Nathaniel R. Bowditch

Nathaniel R. Bowditch

Nat Bowditch was born on February 28, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts and died on May 3, 2025 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  He grew up in Cambridge and went to Shady Hill School, the Gow School, Cornell University and Stanford Business School.  As a young man he had a great variety of summer jobs.  At age 14, he had a lobster business on Isle au Haut, Maine.  Later he worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad in Washington State, milked cows in Minnesota, fished on the Grand Banks and mined gold in Alaska.  Nat served as an Army Lieutenant in Korea.  Upon his return from Korea, he met and soon married Margaret Parsons.  Upon returning from Stanford, Nat and Peggy settled in Philadelphia.  He worked at the First Pennsylvania Bank, starting as a trainee and ending as Vice Chairman.  Nat’s final job was a Vice president and Stockbroker at Smith Barney.  He enjoyed his working life and, as a banker, his work on black economic development.  As a parent, he became involved in this children’s school by initiating annual giving at Germantown Friends School and helping begin their successful Community Scholars Program.  Nat struggled with dyslexia in his youth but as an adult he was a voracious reader.  Among the boards he served on were the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (he was a member of the first Board), University of the Arts, Urban League of Philadelphia and The Jackson Laboratory in ME.  He chaired the Cornell Library Committee.

Nat and Peggy introduced their children to summers in Maine and Nat passed on his love of working in the woods.  While their summer home was in Hancock Point, he led his children on many trips to Isle au Haut where he had spent happy summers as a youngster.

Nat was predeceased by his daughter, Elizabeth, in 2024 and his brother, Richard, in 1983. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Peggy; sons, Nat (Monica), Edward (Susan) and William; his grandchildren, Sam, Sylvia, Henry and Charlotte.  Also survived by his brother, James (Felicity).

His family appreciates the fine care he received in his last months in Westmoreland at Kendal.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nat’s memory may be sent to The Gow School, 2491 Emery Rd., South Wales, NY 14139.

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