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Vol. XXII No. 5 February 2007 |
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Remembering Jared Nathan: The Gift of a Happy Heart The tragic news spread through the Juilliard community while the School was still closed for the winter break: Jared Nathan, a third-year drama student, died on December 28, the result of injuries sustained in a car accident in Hollis, N.H., while he was home in nearby Nashua for the holidays. The 21-year-old actor had already begun a professional career by the time he entered Juilliard. At 13, he had been selected for a 1999 revival of Zoom, a public television show that debuted on WGBH-TV in Boston in the 1970s. At Juilliard, this past semester, Jared performed the roles of Gail in Our Lady of 121st Street and Radu in Mad Forest.
On January 15, the students and faculty of the Drama Division came together to remember Jared and share with each other many wonderful stories that demonstrated what an immeasurable impact he had on each of our lives. His classmates remember Jared as a "positive and inspiring force in the class" and "that he had a magnetic presence—he was shining light." To say he was a joy to be around is an understatement. Jared had the rare ability to make you feel as if you were the most special person in the entire world. He was a gifted comedian and aspired to be a serious and versatile actor. He was generous with his time and in his friendships; he always made time for his friends and classmates, with their personal and professional well-being at the forefront of his thoughts and actions. He cared deeply about their individual growth as artists and as human beings. Jared's humility and life force surrounded, inspired, and enriched all of us. At Jared's funeral on Staten Island on January 2, a eulogy was delivered by Edward Preston, a longtime friend of the Nathan family, which he has kindly permitted us to reprint here. —Kathy Hood  Beloved Family and Friends: Thank you for coming to celebrate the life of our beloved son, grandson, nephew, and your friend, Jared Nathan. As you can see, Jared is deeply loved and cherished by many. As we grieve for our loss, it comes to mind that our grief and pain are proportional to the enrichment Jared provides to our lives. I don't use the past tense, rather I use the present, for Jared's love, wit, humor, kindness, and friendship are still with us and will always be with us. What would Jared do? What would Jared want us to do? Well, we know that Jared would want us to celebrate his life. He might also challenge us in three ways: to forgive, to remember our kindnesses and gifts to him, and to recall with a laugh and happy heart his many gifts to us. Forgiveness: It is the wish of Dr. and Mrs. Nathan, Jeff and June, and their family that you forgive yourselves and forgive one another. Find it in your heart to reach out and close any gaps between you. Rekindle or forge the kind of friendship you enjoyed with Jared. This is what Jared would do. This is what Jared would want you to do. Remember your kindnesses and gifts to Jared:  That Jared was a beautiful little boy and wonderful young man is no mystery to us. You have only to meet Jeff and June Nathan and their family to understand why Jared was so special. Their love knows no limits. They led, championed, and guided Jared by example. The greatest gifts parents could bestow.Every family member gave Jared the gift of their love and influenced him. Jared's beloved Poppa marked his growth over the years and shared the wisdom only a grandparent can pass on to a grandson. Poppa once told Jared, "First use your name in what you're about to say and then decide if you should say it." Poppa, what you shared of yourself with Jared strengthened a young man's character and soul and was never forgotten. Jeff and June would like to thank Walnut Hill and Juilliard for their special gifts to Jared. As educators you provided inspiration, a vision of what could be, the tools to be acquired and applied, and the discipline required to succeed in a demanding profession. You saw what Jared was capable of and challenged him. Your words of praise and recognition of his growth were important to him. You made him believe in himself, his talent, and what he could achieve with hard work.  Photos by Joseph Moran Jared would thank you, family, friends and teachers; because he knows that in part he was a reflection of you. Recall with a laugh and happy heart Jared's gifts to us: We come to our third challenge today: recalling with a laugh and a happy heart Jared's gifts to us. The recollections come easily but today our hearts are filled with sorrow. Remember the kind and loyal friend he was to you and be that friend to others. That is what Jared would want you to do. Create many happy moments with your friends and then think of Jared and laugh with him! Remember how Jared lived! Remember his passion! Remember how much Jared enjoyed whatever he was doing. Remember how he loved each of us, and when your time is right, recall his many gifts and laugh with a happy heart. This is what Jared would want us to do. Jared P. Nathan, beloved son, friend, student, actor. We love him. We miss him. We will cherish him forever! | |||
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