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 summer 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 also 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.
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This article appears in The Cartoon Issue 2025.