Nolan Burton Fields

Nolan Burton Fields was born in Monterey, California, on July 3, 1996, weighing 10 pounds even. With his Air Force family, he lived in Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and finally, Montgomery, Alabama.

At an early age, Nolan was transfixed by ESPN, and he could recite statistics about college football and major league baseball at 5 years old. His favorite team was the Chicago Cubs, and he attended his first game at Wrigley Field with his Grandpa Larry when he was just 9 years old. His life’s dream was to move to the Windy City and have permanent season tickets to Cubbies games.

Nolan liked things simple. He would eat vegetables, but only raw ones. He liked cake, but not icing. He loved toast, but not with butter.

He loved classic rock, and the highlight of his last year of life was seeing The Rolling Stones in Atlanta with his friend Marshall. He indulged his mom by going to two Bruce Springsteen concerts with her, and he was moved by the Boss’s tributes to Clarence Clemons.

Though born to two non-athletes, Nolan devoted himself to football and basketball, proudly wearing the number 11 on his Saint James middle-school, JV, and varsity teams. He had several dramatic catches as a wide receiver during his senior year, thrilling the Trojan family and his parents. He loved his teammates and his coaches.

Like his dad, Nolan enjoyed history more than any other subject, and his Saint James teachers—especially Mrs. Everett, Coach Rudd, and Dr. McLemore—cultivated his passion. His happiest years were spent at Saint James School, where he had so many dear friends and beloved teachers, especially Mrs. Rabon and Mr. Clinton. He served as freshman and sophomore class president and as vice-president his junior and senior years. He also participated in Student Y Youth Legislature and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. During his senior year, he was voted Prom King, wearing his crown on his bald head, and Dr. Oliver honored him with the Principal’s Award.

In the middle of football season during his senior year, Nolan was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Rarely complaining and never whining, he endured grueling chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant, and radiation, only to have the disease relapse at every turn.

Nolan was a loyal friend and had many friends. His parents were so touched when his buddies—boys and girls—would show up at the hospital, making him laugh and giving him a break from his stressful situation. His lifeline was his telephone, and every time he woke up, he took comfort in reading the many texts he received from his friends.

Nolan hated being the center of attention as much as he hated metal cutlery (he preferred plastic spoons and forks). He had little tolerance for hypocrisy and insincerity and could quickly sniff out these traits in people, particularly in his parents.

Survivors include parents Frank and Jamie; brothers Trevor and Matthew; grandfather Bud Fields; grandparents Larry and Nancy Schilling; grandmother Beverly Perry and husband Scott; Uncle Jon Brewer, wife Meg and cousins Nathaniel and Ella; Uncle Carson, wife Mandy, and cousins Curtis and Lydia; Aunt Alyssa, husband Jeff, and cousin Audra; Uncle Chris Fields and cousin Grace; Aunt Marge Ewertz, husband Erik, and cousins Jon and Amy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Nolan Fields’s memory can be directed either to the Giving for Continued Excellence Foundation at Saint James School; 6010 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116; or to Children’s Hospital of Alabama.