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Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Concord

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Concord, Massachusetts

Nathaniel Marden Obituary

Nathaniel "Nat" Marden, 61, of Concord, Massachusetts died on June 1, 2012 at his home overlooking Fairhaven Bay. Born in Boston, MA, on March 3, 1951, he was the son of Helen Wright Marden of Concord, MA, and the late Robert (Bob) Marden of West Newfield, ME. He attended Kents Hill School in Kents Hill, ME. For over 35 years Nat dedicated his life to the stewardship of several pieces of conservation land in Concord. Most dear to his heart were the Wright Woods, purchased by his great grandfather, G. Fred Robinson, and donated to the Concord Land Conservation Trust by his grandmother, Helen Robinson Wright. In the fall of 2001, the CLCT awarded Nat the Conservationist of the Year Award for his initiative and leadership in battling the invasive water-chestnut plants that once clogged Fairhaven Bay. Over 200 tons of the plants were removed from the Concord River using the water-chestnut harvester in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the combined teamwork from the towns of Concord and Lincoln, and numerous volunteers. In 2003, the National Society of the D.A.R. conferred on him the Conservation Medal for his 25 years of commitment to conservation activities in Concord. In 2010, during the River Fest Celebration, Nat was given the River Stewardship Award for his contributions in the fight against invasive plants. In addition to his dedication to the care of land and river, Nat was also an avid gardener. He kept three plots for many years at the Hugh Cargill Community Garden, growing basil, tomatoes, beans, and more. Nat also belonged to the Musketaquid Art Association. There with others, he made many a puppet to be carried in the Earth Day Parade, most recently a unicorn made from bittersweet vines. Nat was a resourceful, hard-working, thoughtful, kind, and generous man. He knew about machines, land management, and about getting things done in a steady way without calling attention to himself or his accomplishments. He touched the lives of many people, lending them a hand, or visiting with them, listening carefully to and sharing genuinely in the stories of their lives. He reached out to many who were having hardships, always willing to lend a hand, heart, or home. In addition to his mother, Helen Marden, Nat is survived by his daughter Jessica Marden, his ex wife, Deborah Lee, his stepchildren Heather-Katie and John Aziz, his stepmother Christa Marden, and his fiance, Jenny Murphy, and his brother Christopher Marden and his wife Marsha. Nat was loved by many and will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nat's memory may be made to the Concord Land Conservation Trust, Boathouse Fund, P. O. Box 141, Concord, MA 01742. A memorial visitation is scheduled on June 23, 2012 from 9:00 - 5:00 at the Pine Grove overlooking Fairhaven Bay, 892 Fairhaven Rd, Concord, MA. Parking is along Arena Terrace. We encourage all who can, to walk in along Fairhaven Road (1.1 miles) to the site of the memorial. A shuttle bus will be provided for those who cannot make the trip. Signs will be posted along the way. There will be a tent, memory board, and friends with which to remember and celebrate Nat's life. Guests are encouraged to bring poems, art, music and food to share. Arrangements are under the care of Susan M. Dee and Charles W. Dee, Jr., Directors, Dee Funeral Home of Concord. To share a remembrance in Nat's guest book please visit www.deefuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Concord Journal from Jun. 9 to Jun. 16, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Nathaniel Marden

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Stephen Parkhurst

June 3, 2023

WONDERFUL GUY!!!!

Stephen Parkhurst

June 3, 2020

He was my roommate at Kents Hill and a good friend. Still miss him !

Steve Parkhurst

January 18, 2013

Nat was my roommate in our Senior year at Kents Hill. He was a bit shy but a wonderful and warm human being.I will miss his wit andwarmth. Godspeed !

Scott L.

June 23, 2012

Godspeed Nat, you were the stable gentle soul of our 'gang' and most in tune with nature. I'm glad we had our times to share in Concord both many years ago and again last Fall. We'll always remember you as the caring person you were.

