Nate McClain's Early Years (1973 - 1987)
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11 Comments
Brenda M
9/10/2016 03:08:37 pm
Nathan was a special baby. When he was born they lived down the street from us. His mother and I were sister-in-laws. I had two boys also. Lynn and I shared some of our joys of having these boys. It wasn't long before they moved into there house were Nathan later met Kris Barks. I also remember the Star Wars figures. When our boys did play together they play with them. We later moved to Missouri and didn't see each other as much. But, we did get together for Birthday and other occasions. Nathan was always a trip. I have one of Nathans paintings he sent me and I had it framed. It was Nathan painting the town on a Lizard. Nathan will forever be missed. He was so talented. Love, Aunt Brenda, Uncle John, John David & Jay
Kris B
9/10/2016 03:09:30 pm
The first time I met Nate was 1977; he was 4 years old and I was 5 years old. I had just moved to Granite City, Illinois and he lived a few houses down from me on the other side of the street. We both were riding Big Wheels and were too young to cross the streets ourselves. So we got our Moms to help us cross the street. From that day on, we remained best friends. These early years were filled with trips to the theater (Star Wars & Superman come to mind) and playing with Star Wars figures. One incident I remember is when we were running around his house and I accidentally bumped him against the corner of their hallway wall near the bathroom. This resulted in Nate getting a cut on his head which bled everywhere; naturally, I ran around screaming and thinking I had killed him. In the end he was fine except for a permanent scar on his forehead.
Kelli
9/23/2016 10:01:23 pm
I remember Nathan living at the end of my street and his mom asking me to walk him to the bus stop. I was older so I kept an eye on him. There were many times I would get to Nathan's house and it would be chaos. We would miss the bus. I believe Lynn drove us to school more than we rode the bus. He was far too young and it is such a tragedy. God must have needed him really bad.
Nancy S
9/23/2016 10:01:47 pm
I knew Nathan since before I can remember. His mom, Lynn, and my mom, Judy, were very close friends and belonged to a group of ladies that got together once a month to craft and just be women. Nathan was my very first crush, (kindergarten)and I remember sitting on the back of his mom's convertible and getting my first kiss. Nathan and I remained close friends through elementary, but were separated at middle school. In elementary school, Nathan and I both won young author awards, though I can not take the credit for illustration since he did mine!! I believe I still have the book we did together somewhere. Nathan was a very special part of my childhood, and will be remembered forever. Thank you, Nathan!
Nichole W
9/23/2016 10:02:02 pm
I don't really have an actual "story" about Nathan McClain. I had a lot of emotional problems growing up and so I didn't really have a lot of friends in school. However, I remember Nathan as being a "good kid" and if I spoke to him he would always say hello. I remember his mother as well, as she was involved so much with the school and I would see her from time to time. I was actually searching the internet to see if I could find anything on Nameoki School and this is what I found. I am very sorry that Nathan is no longer with us. Apparently he touched a lot of lives.
Dani
9/23/2016 10:02:19 pm
Nathan and I met in seventh grade. Having similar surnames, we were seated next to each other for usually at least one class a semester, for the next 6 years. We got along really well. He was always very friendly towards me, always joking around, teasing and making me laugh. He was kind to me during years where people aren't always at their kindest. Nathan was one of the popular crowd and I wasn't, but he was always nice to me without exception. Our first class together was a 7th grade English class. Frequently in school, you would pass your homework to the person in front of or behind you for peer grading. No matter what score I got on the quizes or homework, even if it was a 100% score, he would decorate my paper with ridiculously elaborate and ornate "F's" and tell me I got an F. Every day he would do this. "F F F F" he would tease and point. Also to amuse me he would draw Garfield the cat on my homework. I wish now that I had kept one of these papers. In high school he would show me what art he was working on. I remember seeing quite a few of the pieces photographed on this site. I especially remember the one that got him the award or scholarship from the Pasta House; I cracked up over that one. It's very funny if you are familliar with the original painting. I had a class with Mr. McClain as a teacher--Nathan said something like, "don't worry, he's a good guy, a fair teacher. He doesn't bite... but all your homework will be F F F F!" To my regret, I didn't see Nathan anymore after high school and saddened to hear of his passing. The world is a poorer place without him.
Eric
9/23/2016 10:02:35 pm
I last saw Nathan in July or August of 1997. I was working for Commercial Blueprint, and making deliveries for the company. The office was on Washington Ave, just down the street from Nathan’s loft, and right next door to Tangerine, one of his favorite, and my favorite, hang outs. I honked my horn and waved at him as I drove by, and he waved back. I saw him a few weeks before that when I was sitting at the tropical island themed bar of Tangerine, and we talked a little. A few weeks later, I was in grad school at the University of Missouri, Columbia, when I heard the news. Needless to say, it struck me as being very sad, and very tragic. I went to grade school with Nathan at Nameoki School, and I remembered him being creative even then. I also remember his mom, Lynn, and her frequent art projects. Who can forget her dressing up as one of the KISS members for the talent show? I think all of us remember Nathan fondly, and we’ll miss him
Mike E
9/23/2016 10:02:48 pm
Nate attended Coolidge and played basketball for me. He did not get to play a great deal, but I do remember one game that he entered in the last 20 seconds. By the time that he had run from one end of the floor to the other he was involved in a shoving match and had to be removed from the game.
Kris B
9/23/2016 10:03:06 pm
These were awesome times hanging around the neighborhood. What I remember most about these years are riding bicycles EVERYWHERE, Monopoly marathons, wiffle ball tournaments, seeing Empire Strikes Back & Return of the Jedi, hiding Star Wars figures around the yard, collecting bubble gum cards (Kiss, Star Wars, ET), reading comic books (Spiderman, Batman), chasing Nate's dog Shannon when she got loose, playing basketball near Farm Fresh, watching MTV on cable and movies in the VCR (both were brand new at the time), buying my first ever music cassette (Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil) with Nate at a Grandpa's store, seeing my first of many concerts with Nate (Hall & Oates - Big Bam Boom tour), playing in the clubhouse, and practically living over at Nate's house. Oddly enough, Nate and I never did attend the same school together. Leave a Reply. |
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