Nathan Stanton Leach

Nathan Stanton Leach September 17, 1980 - January 19, 2003 For many reasons that only a few can understand I feel the time has come to remind the rest of the uncivilized world that there remain several among us that continue to think of and remember you fondly.

As Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (a musical group that you introduced me to) plays on this sorry piece of crap CD player that you know who let me borrow, I can only imagine what might have been had you driven just a tad bit slower on the Old Frankfort Pike that Sunday night in January some ten years ago. Suffice it to say that most of your critics felt that your life was headed in the right direction.

The void left by your passing has not easily healed. There are way too many reminders of your good deeds and shenanigans that surface when an individual least expects it. It happened to me four years ago in the General Store at Yosemite Village when I was reminded of you, Adrian and Marshall darting through aisles of t-shirts, souvenirs and food stuffs. Funny and yet somewhat sad how the brain works - you just never know when another flap is going to open and you are going to recall another "NaNa" moment.

Rest assured, those of us who treasured your presence remain committed to the fact that you will not be forgotten. Your word was as reliable as the sunrise and you always had that uncanny knack of showing up at just the right time.

As you know, there is now another bearing your name that crawls among us. I can only hope that he consumes only the positive aspects of your twenty-two years and is not privy to those few undesirable traits. Maybe you can sprinkle some angel dust on his head from time to time while he sleeps. Certainly no one will mind.

Watch over us and try not to laugh too hard as we continue to stumble through life. Most of us understand we are not perfect but find nothing wrong with striving for perfection. I love you, miss you and know the world is a much less better place without you.

Dad