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Nathan Hellman Obituary

HELLMAN, Nathan Edward Died on February 13, 2010, from a stroke. Nathan was born in Houston, Texas, on December 8, 1973. He spent his early years in Houston, San Antonio and St. Louis, and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, where he attended Congdon Park Elementary School, Ordean Junior HS and graduated in 1992 from Duluth East HS, where he was the editor of the newspaper and member of the math, Knowledge Bowl, basketball and track teams. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biophysics. He received his MD, PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, where he met the love of his life Claire, and then did a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Basic Science Research Award. Following residency, he received a Fullbright Scholarship to study the molecular biology of cystic kidney disease at the Hospital Necker in Paris. He completed a Renal Fellowship at Harvard University, where he was on staff as a scientist physician and was board certified in Nephrology. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and creator of the Renal Fellows Blog. He was a kind and compassionate person and physician. Nathan is survived by his wife, Claire; daughter, Sophie; son, Maxime; parents, Patricia (Gregorich) and Richard N. Hellman MD; sisters, Susan Jean Hellman and Catherine O'Malley; brother-in-law, Timothy O'Malley; nephews, Henry and James O'Malley; and uncles, Joseph and Robert Gregorich. Nathan loved ideas, humor, canoeing and camping in the BWCA, biking, backpacking, basketball, comic books, exploration, writing, Eggo waffles, peanut butter and French culture. Most of all, he loved his wife and two beautiful children. He had the rare ability to live life to its fullest and to also chronicle it, a humbleness that belied his brilliance and the ability to form close friendships. He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and uncle. Nathan was a rare individual whose untimely death will be mourned by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held at the Massachusetts General Hospital O'Keeffe Auditorium on Wednesday, February 17 at 2pm, and at a later date this summer in Duluth, Minnesota. We would like to thank the staff at MGH Neurosciences ICU for the excellent and compassionate care Nathan received during his brief and tragic illness.

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Published by Boston Globe on Feb. 16, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Nathan Hellman

Not sure what to say?





Mathieu Lemaire

March 15, 2010

After we first met a few years ago in Maine, I rapidly came to appreciate that Nate was a generous, humble and brilliant individual. Last fall, our paths crossed again when I discovered that he was behind the superb website entitled the "Renal Fellow Network". Not that I was surprised.

Je désire par la présente exprimer mes sincères condoléances à Claire, Sophie, Maxime ainsi qu'à toute la famille de Nate. Soyez certains que ses collègues ne l'oublieront pas de sitôt.

Raj Sarabu

March 13, 2010

Nate, I know you from your blog which is very informative. I am so shocked to know about your untimely death. Whenever I read your posts, I get inspiration and feel proud to be nephrologist. I have great respect for you and feel that you were very successful in whatever you have done in your life. I sincerely pray for you to rest in peace and success to your family.

March 7, 2010

Dear Rick and Pat,
We were so saddened to hear that your son, Nathan, passed away. We were not fortunate enough to meet him, but have heard wonderful things about him from Art and Jan. Please accept our condolences on your terrible loss. May your memories of Nathan bring you and your family much comfort.
Wendy(Wulf) and Chuck Siegel

Bunny Hammer

February 20, 2010

Dear Pat, Rick, Cathy & Susie,
I am so saddened to hear from Joyce that Nathan passed.I remember him, as well as his sisters.
My Deepest Condolences.

Bunny Hammer, (Joyce Parker's mother)
Fort Lauderdale, Fl.

Roger Stumacher

February 20, 2010

My heart is broken. Nate was brilliant in every sense of the word -- truly one of the standouts in our residency class. What a kind and good person he was. It was a privilege to know him, and I hope that his memory will be a blessing for those he left behind.

Art and Jan Wulf

February 19, 2010

Dear Rick and Pat,
Rick, I have been your friend for over 50 years now, and this is the hardest thing I have ever had to write. Your are the humblest and most personable doctor I have ever met, and you raised your son in the same manner. Nathan was brilliant, and was taken from us far too soon. It is a testament to you and Pat that he was the quality person that others have noted on this page, and you should take solace from the 36 years of joy he brought to you and me and others who knew him. He will not be forgotten in our house.

