Nathan Turk Letters at U. Machias Online -- UMM's Online STUDENT newspaper

U. Machias Online
NATHAN TURK LETTERS
For those who knew him...

SKIP TO NEWEST ENTRY

Nathan Stories
Andrew's Photo Album

SEND ANDREW YOUR THOUGHTS
Nathan's cousin Andrew has requested that all who so desire will
contact him with their memories of Nathan.
aturk@OZEMAIL.COM.AU

May 5, 2000

"We received this email from Nathan's cousin and want to share it with you ..."

My name is Andrew Turk. I am one of Nathan's cousins. My father
Warren is Murray's brother. As you are no doubt aware we are a very
close family and the loss of Nathan is, and will always be,
an absolute heartache.

Nathan obviously made a big impact over there, as he did here in Australia,
and what I am doing is putting a "Memories Book" together. Input from
Maine would be good. If you can get anyone to "put pen to paper",
please do it.
Write about your times and memories with Nathan.
aturk@OZEMAIL.COM.AU
Submitted by staff members Penny Foss and Wayne Lobley

** U. Machias Online would like to add the memories you have for Andrew **
to this site as well. When sending an email to Australia please also
send a copy to U. Machias Online. To that end, please use the
following link.
aturk@OZEMAIL.COM.AU; ummstudentnewspaper@hotmail.com

March 25, 2002

On the 2nd anniversary of Nathan's death I found the homepage made by
the university. It soothed my soul to know that his memory lives on by
everyone that knew him. I went to Lyneham primary school with Nathan and
remained friends even though we didn't continue on to the same high
school. His death shook my soul. On this day I remember the boy and the
man he became. I'm writing this e-mail to let you and his family know
that there are people that you don't realize that think and miss Nathan
and that he will always be remembered.
Give my and my friends love to those who need it.

Yersheena Nichols

APRIL 22, 2001

A Memory
I am Nathan's sister and I remember he was practicing basketball and I came out to play
and he told me to stand somewhere so I did. I asked what he was doing and he said that
he was going to try to jump over me and dunk the ball in the basketball ring. I was freaked
out about the whole thing. I think I was about 10 years old at the time and about 5 foot 4.
He said just to stand there and not move. So I did of course. He got a good run up and
jumped over me and didn't touch me and also got the ball in. I was so surprised. I went
and told everyone about it. Most people believed me. When I told my friends from school
they didn't believe me, so I asked them to come over and I showed them and they were
shocked. I was like "that's my brother." Now I brag about how good my brother is.
Received from Jessica Turk, April 19, 2001

May 29, 2000

Dear Linda,
We had snow in Canberra yesterday.
The first snowfall in twenty years....perhaps the flakes floated over from your part of the world.
A little bit of Nathan...
Another thing. Nathan's Mum and Dad want Nathan's friends to contact them.
Send any message and I will pass it on to them. Murray and Sue will have their own
e-mail address shortly.
The video and photo's are in the mail...
Andrew Turk

Dear Andrew,
It is spring here, so HOPEFULLY we get no more snow! Perhaps it rained
a little bit of Nathan down on us instead.
At any rate, Nathan will never truly leave Machias ince he now resides in
the hearts of all who knew him. For that matter Nathan's memory is spread
all over Maine, Canada, and the U.S. as he goes with those who have returned
home for the summer.
With that in mind, correspondence from Nathan's friends might slow down
considerably due to the fact that some do not have access to computers when
they are not at school. Nevertheless, we will continue to update the
"Nathan Turk" page, and you may expect more activity in the fall.
Have you heard from anyone yet?
We anxiously await your package! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Linda

May 21,2000

Linda,
I have not forgotten to send you photographs etc...I just haven't been able to
do it yet. Each time I have tried I get a little overwhelmed by the loss of Nathan.
I know that Murray and Sue would like people over there to have a little history
of Nathan and I will do it.....just when I can.
Regards
Andrew

Dear Andrew,
I am sure everyone understands how hard this must be for you, and we appreciate
your efforts. Thank you for contacting me, but do not feel pressured in any way.
Do what you can when you can. I am sure everyone here will be grateful to receive
what you have to offer whenever you are up to sending it.
Sincerely,
Linda

