Nate’s Story.

Gift from God ~ Strong Warrior

At the young age of 19, Nate became a victim of gun violence, stolen from this earth senselessly and tragically. But his death does not take away from who he was and the impact he left on this world in his short life. Nate was a leader, a playmaker, and a creative spirit. He was a stranger to no one and a friend to everyone. Full of compassion and love for others, Nate was non-judgmental, kind, cool, and funny. He was beautiful, with a contagious smile, an infectious laugh, and a heart way too big for his body. He was a believer. He saw people’s potential and believed they could do what they never considered possible. 

Nate, too, was full of potential. He had dreams of becoming a professional athlete, pursuing photography, tattooing, and building a brand. He was already an accomplished athlete - a repeat gold medalist in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a state champion wrestler, part of multiple championship baseball teams, and a record holder in high school football with many awards and accomplishments, including a full-scholarship to a Division 1 football program.  At the collegiate level, despite the odds stacked against him, he demonstrated drive, determination and work ethic, leading him to win the starting running back position as a True Freshman. In addition, he earned Rookie of the Year for the program and CAA Rookie of the Week. As a sophomore, he landed in the top 10 on SportsCenter and was showcased on the NFL Sunday Spotlight for a play that showed his perseverance and playmaking abilities. 

Nate’s athletic accomplishments speak to a greater truth about his character. He was fearless, regularly facing opponents that outweighed him by over a hundred pounds, running through them and blocking them. He would sacrifice himself to protect his quarterback, keep a play alive, and keep his team in the game. He was a one-of-a-kind teammate, humble and willing to put his teammates above his own desires for success on the field. 

But this was just one side of Nate. He was smart, charismatic, and enterprising. He could convince you of anything if he put his mind to it. He went out of his way to make other people smile, even on days where he couldn’t smile himself. Nate was vulnerable, unafraid to share his struggles if it meant it could help someone else avoid struggles of their own. 

Nate used his passions to connect with people. Whether it was his love of fashion, photography, music or tattoos, he used art to inspire and help others. He had goals of entrepreneurialism, bringing together various art forms and promoting them under a brand that he and his friend and teammate created. He believed that everyone had something creative to offer the world. Nate saw beauty in the simple things. He used photography and tattoo artistry as a way to express his thoughts about society and his passion for justice and equality. 

Nate strove to spread love, to be the light, and to always seek peace. His impact will be felt for years to come, held deep within the hearts of those that loved him. Whether he was a long-time friend, a new friend or someone you briefly encountered, he left a part of himself with you. That was his desire and his gift. He was the purest soul, with so much love in his heart for people and hope for a better world. He was an amazing friend, teammate, classmate, nephew, grandson, brother and son. It’s been said that he planted a seed in everyone he touched. The seed of strength to keep going, spreading love, light and peace. He was an angel on earth, long before he got his wings.