Nathan Altshuler Obituary

ALEXANDRIA - Dr. Nathan Altshuler, professor emeritus and founder of the Department of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary, died January 8, 2017. He was born October 30, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Aaron and Sylvia Altshuler. A veteran of World War II, he served in the 86th Division, the Blackhawks, in both Europe and the Pacific. He earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. During his career as an anthropologist, he conducted field work in the Arctic/Sub-Arctic, the Amazon, Africa and Asia. With his colleagues V. Sutlive and M. Zamora, he founded the quarterly journal Studies in Third World Societies. His honors at The College of William and Mary included the Alumni Research Award, Student Association Faculty Award, Phi Beta Kappa Advancement of Scholarship Award and election to Phi Beta Kappa from the faculty. He was a member of the American Anthropology Association, Turkish Studies Association and Middle East Studies Association, and a Fellow of the Explorers Club. Upon his retirement, his colleagues and students established the Nathan Altshuler Field Research Scholarship. He took great pleasure in the accomplishments of his students. His daughter Anthea predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Meredith, and his daughters Alyssa Altshuler of Alexandria, Virginia, and Linnea Altshuler Renton, and son-in-law Andrew Renton of Cardiff, Wales. Contributions can be made to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 (www.heifer.org) or Polar Bears International, PO Box 3008, Bozeman, MT 59772 (www.polarbearsinternational.org). Services will be private.

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Published by Virginia Gazette on Jan. 14, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Nathan Altshuler

12 Entries

Donna Becker

February 22, 2021

My deepest condolences to the family of Nathan Altshuler. He was one of my professors at William and Mary. He was an excellent teacher. We stayed in touch after I graduated. He was a good and intelligent man, with a fine sense of humor. The world is better because he lived in it. Blessings to him and his friends and family.

Cecile Greider

March 14, 2019

Mrs. Altshuler,
I just tonight saw this obituary, thus this message so late.
You wouldn't remember me, but I well remember you, Dr.Altshuler, and your daughters. I believe I even babysat for them once or twice.
Many, many times, since graduating in 66, have i thought about Dr. Altshuler...I worked for him in the Anthropology Dept., he guided me through my senior project...and I remember laughing with him...but most of all I remember this comment from him early in Anthro 101...You can do anything you want....(long pause and some disbelief in the room)....provided you know what you want!
Can't count how many times since then that this has rung true.
I am forever grateful to him...for that...and for his caring.
I hope you and your family are well.
CC Greider

Currell Pattie

July 14, 2017

Sorry to hear the news. I was in Dr Altshuler's Soc 101 class in 1961-62 . He was a fine lecturer, and I recall to this day his "Anticulture" theories.

July 14, 2017

I was a W & M Sociology 101 student in 1961-2, average at best. He was a fine teacher, and I will always remember his Anticulture lectures.

Dr Currell Pattie

Jane Cuthrell Kirsch

February 12, 2017

Saddened to hear that Dr. Altshuler had passed away. I had him at W&M, including my favorite class, Medical Anthropology. He was kind, friendly, encouraging, and down-to-earth. When I worked in Japan after college, he called and wrote my parents a very nice letter about me, asking if I would meet Linnea in Tokyo on her return from Taiwan. So we did, ate lunch together, and did some sightseeing in Tokyo. I had been meaning to send him a Christmas card, and regret that I didn't. I will always remember him fondly. Class of '82.

Mary Ellen Hodges

January 18, 2017

I extend my deepest sympathy to Dr. Altshuler's family. He was an inspiring teacher and greatly influenced my intellectual development, and sense of humor. It's been 40 years, but I still have strong memories of his classes and our personal interactions. (Student, W&M '77)

Mary Ellen Hodges

January 18, 2017

I extend my deepest sympathy to Dr. Altshuler's wife and daughters on his passing. He was an inspiring teacher, and influenced both my intellectual development and sense of humor. It's been 40 years, but I still have many strong memories of his classes and our personal interactions.

Mary Ellen Norrisey Hodges, W&M '77

Tomoko Hamada

January 18, 2017

Nathan was a great mentor-teacher to many young people and I feel very privileged that I knew him in person. His legacy as the founder of the department of anthropology at the College of William and Mary will continue, as the department has evolved into one of the best programs in historical anthropology in the nation.
Please note that the Altshuler scholarship established in his honor at the College have supported more than 50 top anthropology students to pursue their pre-honor research projects. Many of those Altshuler scholars with honor theses in hand graduated from the College and they are now leaders in the field.

I send my deep sympathy to Nathan's long-time partner Meredith, and his loving children Alyssa and Linnea.

January 18, 2017

I am so sorry for your loss,may the words at 1peter5:7 comfort you in knowing that God really does care about you in this time of grief

Lilli Buck

January 15, 2017

I am very sorry about the death of Dr. Altshuler. He was a brilliant man and a good man and a very fine teacher. He was my advisor in Anthropology. He liked my thesis and kept it on display for years. He was kind to me and gave me an extension on it when I was late getting it in. He did not cut my grade. What a fine person. I am sorry to read that he lost one of his daughters before he died. I remember him talking about Alyssa, and a friend of mine had her in school doing student teaching. That was in the l970's.

My regards to his family.

Susan Marziani

January 15, 2017

Meredith, Alyssa and Linnea - my sincerest sympathies on the loss of Dr. Altshuler. Please know I am keeping the entire family close to my heart and I pray that you find comfort in the love you have for one another in the coming weeks.

Leona Vaughn

January 12, 2017

Sincerest condolences to all of the family. You are in my thoughts. Sending love.

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