Nathaniel True Bartholomaei
Nathaniel “Nat” Bartholomaei, 95, of Amelia Island, FL passed away Tuesday morning, June 27 at The Retreat in Osprey Village.
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Nat was the son of the late Herman Bartholomaei and Natalie True Bartholomaei. Nat grew up in Massachusetts and Maine. He graduated from the Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine and then earned this B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine. While attending Maine, he earned a varsity letter in basketball (manager) and was active in the Drama Club, Rifle Club and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was awarded a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Delaware. His professional career began at Clarkson University, in Potsdam, NY, where he taught in the School of Engineering from 1949-52 before beginning a 30 year career at Texaco Research in Beacon, NY. His work at Texaco was primarily in petrochemicals that served the airline and trucking industries. His responsibilities required extensive travel. Upon retirement, he served as a consultant and expert witness in the petrochemical industry.
Nat served on the Board of Directors for the Hudson Valley Health Systems Agency and was a member of the Fire Police for the LaGrangeville Volunteer Fire Department where he rewrote their safety manual. He loved music and helped fund his way through college by playing in bands. He continued playing music throughout his life and could often be found entertaining his friends at the electric organ at house parties. He was a member of the Hilton Head Barbershoppers later in life where he developed his vocal talents as well as many friendships. Nat loved cars, motorcycles and airplanes and enjoyed working on them. He strived to become computer literate but ended up relying on his then teenage grandson, Christopher, when he locked up his computer, which happened quite often. He became an expert in taking things apart.
Nat was predeceased by his first wife, Ethel Jones Bartholomaei, in 1982. In 1986, he married Elizabeth Pride Bartholomaei in Wappingers Falls, NY. Several years later, they moved to Hilton Head, SC. In 2011, they moved to Osprey Village on Amelia Island. They loved traveling.
In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, Nat is survived by his stepchildren Scott (Cyndi) Pride of Parker, CO and Sue (Don) of Fernandina Beach, FL, four grandchildren Christopher Pride (Zoe) of Oakland, CA, David Pride of Denver, CO, Sarah Foose (Justin) of Yulee, FL, and Devin Hughes (Angie) of Fernandina Beach, FL. Great grandchildren are Elizabeth Foose and Alexis Pride.
Memorial and internment services will be held privately by the family. Memorial donations may be made to Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.