May 9, 2000

My parents went with Murray and Sue to the south/east coast of NSW on
Sunday and scattered Nathan's ashes into the sea. It was extremely emotional
and I guess a final good-bye to him. They are coping as best as they can. I would
have been there but I was in Sydney at the Olympic stadium with my one of my
sons, Sam, whilst he was competing in the Pacific School Games. He set a new
age world record in the long jump and one of his biggest inspirations was his big
cousin Nathan (Sam plays basketball for the same club that Nathan did in his junior
days). It is a tragedy that Nathan isn't here to see what his much loved younger
sister and cousins will achieve.
I hope that all is well in your part of the world and send on behalf of the
Turk family our thanks for your recognition and obvious heartfelt words and
thoughts on the loss of Nathan. Please pass that on...
Regards,
Andrew

Sent May 6...
Dear Andrew,
U. Machias Online is the student newspaper here at UMM. My husband and I are
students at UMM, but alas, we did not know Nathan. I must say that it was heart rending
to witness the grief displayed by those who did know him. It made me wonder if it was
good or bad that I had not known him. My conclusion was that it was bad. Not to have
suffered loss is a hollow protection when balanced against not having known someone
who touched so many lives in such a profound manner.
We started publishing this paper shortly before Nathan's death, and I added this site
to the paper on Monday morning after we found out what had happened. I hoped that it
would serve as a place for the mourners to come, express their feelings, and be comforted
by the other expressions found there. While I am disappointed with the responses received
to date, I feel that it should continue. To that end I have asked that those who send
comments to you will also send them to us for publication. Please visit the site.
http://www.oocities.org/ummstudentnewspaper/NathanTurk.htm
We send our most sincere condolences to you and your entire family. It is sad to hear of
any death, but the death of a young person with such promise is the ultimate tragedy.
If you don't mind, please reply just to make sure that the link I have provided is accurate.
If you are willing and able, we would also appreciate pictures of Nathan with his family
and the scenery around where he lived in Australia--for publication. I hope to hear from
you soon, but more importantly I hope that you receive a flood of memories from our
corner of the world.
Sincerely,
U. Machias Online

Andrew's reply received May 9...
Dear Linda,
I have received your e-mail and the link is accurate. I will send you photos of our family
and of the places that Nathan grew up in, spent time in, and, tragically, where he spent
his last days in Australia.
I would also like to say that [the] "disappointing" result may be because people are
dealing with it in their own way. Each to their own..
Regards,
Andrew

How true, Andrew. Congratulations to Sam!

May 5, 2000

"We received this email from Nathan's cousin and want to share it with you ..."

Submitted by staff members Penny Foss and Wayne Lobley

I was not fortunate enough to know Nathan Turk on a personal level.
We were in the same class (weight training) and I noticed his great attitude.
Sometimes when you meet a person, something special shines from them.
This was so with Nathan. Another angel has received his wings.....
Vicki Morse

To the students of UMM,
I am new to the university, having arrived on campus about the same time
Nathan did. He was in two of my classes and I will miss him more than I can
possibly say. One of the joys of a small campus is the opportunity for a
single individual to make such a difference. One of its sorrows is that one
individual's absence can be felt so keenly by all of us.
I attended the memorial service last night and was particularly touched
by the courage, love, and vulnerability you displayed. Because of you,
Nate's special sass and glory came through in abundance. He called me from
time to time to let me know the team would be gone for a game, or to ask a
question about a paper. He always opened with the same sentence, "Hello, Dr.
Kimball, this is your favorite student." There is one episode of the
"Roseanne" television show that I remember. In it, she visits each of her
three children in turn, tucking them in for the night, and saying a few
words. She ends with, "You know, you are my favorite." Then, moving on to
her next child, repeats the ritual, "You know, you are my favorite." What
can I say? You know, Nathan, you are my favorite.
with love,
Kay Kimball

I'm sitting here remembering how Nate always had some way to cheer me up
when I was having a bad day. One time that really sticks out is when I was sitting
on the steps of Torrey Hall and he came walking by whistling a U2 song.
He stopped and looked at me and immediately sat down next to me,
put his arms around me and said, "Hey, we all love you".
He then gave me a kiss on the cheek, winked and went on his way to class.
I'll always remember that and I just want to say to Nate, "Hey, we ALL love you!"
Anonymous

I am sorry to say that I did not know Nathan, I had never met him, nor had I
even seen him on campus. Nonetheless, my heart went out to each and every
one of you who DID know him, as I sat among you during his memorial service.
The following came my way as an email forward a few days ago,
and I thought that the message applied now more than ever.
I hope this brings each of us a resolve for the future.
L. S.

" If Tomorrow Never Comes"

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two
To stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance to make everything right.

There will always be another day to say our "I love you's",
And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget,

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight..

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear,

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

Do you have memories you would like to share?
Send your comments to
ummstudentnewspaper@hotmail.com