Contributed by Christine Cotie

There are several stories that could fit under this title including saving a friend while white water rafting without flinching, snagging the best girl around as his wife, graduating med school despite a tough road, and on and on, but here is one that is less important but goes to show you that Nate was always that same solid, humble, charming guy no matter what.

Our undergrad group of girlfriends and significant others got together each summer for the “North Nestleton Games”. Kristy and Nate would develop these intricate stories about each guy girl pair and we would have a full day of activities and games to get points and ultimately win the big prize.

The year of the “Hunger Games Theme” I was from the district of Jersey Shore and therefore competed for the full day in a leopard print dress and fur boots. Conveniently Nate and Kristy’s costume consisted of wearing shorts and tank tops (ahem…advantage noted). That being said, going into the last round we were neck and neck. The last game was worth a crazy amount of points and whoever won that would take it all.

The game consisted of running into the middle of a circle to grab water balloons to throw at each other. Last person to get hit by a balloon would win. I ran, in my dress, and was able to gather one balloon. I then bolted for a large shed in the backyard where I slid beneath the shed and hid for the duration of the balloon fight. My strategy was to wait until everyone else took each other out and then use my one precious balloon to take that person out. Eventually it came down to three people left, Nate, myself and a new player to the game, a friend Nate had met through Med school, Jesse Lelliot.

I could hear them strategizing and they made an alliance to take me out together and split the prize. I was so mad! I had hid under that shed for over an hour in a leopard print dress and only had one balloon so there was no way for me to take them both out. Everyone else had changed into sweatpants and was sitting at the fire so eventually I crawled out and hid under some lawn chairs at the fire while Jesse and Nate searched for me. They came back and sat at the fire and after about five minutes Nate locked eyes with me. Very casually he picked up two balloons and threw one at me and then one at Jesse making him the ultimate winner.

I gave Nate the hardest time that night about choosing Jesse, the new guy, over me, a dedicated veteran to the game! Nate, being the humble and wonderful person that he was, decided that I deserved some of the prize and shared with Jesse and me. That is who Nate was, even though he excelled at everything, he wanted everyone to win with him.

Thanks for all the memories Nate and for being such a wonderful partner to our Kristy! Xoxo