Sunday, June 7, 2015

In Memoriam: Nathan Ginn

My good friend Nathan Ginn passed away this week. He had struggled with heart problems for many years, which can only be described as ironic because he was one of the most open, welcoming, and charitable people I've ever known.

He was a steadfast and true friend to me for over thirty years. Let me give you example of what I mean by friendship: as an atheist, I obviously could not get married in a church. Nathan got himself ordained over the internet (in the Church of the Whole Life, I believe) so that he could perform the marriage. But that's only the half of it; when that one didn't take, Nathan did it again. How many men will you marry you twice? If that's not friendship, I don't know what is. Sara and I got married in the Rose Garden in the park, by the power vested in Nathan Ginn by the State of Arizona, and the shattered pieces of my life were made whole again. By the power vested in Nathan Ginn.


Nathan Ginn, playing his greatest role as "Priestly Officiant", in "The Wedding"

We met in karate class at the UofA and trained together for the next 20 years. We ran up and down the three flights of stairs of the UofA parking garage for what felt like 10 of them. He made movies, both as a producer and an actor. He made people happy. I still remember dinner at this mother's house as the only time I've ever actually enjoyed Chinese food.

Goodbye, Nathan. See on you on the other side of the veil.

3 comments:

  1. I'm sorry I didn't read this earlier. I remember Nathan, it is with saddness that I read this. I know you were valued his friendship, he will be missed.

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  2. Opps, I didn't edit my post. Being a writer, it must make you cringe. I should have deleted the "were". I started to type one thing and my brain was thinking something else.

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  3. Grammar is for my copy-editor. (Who does a great job btw. Thanks Julia! :) )

    The only movie script I've ever written (or probably will write) was for Nathan, but he never had the chance to film it.

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