Nathan Hirsch

Nathan Nate Hirsch - STATESBORO - Nathan Nate Hirsch, age 68, died on Sunday August 28, 2016, at his residence. A native of New York, he grew up in the Bronx before earning a broadcasting degree from Indiana State University in 1970. He worked in Atlanta before a job opening at the radio station brought him to Statesboro in the fall of 1970. He eventually purchased the stations in 1980 and sold them to Communications Capital in 2004. Nate was a four time hall of fame announcer: he is in the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame, the Statesboro High Sports Hall of Fame and the Georgia Southern Baseball Hall of Fame. Nate is best known as the voice of the Eagles, which he became when he started his career in Statesboro in the fall of 1970, continuing until 2006. Nate witnessed the Eagles change Division 1-AA football in the span of three years, multiple national titles, playoff games; he could truly say he had seen it all at Georgia Southern. He was set to start his third season of calling Statesboro High football and had just started his tenth season of his cable show Upon Further Review. Nate's dedication and love of Georgia Southern will be his legacy. He was preceded in death by his parents Sanford and Sylvia Hirsch; his step-mother Evelyn Hirsch and a sister Dr. Helayne Merkin. Surviving are his wife of 43 years Patricia Martin Hirsch of Statesboro; four daughters Shannon (Lt. Colonel Miles) Townsend of Fayetteville, NC, Mandy (Chris) Lane, Jennifer Hirsch, and Sandi (Carroll) Kirkland all of Statesboro; six grandchildren Loren Townsend, Ana Townsend, Bryant Kirkland, Britton Sylvia Lane, Delaney Evelyn Kirkland and Sydney Isabella Lane; a brother Ned Hirsch of Palm Springs CA; two brothers-in-law Joel Cathy of Palm Springs CA and Michael Merkin of Northbrook IL; his beloved Aunt Shirley Pomerantz of Boca Raton FL; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews also survive. The visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Connection Church 1342 Cawana Rd. Statesboro, GA with Pastor's Lelon and Teal Jeffers officiating. Interment will be in Bulloch Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Allen Lastinger, Joshua Cook, Jason Martin, Jeffery Martin, Benjamin Powell and Josh Aubrey. Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Akins, Wayne Colson, Jimmie Deloach, Frank Denmark, Vince Galasso, Billy Gunter, Tracy Ham, Lewis Hendrix, Rodney Hennon, Pratt Hill, Frank Hook, Robbie Laing, Morris Lupton, Ric Mandes, Ronnie Pope, Buddy Powell, Steve Rushing, Marcus Seligman, Joe Tate, Bucky Wagner the members of the RJ's Tuesday Lunch Group, GSU coaches, players and supporters as well as his extended radio family. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to East Main Church of God Building Fund, P.O. Box 1180, Statesboro, GA 30458. Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com. Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro Savannah Morning News August 30, 2016 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannnahnow.com/obituaries.