Paul Joseph Nathan

NATHAN Paul Joseph Nathan passed away at the age of 83 on Friday the 13 in July of 2007 while at the TMC Hospice in Arizona. Born in 1923 and raised in Jacksonville, Florida the son of Paul J. Nathan Sr. and Esther Wilfson Nathan. Paul is survived by Gene Robinson Nathan, his best friend and wife of 64 years, also of Jacksonville and their daughters; Marcy Nathan and Lacy Nathan of Arizona. In addition, three grandchildren; Rachel Brown, David Brown and Baylor Leachman, six great grandchildren; Andrew, Paul, Clara, Timothy, Sophia and Diego, his sister Dorothy N. Cone, his nephew Paul Cone and niece Lee Whitfield. While a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 he became the youngest scout of his time to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, he attended the University of Florida. He eloped with Gene on the luckiest day of his life, Friday the 13, 1943. He worked in the family business before moving to Orlando, FL, where he became a partner and general manager of 10 Burger Kings for 14 years. He was an avid fisherman, an accomplished oil painter, enjoyed flying and boating. Yet none of these provided as much pleasure as his true passion; The Florida GATORS. Paul fueled that passion as a recruiter and scout for the Gators in central Florida and was a member and president of the Touchdown Club. After he and his partner sold Burger King in 1970, Paul retired at the age of 46. He spent the next 18 months exploring Europe in a VW van with his wife and daughter, Lacy. 1974 found Gene and Paul discovering the USA with an airstream trailer in tow. They explored North, South, East and West as long as the gator games were available via his satellite dish. By 1983, winters were spent in Green Valley, AZ, while summers were in Wyoming and Utah. No matter where they lived, Paul never forgot his love for the ocean, as we all saw in his paintings. At Paul's request, there will not be a service. A celebration will be held in his memory this fall. Remembrances may be made to: Tucson Medical Center Hospice Foundation, 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com