STORIES ABOUT NATHAN
Always Stepping Up
Shared by: Professor Tieying Yu from Boston College
Dear Leslie and Justin :
I was Nathan's professor for the Strategic Management course last quarter, and I received your contact info. from the MB A office.
I cannot begin to imagine the depth of your loss, and my heart aches for you. I was in tears when I heard the devastating news.
Nathan was an extraordinary student ~ one of the brightest and kindest l have had the privilege of teaching. Despite his exceptional abilities, he remained humble, always ready to support his classmates with generosity and warmth.
At the beginning of the course, he told me, “Professor, if no one answers your question, you can cold call me." That was just who he was ~ always stepping up, always engaged. He shared with me his dream of becoming an HR professional to help others, and l had the honor of being one of his references for his job search. His dedication and passion for making a difference in people's lives were truly inspiring.
Nathan excelled in my class. He earned the highest score on the final exam and ranked second overall.
His presence brought light to so many, and we all deeply admired and cared for him.
I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how remarkable your son was and how much he meant to us. You raised an incredible young man, and his impact will not be forgotten.
Please accept my deepest condolences. We will miss him dearly.
Tieying Yu, Associate Professor of Strategy
Boston College
03/16/2025
Nathan and the Moms
Shared by: Karen Whorton
I just love this photo because I have a son in his 20’s and let me tell you, there is no way he would spend a morning out cross-country skiing with my friends and I, but this is one of the things that made Nathan special. Sadly, I didn’t get to know Nathan well since our kids were not the same age, but I do have a lot of friends that knew him well. One day I asked one of these friends, “what is it about Nathan that everybody just seems to love him so much?” and I remember her response was: “Even when he was a young kid he just talked to you like a friend, not as a parent or a mom, but sort of just like one of your buddies. It really was different than the way that other kids would interact with me (she was their soccer coach), it was almost like sitting on the bench with one of my mom friends, not a little boy.” I have had the privilege of reading some of the notes, cards, and letters that the Morgans have received from those mourning Nathan and in a way, they all had a similar message, regardless of your age, station in life, gender, etc, he really “saw you” and seemed to speak to people in a way that gave them what they needed. Whether it was the bored (and underqualified – sorry Sarah!) soccer coach needing a friend on the bench, or the Freshman girl at UCLA looking for a soft place to land, Nathan was that special person for so many. That day skiing with Nathan this winter was truly a gift, we laughed at his slow poke mom (ok, she has a good excuse with the whole long covid thing!), we talked about his new life in Boston, the movie had just seen (he was not a fan of Baby Girl), and the fun party night out with friends he had just had (he promptly fell asleep in the car). He talked to me like I was a friend of his, not of his mothers, and it was lovely!
The Jump Rope Team
Shared by: Emily S.
Nathan in elementary school! A bright spot to our jump rope team! One of a kind!
Rope Skipper
Shared by: Laurie Belfor
Nathan was an amazing student and rope skipper. He was on the rope skipping team sponsored by the American Heart Association for Lafayette Elementary School. So determined and I was so proud of his accomplishments and friendships he made!
Volunteering at the Zoo to Camping at Orkila
Shared by: Lene O.
Nathan and I were volunteers at the WPZ together, and then I was lucky enough to spend time with him at Camp Orkila for OSIs! Nathan was always so funny and loving and a joy to be around. We had a lot of funny memories together over the years. I remember he loved the chocolate pudding at Orkila and I made fun of him for it :) we had a squad at the zoo which made volunteering there so fun, Nathan, me, Devina, and Riley. Miss you Nathan.
He Lived Life Big
Shared by: Sara Holt
I met Nathan when he was an adorable first grader at Lafayette. He was friends with my son Jack, and they stayed friends throughout elementary school. He was a cute kid, full of smiles and silliness. You were always happy when Nathan was in your group you were taking on the field trip or in your carpool, because he was sweet and kind and usually cracked you up.
In middle school my kiddo went to a different school and the boys went their different ways into their adolescence. They still played sports and did the West Seattle thing together, but I didn’t see Nathan as much. Then, when they were in Eighth grade I became their de facto Soccer coach. Not because I was particularly knowledgeable, but more because I was a warm body willing to do the job. Nathan made the coaching job so much more fun.
Nathan was like Ferdinand the Bull from that childhood book. The Bull who is content to sit on his hill smelling the flowers rather than fighting. He had a great leg and powerful boot, but didn’t care if he was playing all the time. He was happy to chat with me on the sidelines. He logged a lot of time at the Sounders games and actually knew a lot about soccer, so my “coaching” was often directly from him.
About a year or two ago I was in the car on the way to a hike with Leslie. She was driving, so when Nathan called, I picked up. As always, he didn’t treat me like a mom. I was just another friend in his big world of friends. He brought me up to speed on life at UCLA, his roommates, his job search, his world. He was driving this friend to the airport, then had to organize this trip, then had to figure out this application. Leslie laughed because I got more out of him than she usually did, which is always the case with college kids and their parents. But she was happy because he was happy.
The last time I saw Nathan he was cooking a feast with a bunch of friends while destroying the Morgan’s kitchen in the process. They were laughing and gossiping and having a great time. That is how I remember Nathen. He lived life big, he had so much fun, he loved people, he took care of everyone around him. He was a gift.
Friends From Before Nathan Was Born
Shared by: Kelly S.
We knew Leslie and Justin before Nathan was born and joined their family. I threw them a baby shower to celebrate his impending arrival. They were so excited to be parents. I also made the curtains for his room. We met Nathan during those first few months when they came over to enjoy a little back yard time. Our daughter Abby and Nathan played in the pool. So sweet. Abby (three years old) just loved Nathan from the first moment she saw him. She wanted to hold him, hug him and love him.
