Vince Nathan

Vince Nathan died in the care of Hospice, surrounded by his family, on November 8, 2017 in Toledo, OH due to complications arising from bone cancer. He was 79.

Mr. Nathan was born on November 14, 1937 in Tyler, Texas. He attended the University of Oklahoma for his Bachelor of Arts and Law degrees, where he also met his wife of 58 years, Beverly Nathan, who survives him.

Mr. Nathan worked briefly as a legal clerk in Oklahoma before becoming a Teaching Associate at Indiana University School of Law from 1961-63. Afterward, he moved to Toledo where he served as Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Toledo College of Law between 1963 and 1979. Mr. Nathan then spent 20 years practicing law at Nathan & Arnold before returning to the University of Toledo from 2003-2012 as a Visiting Faculty Member and as a Lecturer & Associate Lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice.

Mr. Nathan is fondly remembered by many former students, even decades after the fact. Some students called him "The Cobra" for his tendency to pounce on the unsuspecting. He always came to class prepared and expected his students to do the same. Despite his tough reputation, he was beloved by his students. They recall a mentor who impacted many areas of their lives, challenging them in the classroom but also teaching them to enjoy the finer things in life - a nice meal or a glass of good scotch.

Mr. Nathan is also remembered for his years of work in the criminal justice system. From 1971 to 2003, while first teaching and then practicing law at Nathan & Arnold in Toledo, Mr. Nathan was a leading, nationally-known voice in prison reform. In his capacity as special master of the United States District Courts of Ohio, Georgia, Texas, and New Mexico, he monitored prisons for compliance, working to build and maintain humane conditions for prisoners.

Mr. Nathan is survived by his wife, Beverly; their children, Dan (Wendy) Nathan and Nancy (Ben) Jacobson; and grandchildren, Aaron, David, Jacob, and Sarah. He cared for them more than anything, and they will remember him with respect and with love.

The funeral will be at the Wick/Wisniewski Funeral Home, 2426 N. Reynolds Rd., at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Out of town guests are welcome at the home of Beverly Nathan after the funeral. In addition, Mrs. Nathan's home will be open to all guests on Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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