Donna Christie

February 18, 2010

Dear Susie,
Words are so inadequate but my heart reaches out to you and to your family in love and support. Though Nathan is no longer in this world, his essence, his spirit, live on through those he loved and who loved him. With deepest sympathy,

Jeremy Berg

February 17, 2010

Nate was a great friend, I have fond memories of walking from East HS 2 blocks away to his home and eating lunch with him. He always ate either frozen eggo waffles, chicken nuggets, cereal or corndogs. Although I didn't see him when we parted ways for college (I couldn't get into Yale, lol), we reconnected when he moved to St. Louis and I moved to Topeka Ks. We had fun while I visited several times and he always kept us busy, a fantastic host. We never know what life will bring us from day to day. Good friends are not always rare, but Nate was. He was someone I am proud to have known. I'll always tell my kids, friends and family how special he was. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to all Nate's family. Hearts were broken all over the world at the news of your passing. You will be missed more than anyone could ever describe in words. Love ya buddy and RIP. Go Cubs:)

Joyce&Jay Parker

February 17, 2010

We were shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of Nathan. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family ,his parents Rick and Pat and sisters Cathy and Susie.

February 17, 2010

Shock and sadness seem so cliche. Nate was a brilliant scientist, a wise physician, and a fiercly loyal friend. It's unbelievable that he's gone, and my heart goes out to all he touched, but especially to Claire, Sophie and Maxime.

Carla Keirns, Stony Brook, New York

Josh Dooley

February 17, 2010

Though I did not know Nathan, I know his sister, Susie. She has always spoken of him with the warmest love and regard, and I know, by the way her face brightens at the mention of his name, that he was the very best of brothers. I am saddened by his loss and would like to extend my condolences to the whole Hellman family.

Julio Bautista

February 17, 2010

My Heart goes out to the Hellman Family. I am truly saddened by your loss. Although i never met Nathan, i have worked with his sister Susan whom i hold in high regards. Again, my heart goes out to the Hellman family.

Steve and Danette Hauck

February 16, 2010

What can we say about Nate...he loved his family, his work, his friends and his life. He will be dearly missed.

Carl Reynolds

February 16, 2010

Nate was a rare person who seemed to sample life more completely than most, and in his experience brought those around him up.

Tim Dungan

February 16, 2010

What a remarkable person Nate was. I offer my deepest condolences to the entire Hellman family. I’m shocked and saddened by this tragic news. I’ll always remember the many times playing basketball with Nate and his Dad growing up. My family’s prayers go out to you in this time of mourning.

Dr. IMRAN ZAHID M.D

February 16, 2010

Nathan though I never met you but as a keen follower of your post, I always thought of you as a successful, hardworking and dedicated nephrologist with great future . Today, I was in shock to learn your untimely news of death. May ALLAH (SWAT) rest you soul in peace
( Amin).

Imran Zahid M.D

IMRAN ZAHID

February 16, 2010

Nathan though I never met you but as a keen follower of your post, I always thought of you as a successful, hardworking and dedicated nephrologist with great future . Today, I was in shock to learn your untimely news of death. May ALLAH (SWAT) rest you soul in peace
( Amin).

Imran Zahid M.D

David Asanuma

February 16, 2010

RIP Nate. You were a great friend and a brilliant doctor and researcher. I will never forgot the friendship you extended to me when I first started working here and all the help you have given me since. You will be missed immensely.

Eric and Joey Pederson

February 16, 2010

Nate's love of life was infectious and is an inspiration to everyone. No matter where in the world he was, his family and friends were top priority. His legacy will live on and his memory will never be forgotten.

Ellen M.

February 16, 2010

My heart is so heavy. I shall miss you, friend. --Ellen

February 16, 2010

I didn't know Nathan personally but I feel like I knew him. I started reading his blog when a friend of mine went on vacation in France and stayed with him and his family. We both grew up in Duluth. He shared his humor, love of research, sports and most importantly, his family thru his blog. I know all who knew him will be grieving this loss. My prayers go out to his beloved family.

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