The College unveiled a memorial tree on Sept. 19 in honor of Nathan Alexander ’17, who passed away last spring. Students, faculty, staff and Alexander’s family members gathered on the plaza in front of Ross Dining Hall for the dedication service.
The service began with Chaplain of the College Laurel M. Jordan ’79 and other staff members of the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life reading various prose and scripture.
“We’ve been brought together by our desire to honor the memory of Nathan Alexander... In these moments together here by this tree, we want to revisit some of our favorite memories of him, near the places on campus that he called home during his years at Middlebury,” Jordan said.
A student mentioned that Nathan’s sophomore year dorm room in Milliken Hall looked out at the spot where the tree now stands. Other students spoke of his interests in sailing and classical music, his flashes of sarcastic humor, his passion for political science and his eagerness to assist others during first-year move-in.
Bart Alexander, Nathan’s father, asked those in attendance to join him in a meditation.
“May the rhythm of the seasons instruct us in our grieving of Nathan’s death. As the leaves of this tree fall, may we release our pain. As the roots grow to absorb the Earth’s riches, may we be nurtured by our memories of Nathan’s many gifts to us. As this tree rests in winter snow, may we find peace and calm in our hearts. Spring will come soon and this tree will explode in new life, just as our lives will grow in joy and remembrance of Nathan,” he said.
The dedication of the Japanese lilac tree–bearing a simple dedicatory plaque at its base–was a continuation of the remembrance events for Nathan that began last spring. Students, faculty and staff from across campus and across the country came together to mourn at his memorial service and candlelight vigil and over numerous conversations and reflections. Such events not only commemorate and celebrate Nathan, but also act as opportunities to continue the ongoing dialogue surrounding mental health and well-being at the College.
“Even as we share with one another wishes for a good start, we also pause to reflect on one of the events of the spring that affected us all,” Jordan said in a campus-wide email.
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