miss you terribly and thank you for the awesome gift you were in our lives.
I look so forward to seeing you again.
Love,
Dad