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NATHANIEL RESTCOME POTTER, JR. August 27, 1924 to October 29, 2017 Nathaniel ("Nat") Restcome Potter, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Honolulu on Sunday, 29 October, 2017, his wife and three children at his side. He was 93 years old. Nat is remembered fondly for his commitment to family, church, community and his profession as well as for his wit, sense of humor and genial, generous and fair-spirited nature. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Nat graduated from Phillips Academy at Andover in 1943. After high school he enlisted and served in the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945. He commenced college at Amherst in 1946, majoring in English and graduating in the class of 1948. While in college he met "the love of his life" Gail Caricof, a Hawaii girl attending Bennington College in Vermont and they wed in September of 1948. Gail convinced Nat to live in Hawaii where they built a house, had three children, and where Nat also built a life based on service to the things he held most dear and important. Nat served in the Hawaii Air National Guard from 1950 through '51. Nat had a long career in the production and sales of cement in Hawaii. From 1952 through 1959 he worked for Honolulu Tile, co-founded American Tile and worked for Grace Brothers. He joined Hawaiian Cement Corporation in 1960 and worked there until his retirement in 1986, serving as Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing. Nat was involved in the founding, functioning and leadership of trade groups including the Cement and Concrete Products Industry association (CCPI), Hawaii Manufacturer's Association (HMA), and the Construction Industry Legislative Organization (CILO). In 1950 Nat joined the Cathedral of St. Andrew and became a faithful servant to his church. He was "licensed" as a Lay Reader, serving in that capacity into the 1990s and was a founder in 1988 of the Cathedral Foundation, sitting on its board. He served as the Senior Warden for 15 years, as Cathedral treasurer from 1990-1994, and on the Heritage Campaign Steering Committee. He served alongside Bishops Kennedy, Hanchett, Browning, Hart, Chang, and Fitzpatrick and numerous Deans and other clergy. Nat served on the board of the Pacific Club as well as on its Membership Committee for many years and was Club president from 1981 to 82. During his tenure as President, the Club took up the debate of whether to admit women and Nat sided with those in favor, arguing that the inclusion of women would add vitality, balance and depth to the membership. Once women were admitted and began to swell the ranks of the membership he liked to note that the Club was thriving thanks to that inclusion. Nat had a personal history with scouting and led Honolulu Cub Scout Pack 1 from about 1957 through 1961. Nat also had an appreciation for aesthetics and the environment and upon his retirement from Hawaiian Cement he served on the boards of the Hawaii Nature Center, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, and the Tantalus Community Association, doing stints as President or leader of each. He believed that volunteering in the community paid dividends in community vitality. Nat delighted in and had a passion for the English language and for etymology. He was a voracious reader, a formidable Scrabble opponent and a dedicated crossword puzzler. Nat had a great love for music and the arts and was a consistent supporter of artists and organizations he deemed deserving. Nat and Gail traveled extensively together and orchestrated family trips to redwood country, the great parks of the North American west, to Europe and to Alaska. Throughout his life Nat was a dedicated photo and video chronicler of the family, creating and organizing a worthy documentary archive. Nat is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gail, by their three children, Barton (Bibiana) of Honolulu, Abby Eaton (Michael) of Honolulu, Johnny (Lori) of Monterey, California and by 9 grandchildren and 4 great- grandchildren. Words that Nat wished to be remembered by: "Thank you, Lord, for my wonderful life!" A service in celebration of Nat's life will be held Saturday, January 13 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, with visitation at 9:30am, service at 10:30 and onsite celebration to follow. The family asks that any donations in Nat's memory be directed to the Institute for Human Services: www.ihshawaii.org/donate; IHS Development Office 546 Kaaahi St., Honolulu 96817, (808) 447-2827.
NATHANIEL RESTCOME POTTER, JR. August 27, 1924 to October 29, 2017 Nathaniel ("Nat") Restcome Potter, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Honolulu on Sunday, 29 October, 2017, his wife and three children at his side. He was 93 years old. Nat is remembered fondly for his commitment to family, church, community and his profession as well as for his wit, sense of humor and genial, generous and fair-spirited nature. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Nat graduated from Phillips Academy at Andover in 1943. After high school he enlisted and served in the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945. He commenced college at Amherst in 1946, majoring in English and graduating in the class of 1948. While in college he met "the love of his life" Gail Caricof, a Hawaii girl attending Bennington College in Vermont and they wed in September of 1948. Gail convinced Nat to live in Hawaii where they built a house, had three children, and where Nat also built a life based on service to the things he held most dear and important. Nat served in the Hawaii Air National Guard from 1950 through '51. Nat had a long career in the production and sales of cement in Hawaii. From 1952 through 1959 he worked for Honolulu Tile, co-founded American Tile and worked for Grace Brothers. He joined Hawaiian Cement Corporation in 1960 and worked there until his retirement in 1986, serving as Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing. Nat was involved in the founding, functioning and leadership of trade groups including the Cement and Concrete Products Industry association (CCPI), Hawaii Manufacturer's Association (HMA), and the Construction Industry Legislative Organization (CILO). In 1950 Nat joined the Cathedral of St. Andrew and became a faithful servant to his church. He was "licensed" as a Lay Reader, serving in that capacity into the 1990s and was a founder in 1988 of the Cathedral Foundation, sitting on its board. He served as the Senior Warden for 15 years, as Cathedral treasurer from 1990-1994, and on the Heritage Campaign Steering Committee. He served alongside Bishops Kennedy, Hanchett, Browning, Hart, Chang, and Fitzpatrick and numerous Deans and other clergy. Nat served on the board of the Pacific Club as well as on its Membership Committee for many years and was Club president from 1981 to 82. During his tenure as President, the Club took up the debate of whether to admit women and Nat sided with those in favor, arguing that the inclusion of women would add vitality, balance and depth to the membership. Once women were admitted and began to swell the ranks of the membership he liked to note that the Club was thriving thanks to that inclusion. Nat had a personal history with scouting and led Honolulu Cub Scout Pack 1 from about 1957 through 1961. Nat also had an appreciation for aesthetics and the environment and upon his retirement from Hawaiian Cement he served on the boards of the Hawaii Nature Center, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, and the Tantalus Community Association, doing stints as President or leader of each. He believed that volunteering in the community paid dividends in community vitality. Nat delighted in and had a passion for the English language and for etymology. He was a voracious reader, a formidable Scrabble opponent and a dedicated crossword puzzler. Nat had a great love for music and the arts and was a consistent supporter of artists and organizations he deemed deserving. Nat and Gail traveled extensively together and orchestrated family trips to redwood country, the great parks of the North American west, to Europe and to Alaska. Throughout his life Nat was a dedicated photo and video chronicler of the family, creating and organizing a worthy documentary archive. Nat is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gail, by their three children, Barton (Bibiana) of Honolulu, Abby Eaton (Michael) of Honolulu, Johnny (Lori) of Monterey, California and by 9 grandchildren and 4 great- grandchildren. Words that Nat wished to be remembered by: "Thank you, Lord, for my wonderful life!" A service in celebration of Nat's life will be held Saturday, January 13 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, with visitation at 9:30am, service at 10:30 and onsite celebration to follow. The family asks that any donations in Nat's memory be directed to the Institute for Human Services: www.ihshawaii.org/donate; IHS Development Office 546 Kaaahi St., Honolulu 96817, (808) 447-2827.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
