Angels Camp, CA…Nathan Jesse Solomon, beloved husband, uncle, teacher and friend, passed away on October 3, 2023 at age 84. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Georgia Solomon, his nephew Jason Kane, Jason’s wife Jami, their children Jacqueline, Nicholas and Sydney, by nephews Gregory Carroll, Marcus Carroll and by cousins Margie Sabala, Judy Washington, Jamie Cortes, Lorraine Hermis, and numerous other cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Louise Solomon and his sister, Faith Eshoo. Nate was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 2, 1939 and grew up in Modesto, California where he played football at Downey high school and at Modesto Jr. College. He was awarded an athletic scholarship to play football at Utah State University, where he befriended teammate and future NFL player Merlin Olsen, who was also his roommate. During this time, Nate met his future wife, Georgia, a Utah native. They were married on August 2, 1962 in Carmel, California.

After graduating from Utah State, Nate served two years in the US Army. Nate taught elementary school in Modesto, California, and for over 20 years at Mark Twain Elementary School in Angels Camp, California. He taught fifth grade, served as vice-principal and ran an after-school photography program.

Nate later was an assistant football coach at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp, California, and was popular with the players and their parents. Later Nate refereed high school football games well into his fifties.

He and his wife Georgia loved traveling in the US and abroad. They joined friends on four-wheel drive expeditions up rough desert canyons in Death Valley, southern Utah and elsewhere. They spent summers travelling throughout the western US, Canada, Alaska and Mexico. They also visited Japan, as well as twenty European countries. Nate was a lively conversationalist, enjoying banter and light-hearted teasing with friends of all ages. Young people loved his company, with former students keeping in touch with him throughout the years.

In the 1970s Nate performed in melodramas with the Black Bart Players in Murphys, California, twice playing the archetypal black-caped villain. He stole the show with his over-the-top performances and witty retorts to shouts from the audience. Later, he attended acting school in Los Angeles and had two minor roles on network television.

Nate enjoyed watching football, but could not sit around the house for long. He was always anxious to get outdoors to spend time fishing, skiing, golfing, shooting or boating. He always loved taking friends or family with him.

Nate was like a father to his nephews Jason and Greg, taking them on trips across the country, attending their sports events and concerts. He maintained ties with the Assyrian-American community in Modesto and Turlock, California. Nate was comfortable with all types of people, from ranchers to his football buddies to a new friend at a pub in Britain. Nate was a loyal husband and friend who touched the lives of all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Murphys Hotel, Mark Twain Ballroom, on December 22, 2023 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. RSVP solomonnate96@gmail.com.