Sylvia Guild Beaudoin

June 22, 2012

Dear Helen,
It has been many years since you saw me biking around KC but my sister, Lina (Caroline) and I were so fortunate to reconnect with Nat over the past few years. We came to appreciate his generous spirit and tremendous knowledge about nature in his care for our property. We respected and relied upon him and will sincerely miss him very much.

I regret that I cannot attend the Memorial which certainly will be a wonderful celebration of such a giving and talented man. My heart and healing prayers go out to you and all your family in this difficult time of loss.

June 22, 2012

Nat Marden was one of my earliest and dearest childhood friends. We lived in the Kendal Common community in Weston. Nat was there before the arrival of the Ervin's, the Segiens and the Brotmans. So Nat was “the boy who was my age” in that neighborhood. Some of my best memories of those early years in Kendal Common were with Nat. We were “best friends” as young children. And, in memory of that friendship, I want to express my deep and very sincere sympathy to Nat's family for the unfortunate loss of this gentle man.
Kendal Common was built on an old golf course. We each had a “sand trap” in our back yards. It was a great place to play with toy soldiers, water hoses and with trucks. We explored the woods together. We lashed discarded lumber together to build rafts that we floated on the neighborhood pond. We used a fire hose to “flood” the pond so that we could skate on it in the cold New England winters. We built snow forts and defended them against all comers. Nat introduced me to tennis.
Nat was the first kid on the street to have a snow blower. You could make some serious pocket change plowing driveways with one of those things. That may have been the beginning of Nat's life-long passion for machinery.
One of the most iconic moments of my early childhood involved Nat. We played a marathon, week-long Monopoly game together. We owned all the properties on the board and had hotels on every one. The randomness of chance kept our Monopoly fortunes nearly even for days. No one could quite get the upper hand; enough to finish off the other guy for good. We even had to print our own “Monopoly money” because if you landed on Boardwalk when it had 4 hotels on it, there just weren't enough bills in the original game to pay the rent on that little mistake. I think it was Nat's mother, Helen, who finally put a stop to our game. After a week she needed her kitchen counter back and, well, enough was enough.
For me, Nat epitomized the best of “old” New England. He was quiet, even a bit shy. He was thoughtful and thoroughly self-sufficient, in a Yankee kind of way. Nat cherished the things in this world that mattered. He lived life simply. He walked the talk. It is fitting therefore that he lived his life literally in the shadow of Walden Pond.
Nat, you will be missed by the many who loved you. May you rest in peace.

June 21, 2012

Nat,
Thank you for taking Timmy Under your wing and being a Great mentor for him. You will be remembered always..

Dorinda Bell- Newbury Court Receptionist and her son Timothy S Bell

Raluca Rosenberg

June 16, 2012

Helen, there are no words to express the tremendous loss you and your family have experienced. I was fortunate enough to know Nat, and I knew him as a wonderful, caring and warm-hearted human being. Always there for his friends, family and the community. We will all miss Nat tremendously, and always remember what a wonderful person he was. His spirit and his good-hearted nature will live on in all the people who knew him. As long as we keep his memory alive, Nat will be alive. Rest In Peace, Nat!

Tessa Hedley-Whyte

June 14, 2012

We will all miss Nat tremendously.
Unfortunately we will not be able to attend his remembrance but will be thinking of everyone . T & J

Brittany S.

June 14, 2012

Nat,
Heather and I have such happy memories of Concord and Boston with you - irreplaceable memories. I remember the little gifts you always sent us in the mail. They would always brighten our days. You always kept us in your thoughts and I will always keep you in mine. You'll never be forgotten.... You were an amazing person and I'm glad I got to know you.

Wendy Thomas

June 9, 2012

Dearest Nat was my best friend and stepbrother since I was 11 years old. He was the most giving and loving person. My heart breaks with all who knew and loved him. He taught me how to garden, how to examine life spiritually, and how to be courageous even when I didn't think I could be. He lives on in my heart forever. Dear Nat, I loved you well. May peace and love follow you forever.
Wendy Thomas email [email protected]

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Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service - Concord

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