On
May 13, 2025, Nathaniel Wallace Suter died suddenly while running
with friends in Montpelier, Vt. He was 52.
Nathan
lived his life with remarkable energy, courage and compassion. Born
in the Canal Zone in Panama, he grew up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where
he and his family were longtime members of the Bulls Head-Oswego
Friends Meeting. In elementary and middle school, his intellectual
curiosity was encouraged by the 6:30 Club, a reading group organized
by Judge Albert Rosenblatt. Always athletic, Nathan became an
accomplished distance runner in high school and maintained his love
of running for the rest of his life.
As
a student at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, Nathan excelled in
both track and cross-country and majored in photography; after
graduation, he moved to the Bay Area to attend the San Francisco Art
Institute, where he earned an MFA in photography. He then cofounded
Root Division, a nonprofit center for art and artists in downtown San
Francisco that remains vital today. He taught at Eastside College
Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, which serves students
historically underrepresented in higher education.
In
2001, Nathan married Morgan Lloyd, a fellow Haverford graduate, and
in 2006 they settled in Morgan’s home state of Vermont. Their
daughter, Amani, was born in 2006, followed by their son, Asa, in
2008. His family became the center of his rich and busy life.
Nathan
was as committed to social justice and service as he was passionate
about athletics and art. He directed the Helen Day Art Center (now
the Current) in Stowe, Vt., for a decade, establishing youth and
adult educational programs and a professional development program for
emerging artists. In 2016 he cofounded BUILD Consulting, helping
organizations and individuals develop strategic plans to achieve
their missions. He was undaunted and even energized by the challenges
he or his clients faced, and he had an inspiring belief in his own
potential and in that of others. Nathan served as a board member of
Migrant Justice and treasurer of the Peace & Justice Center in
Burlington, Vt. After the devastating floods across northern New
England in the summer of 2023, he joined the Montpelier Commission
for Recovery & Resilience. He coached track and field and
assisted in coaching the cross-country and Nordic skiing teams at the
Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools. His efforts helped to revitalize
the track and field program in central Vermont. Athletes of all skill
levels thrived under his mentorship, and they knew they would hear
his booming voice cheering them on from the sidelines.
Though
Nathan was deeply rooted in his community, he was also an adventurous
traveler, who traveled all over the world. He spent time in
Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica with his family and had formative
trips to Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela with friends. Both at home and
abroad, Nathan often captured his joy and appreciation through
photography. A consummate connector, Nathan never hesitated to strike
up conversations with strangers in English or Spanish, and he made
lasting friendships during every trip and every chapter of his life.
The
messages Morgan, Amani and Asa have received in the weeks since
Nathan’s death are extraordinary not only for their number but for
their consistency: Over and over, those who knew Nathan remember that
he made them feel loved, appreciated and worthwhile, and that he
challenged and inspired them to be their best selves. They recall his
excellent hugs, his laughter and his bottomless generosity. “Nathan
was a light,” one colleague wrote, “and he seemed to use every
minute of his time spreading that light to those around him.” Those
lucky enough to have known Nathan will always treasure their time
with him, and always wish there had been more.
Nathan
is survived by his wife, Morgan Lloyd; his daughter, Amani Suter; his
son, Asa Lloyd of Montpelier; his father, Robert Suter, of Kennett
Square, Pa.; his sister, Katherine Fisher, and her family of
Philadelphia, Pa.; many other beloved family members; and hundreds of
friends. Nathan’s mother, Valerie Suter, passed away on May 22,
2025, after suffering a fall in Montpelier.
A
Quaker memorial service is planned for July 26, 2025, in Montpelier.
Please visit tinyurl.com/nathanwsuter to RSVP and help with planning.