Nathan Orlando Folland

I never actually met him. Angel is my cousin. But from what I read, he was one heck of a guy, though he and I would have disagreed about one or two things. Angel, I'm sorry for your loss, I was looking for news to see if you were okay after the hurricanes, and I hope Aunt Bessie is okay too. Love, Michele Fritchie

Sending condolences and hugs to you Angel, from Kristin and Glenn.

Angel and Nate moved to our neighborhood some years ago in Micanopy, Florida. They bought a large house with a large yard and backed up to the swamp as many of us are. They were direct neighbors to me. Working night shift and being a little shy, it took me awhile to get to know them. Then an ever lasting friendship developed. They were both fun, interesting, generous and intelligent. I loved being around them. Whenever they left town, I went down twice daily to feed and play with the cat. He was a funny cat and enjoyed playtime. I would go swimming in the pool and just enjoy the atmosphere of the house and property. I have even gone down to swim and have both Angel and Nate jump in with me. We all had a good time.
Nate was always a pleasure to be around. On occasion he would come to my house to help me put up a new ceiling fan or the like. We had many dinner parties both at my house and theirs. For the neighborhood dinner parties we had to do at their house because mine is too small. Nate used to laugh at me when I went over to ask about something in my raggedy house clothes and I would tell him I dressed up just for him. It broke my heart when they had to move away and down size to a house more manageable. They had done some beautiful remodeling of that big old house. Always has been my favorite house in the neighborhood. Nate and Angel were just the perfect couple, both being so honest and friendly. Both being intelligent, a pleasure to talk to. They were a most wonderful addition to our neighborhood and probably to any place they resided. Nate was never afraid to say what he meant. But he never put anyone down. He could fit right into any crowd of people whatever their walk of life. One could not help but to love him.
Angel, it hurts me for your terrible loss. I am so very grateful to have been a small part of your lives and I will love and treasure you and Nate forever as very dear friends.
Always, Sherrie Eakin from the swamp in Micanopy.

Angel, Sending much love and support. Janet

Sending you condolences and much love, Angel. Joce & Tom

Sending condolences, Angel. I so enjoyed when you and Nate lived in our neighborhood.

Two memories out of many.

My PhD work had made me (I thought) an expert on group theory. Then I met Nate. He patiently showed me tons of stuff that he used that I had no idea about and our friendship began.

It is a perennial puzzle how deterministic equations of motion (which imply an unchanging entropy) lead to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Nate's probing questions challenged my pretty facile arguments and sharpened them.

We did not always agree. In his last few years at KSU Nate tried to base electromagnetism on Coulomb's and Ampere's laws. Others had tried this but usually smuggled in some implicit assumptions. Nate was too honest for that. Where they arrived at Maxwell's equations Nate got something slightly different. I think Nature follows Maxwell, not Folland, but I respected Nate's intellectual honesty and perseverance, plus his willingness to follow an unconventional path.

One day Nate and I were leaving the Unitarian Universalist meeting place and he turned to me and asked "How can you buy a good bottle of wine when people are starving?" That question often comes back to me. My best try at an answer is that "I have to be doing something to ease the suffering in the world". I wish I could discuss that with Nate now.

Angel, I remember Nate from the informal dinner we shared at your place a few years ago when Kristin Larsen and I dropped by. The deep connectivity and tenderness between you and Nate was abundantly clear during our supper, filling the space. With love and remembrance, Meg

Angel, please accept our deepest condolences. With our love, Vandana and Stefan

I spent many weekends at Mr. Folland's house in Manhattan, Kansas when I was in Junior High and High School (with Meredith, Liz and John), and several out at the lake.

He was always kind, direct, highly intelligent and he was, in many ways, a second father to me.

My deepest condolences to Angel, Meredith, Elizabeth, John, Katarina, Laura and all those who loved him. He will be greatly missed.

I met Nate almost 25 years ago upon his move with Angel to Gainesville. Angel and I soon became fast friends, and Nate was a special part of our friendship.

In our lifetimes we meet thousands of people but very few who make a true lasting impact on our lives. Nate was one of those rare people.
So many people will remember him for his brilliant mind, his keen insight into the world and all it encompasses, his no nonsense attitude and his love of life.
I remember Nate as a big softie.
He often exuded the crusty demeanor of a man impatient to tackle life and all its problems but in reality it took no effort to bring out the real Nate - the man with the dry, understated sense of humor, the man with the quick smile and a big hearty laugh. A man who cherished his friends and would do anything for those he held dear. He had a curious mind and could hold court on a wide range of subjects. He was plain spoken and you always knew where you stood with him. If he thought you were off base he let you know it. My one regret is that I never got to see him "dance with abandon" as his children said he was fond of doing.
He cherished his wife Angel, his friends and his life and we are the better for having had him in ours.

Nate always had a twinkle in his eyes for Angel, his wife of 44 years, whom he treasured and loved dearly. His children and friends were part of his emotional world and he cherished them.

Nate was a person of strength and integrity, committed to a fairer, more equitable and kinder world. He treated others with a respect that flowed from their actions, not from their words or personal appearance. Nate fiercely rejected weakness of character or unethical behavior in others, especially those trusted with leadership. Every day, he studied the news and markets to stay informed about politics, the economy and the environment. He stood up for his beliefs and was generous in supporting causes that mirrored his values. As a community member, he voted, went to meetings and sang in a choir.

He was successful in his career, achieving respect and recognition from his peers for his academic research and teaching. In his training as a physicist, Nate would have learned about Occam´s Razor, the principle of parsimony. He took this principle to heart. Nate always found the simplest and most reasonable explanation for what he observed - whether in politics, sports, nature or the behavior of people. His honest assessments could be bold - but he was humble too. He recognized that there was uncertainty that science and logic would never fully unravel - so he listened to different points of view. The principles of Occam (Parsimony) and Heisenberg (Uncertainty) held sway in how he approached his life.

Nate was a capable outdoorsman - quick to identify wildlife with his keen eyesight or to deftly navigate a river in a canoe or kayak. He hiked and bicycled. He observed and understood the ecosystems in which he lived. He was usually the first to spot a bird, even when hidden in a tree - and he would know its name and how it made its way in the world. He was a thoughtful steward of his properties, making a home for the wild as well as his family.

I also remember Nate for his humor, competitiveness and diligence. As a Race Horse Pinochle player, he was smart and strategic. Playing against the team of Nate and Angel was not for the naïve or inexperienced! He loved the challenge of Sudoku and Word Jumbles. He never gave up on a puzzle or a home repair project, until he had succeeded.

Thank you, Nate, for the joy and support you have given to me and many others!

Marie E Zeglen
Friend of the Kwolek-Folland family