Nathan's Memorial

No one ever expects to have to write things like this, but the randomness of the universe dictates that sometimes really good people die
really young.

Our dear friend (and sibling) Nathan passed away on August 30, 2021.


On his Facebook profile, Nathan said his vision was to "nRitch the standard of work place culture."

I don't know if he accomplished that, but I do know he was definitely able to nRitch the lives of everyone he ever came in contact with.

One could not simply forget Nathan Ritchey, and most of us are far, far better for him having been part of our lives.


Nathan's family is in need of funds to transport his belongings from Tennessee, support the police investigation, and to pay for end-of-life expenses. 

Some of you may be wondering how Nathan passed away so suddenly.


Here is some info from Nathan's dad: Russell Ritchey.

"A missing person report was filed on August 31 after Nathan was last seen on August 30 at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He
had just recently left his job as a Security Operations Analyst at the University of Texas at Arlington, and had gone to Tennessee to move
closer to the ‘Isha Institute of Inner-Science’, (where he had found a spiritual connection). 

However, just two weeks later, on Tuesday, August 31, after seeing an unusual post on Nathan’s Facebook page that same day, I called
Nathan’s cell phone number at which time a man named ‘Thomas Haase’ (who I have since learned is a homeless person, and, prior to this, a complete stranger to Nathan) answered, and said he had approached Nathan the day before on Monday, August 30th, saying that Nathan
had caught his attention because Nathan was wearing a ‘Fedora’ hat while enjoying a stroll around Coolidge park, and that he and Nathan made an immediate ‘spiritual connection' and bond through their common experience with the Isha Institute, and that institute’s teaching which they both identified with.

Thomas said Nathan had invited him to stay at the hotel where he was temporarily staying, and had “given” (entrusted) to him his phone,
car, belongings, and financial affairs. 

Things started to get very chaotic and increasingly alarming at this point. Le'Anna and Kristina and Le’Anna’s husband, Xavier, and several
mutual friends, went to Chattanooga to help search for Nathan. In just a couple of days, hope against hope started to give way to the worst possible news.

A medical examiner contacted me on Thursday, September 2nd, to inform me that a body had been found in the Tennessee River.

This is a very difficult time for us all."


A graveside memorial service will be held on October 16th, (Nathan's 31st birthday), at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas.