Nathan Ashby Bliss

What do you say about Nathan Ashby Bliss? That seems like such a simple question to anyone that knew him, but how do you put into words who Nate really was? You would have to say since entering the world on February 13th, 1977, he had an impact on everyone he came into contact with. You could say he was a loving son, a loving brother, and the best Uncle the world has ever known, but that wouldn’t be near enough to describe him. If you tried to put into simple words who he was you could fill a novel; so let’s just mention a few. Nate was a Patriot, a hero, a Son, a Big Brother, an Uncle, a Veteran, a best friend, a little brother, a lover of the woods and all things natural. He was hilarious, one of a kind, generous, relentless about humor, passionate, he was a wanderer, the life of the party, inspirational, a giver, a genius, a mentor, a life changer, an opportunist, a wind-breaker, an adventurer, a gentle soul, and now is our angel.

From his young days of tearing up Sagamore with the neighborhood gang and his brothers and sisters to when he matured into a Bombmakeh in B-Bay, he was always part of a group. He was always an integral part of a group and was always adored; maybe for being a bit crazy or over the top funny, but really he was loved for just being Nate. He joined another group when he served his country in the US Army 82nd Airborne from February 2000 to November 2003, where he and his countrymen were deployed to Kosovo and Iraq. Nate left such an impact on his team that his direct officer felt the need to write a letter to his parents telling them about the impact Nate’s humor had on his men when at war and how he will be missed. Graduating from Johnson State College with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and pursuing his Masters at Westfield State University, Nate was only inches away from accomplishing his dream of becoming a teacher and working with young kids; something he was designed for and where he would have been a hero to countless little kids. His proud accomplishments were hiking the Appalachian Trail twice, paddling the length of the Mississippi River from top to bottom, and the countless hikes he completed with his family.

On Easter weekend Nate was ecstatic to head to the Cape to celebrate the holiday and see his family including his nephews, sisters, mother and father. The night before departing he went to sleep and never woke up. On April 17th 2017 the world lost a truly marvelous person in Nathan Bliss. He will never be replaced, but he will always be remembered for the person he was. We all love you Nate.