Nathan Alexander Bovankovich
April 24, 2001 - July 13, 2022
24 Apr 2001 – 13 July 2022
Nathan Alexander Bovankovich, age 21, of Newark, DE, passed away on 13 July 2022.
Born in Fort Walton Beach, FL on 24 April 2001, he was the son of Paul Bovankovich and Monica Shire.
As a member of an Air Force family, in his early years, Nathan grew up in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea before Newark, Delaware. He was a graduate of Charter School of Wilmington. As a young man, he was passionate about aviation; designing, building and flying several remote-controlled aircraft and also quad-copter drones. He attained his Private Pilot License in sailplanes and actually flew an aircraft solo before driving a car alone.
He attended the United States Coast Guard Academy for two years. As a USCGA Cadet, he was Class President of the Class of 2023, a crewman on the tallship USCG Cutter Eagle and a member of the Offshore Racing Team. He served at the USCG Station Destin, FL and participated in several search and rescue missions.
Nathan then chose to leave the USCGA. He traveled extensively across the United States residing and working in Utah, and visiting Arizona, Idaho and several of the western states. He expanded his travels with a journey to northern Mongolia and made his way to Ketchikan, Alaska, where he worked as a sea-kayaking guide. Eventually, he found his way back home to Newark, Delaware.
Nathan was a brilliant mind and a compassionate kind-hearted soul. He was a self-taught, creative musician and song-writer, mastering the guitar, mandolin and banjo. He read thoroughly and was inspired by accounts of explorers who pressed the limits of human endurance in challenging natural environments. In similar fashion, Nathan sought to challenge himself with the rigors of a lifestyle close to nature and wilderness.
He will be both celebrated and missed by all of his family and friends. In addition to his parents, Nathan is survived by his grandparents, Stephen and Susan Brubaker; sister and brother-in-law, Asher and Joshua Driscoll; sister and brother-in-law, Jordan and Phillip Gerecke; sister, Abigail; stepfather, Timothy Shire; and stepbrothers and stepsister, Chad, Corbin, Timothy and Shaelyn.
A public viewing will be held for family and friends on Wednesday, 20 July 2022 from 6-8 PM at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home at 121 W. Park Place, Newark, Delaware 19711. Memorial service and interment will be held privately.
A celebration of life will be held via Zoom for Nate on July 21, 2022 at 1 pm, via live stream by clicking here.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nathan can be made to the 1 in 7b Foundation homeless services ministry at 1in7B Foundation, 162 Walnut Run Road, Landenberg, PA, 19350, or at 1in7bfoundation.org.
Bob and Josephine Paskevicius
Our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May the good Lord sustain you all.
José Alberto Fernández
He will be missed, he was a kinder soul looking for his own path in life.
What a beautiful obituary, for a wonderful young man.
Karla Horne
Jeff and I extend our most heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Praying you will find God’s peace to comfort you at this time.
Beth Batchelder
My dear Monica and family, Know you are in my prayers. In Christ Nathan is never lost just absent from our temporal vision. Grieve with Hope. I am just a text or call away! Much love and comfort to you all Thanks to Jesus.
Butch and Jenny Varner
Our hearts are sad about your loss. We pray that the Lord will keep your hearts at peace and you will find solace among friends and family during this time. We love you all.
Sharon Lancaster
I’m so sorry for your loss, what a beautiful boy he was, I’m praying for peace for your family…
Celeste Price
So sorry for your loss, he was definitely too young to die with souch life and living still yet to do….rest in peace 🕊️
Catherine Englehart
I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know there is no understanding Nathan’s journey and that your grieving will require more than you may think you are but I encourage you to look for and expect to find support in Nature, from other humans, and from your own precious light. You are all in my prayers. Cathy Englehart (Barbara’s sister)
Heather Allain
I am so very sorry for this terrible loss. There are no words. You have been in my prayers and I will continue to ask the Lord to help, you one day at a time, as you mourn for and remember Nathan.
Kathryn Kasid
Paul I am so very sad for the sad news I just was given , you and Nathan and your family are in my prayers and thoughts and I wish I was closer to help and be there for you. Love you very much
Javier Alvarez
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I had the busiest schedule as a 4/c Cadet. I remember having to march across campus every period of the day, yet after all of that marching, I would be excited for chemistry. Nathan along with another 4/c were my chemistry partners 4/c year and they both made my class so much better. We would all joke around and teach each other chemistry because the teacher never did a good job of explaining. Nathan would always do all of the talking for the group, he had this way of speaking with such confidence -even though you could tell he might not have been the most confident guy- intelligence, and just by listening to him you knew he was a person you could trust. He was the type of person that would ALWAYS ask why, I remember he used to annoy our teachers because he was always so curious about anything and everything, I feel like half of the time the teacher would just try to avoid answering his questions because they always resulted in more. But that was who he was! He loved figuring out the meaning behind everything he was doing, finding out why we were put on this earth, what goes where and why, and why we have to march to class and what makes a cadet and good one, etc… Nathan was an amazing person and an even better friend, even though we were not that close, he would always find a way to approach me and ask me how I was doing. I wish I could have asked him about his journeys these last two years, and have him teach me a couple more things. He will be remembered as a member of the class of 2023 in my heart, as my chemistry partner, and as my friend.
Delfina Aleman
As part of the USCGA family you and your family are in our prayers. I find peace through my faith. I pray you do as well. Lean on the Lord for comfort and know that your CGA family is here for you.
Akua Buabeng
My prayers are with you and your family Monica in this difficult time, May the Holy Spirit who is our comforter, comfort you and give you peace.
Sending you ❤️
Geoffrey Brasse
My sincere condolences to you and your family. He explored life more than many in too few years. I am heartbroken for all of you.
Jennifer Garrett
Thoughts and prayers are with Nathan’s family and friends! I am so very sorry for your loss.
The Fam Shelly
With heavy hearts our family prays for your family; hope, faith, understanding, and strength. With deep and sincere sympathy.
Thomas Sellers
I had the pleasure of being Nathan’s roommate for a year and a half. Nathan could always motivate and put everyone in a better mood throughout our freshman year, which is known to be difficult. He was one of the smartest people I knew and would have an in depth understanding of any subject of conversation. He was a great friend, and I am glad I got the chance to know him.
Paldor family
Our heartfelt condolences for your loss. Praying that you all find peace, and sending you all the love in the world.
May he rest in peace.
Carlson Cheng
Nathan’s passing brings me deep sorrow. Nathan was in my homeroom as well as a few classes in high school. He was extremely smart and was very kind. I had never heard a mean thing come out of his mouth in my 4 years with him. Nathan also had a funny/quirky side to him that lead to many of my fondest memories with him. Nathan introduced me to gliding and piloted me in my first ever flight in a glider. Not only that he supported my pipe dreams and entrepreneurial efforts with rare sincerity. We have lost a good soul. I and many others from our high school will never forget Nathan.
India
“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night.”
Nathan was too bright and too magnificent for this mundane world. He seems to have packed so much passion and joy into such a short life. I hope the indelible memory of his brief time here will sustain you through the years.
Mona G
Deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Nathan. May He rest in God’s everlasting love and peace for all eternity. Prayers for strength and comfort during this time of grief.