Nathaniel Scott Jacklin

1977 - 2022

Jul 10, 1977 - Nov 15, 2022 Nathaniel Scott Jacklin, 45, of Williamsburg, Virginia, passed away on November 15, 2022 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. A father, husband, teacher, and coach Nate was loved and respected by all those whose lives he impacted during his time with us. Nate was born on July 10, 1977, to Bruce Jacklin and Terri VanSickle in Columbus, Ohio. After he graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1995, Nate went on to do a post-graduate year at Mercersburg Academy - a decision that set him down his path of academic and athletic excellence early on. Following his graduation from Mercersburg, Nate attended Columbia University in New York where he pursued his passions in the city that he loved- wrestling for 4 years in Columbia's prestigious program and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy in 2000. Initially working in finance, Nate soon realized his life's calling was in education, and so he returned to Columbia University, this time to Teachers College, graduating in 2002, with a Master of Arts. After his time at Columbia, Nate went on to spend six years at North Stafford High School in Stafford, Virginia, kickstarting his life-long career of education and coaching. In 2008 he returned to Mercersburg Academy, as a history teacher and wrestling coach, where he stayed for many years in a community that loved and admired him for his dedication to inspiring his students and athletes to achieve excellence. Always intellectually curious and ambitious, Nate knew the impact that education and athleticism had on his life and strove every day as a teacher and coach to make sure that others had the same life-changing educational opportunities that he did. During his 22-year career as a teacher and coach, Nate also worked at Mountain View High School (in Stafford, Virginia), and most recently at Warhill High School, in Williamsburg Virginia, where he quickly made his mark on his new community as an AP Economics and AP US History teacher and co-head wrestling coach. Nate met the love of his life Lindsay Beers in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2004. They have been married 16 years and have three children together- Hailey, Ella, and Matthew. As a couple they loved traveling in Europe, going to Avett Brothers concerts and racing against each other on the Peleton. As a family they enjoyed spending time together in New York City and the Outer Banks every year, watching their beloved Cleveland Browns, and playing with their kitties Cleo and Scout. A family of athletes, their home was never without friendly competition of all kinds, with everyone pushing each other to be the best they can be, especially in swim meets and soccer games, with Nate often coaching his children's teams. Nates three greatest loves in his life were his family, teaching, and coaching. As a father, he encouraged his children to be goal oriented. After each game, win or lose, he questioned them, "Did you have fun? Did you do your best?" Academically, if they didn't do as well as they hoped, he would ask them what they would do differently next time to improve the result. As a teacher, Nate was a firm believer in active learning. He was constantly planning ways to engage his students regardless of their current level of performance. He didn't merely "cover" information. He wanted to stimulate his students to appreciate social studies and develop a desire to continue learning and apply what they learned in the future. Coaching came to him naturally. As an athlete, Nate knew what winning looked like on and off the mat. This led him to bemuch more than a teacher of wrestling. He instilled each athlete with a foundation built upon hard work, self-reflection, and always giving your all.He had many awards as a coach, but the greatest symbol of his success as mentor of young men was portrayed in a video made by his athletes, past and present, who came together to say how much Coach Jacklin meant to them. The eloquence and passion with which each athlete spoke about Nate says it all. Services will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 1:30 pm, at King of Glory Church (4897 Longhill Rd, Williamsburg, VA). He is survived by his wife Lindsay and their three children Hailey (13), Ella (11) and Matthew (9), as well as his father Bruce, mother Mary Lou, and his siblings Amie, Sara, Taylor, Logan and Karly. He is also survived by his grandmother Mary Jacklin, his aunt Puggy and uncle Tom and their daughter Melanie, his uncle Tim and aunt Debbie, as well as Lindsay's family- his mother and father-in-law Shelley and Barry Beers, and his sisters and brothers-in-law Kelli and Chad Cooke, and Bryan and Beth Beers. Nate is survived by his nieces and nephews as well as many students, athletes, fellow teachers and friends, who will miss him greatly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Fred's Team- an organization of marathon runners who raise money for lifesaving cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. After undergoing treatment at MSK, Nate ran the New York City Marathon as part of Fred's Team just last year. When asked to explain why he felt compelled to take on such a challenge he said "I ran because I could, I ran for those who couldn't and I finished because I started." Nate lived a life of purpose and left a legacy of love. He will be remembered for his tenacity, intellect, wit, strength, bravery and his seemingly unending capacity to encourage and inspire all those who knew him.