Nathaniel H. “Nat” Puffer

Nathaniel H. “Nat” Puffer, age 87, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Born in February 1938 in Nashua, New Hampshire, to the late Ruth (Mooers) and Richard Puffer, Nat grew up in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. After graduating from Bates College (Class of 1961) with a B.A. in History and Government, he attended the University of Denver (Class of 1962) where be obtained his Masters in Library Science. While at Denver, Nat met and married the love of his life, Yvonne. Following graduation, he worked at the Brooklyn Public Library for a short time before being drafted into the United States Army.

Upon his discharge, Nat and Yvonne moved to Newark, Delaware where he was employed at the University of Delaware Morris Library. Retiring as Assistant Director in 1992, Nat embarked upon a second career as an antiquarian book seller and appraiser, operating ‘The Book Room’ from 1992 to 2010. Among his many interests as a book collector were pop up books, materials on the household arts, and establishing a large collection of over 200 titles from the publishing house of Dick & Fitzgerald, which he subsequently donated to the Special Collections Department at the University of Delaware Morris Library. One of his proudest moments was in 1992 when Nat was invited to join the prestigious Grolier Club of New York City, America’s oldest and largest society of bibliophiles. Over the years items from Nat’s collection were exhibited at the Grolier Club, the Brandywine River Museum, and Morris Library.

As one of the founding members of the Delaware Bibliophiles, he co-authored with his longtime friend Gordon A. Pfeiffer the “The Delaware Bibliophiles 1977-2002, A History.” Many lasting friendships were made at Bibliophile meetings and Nat always enjoyed talking shop and showing off his collection at gatherings over the years.

After Yvonne’s retirement from the Newark Free Library in 1998, they set off to travel the world, visiting numerous locations in the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, and the Caribbean. Winters always found them jetting off to Kauai to enjoy the warm weather and the cool drinks on the Garden Island. Spring and the fall were for traveling, and summers brought the joys of gardening and spending time with grandchildren.

Nat was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Loring and Richard, Jr.

He is survived by Yvonne, his wife of 62 years, son Richard (Meena), grandchildren Kieran, Leela, and Rohan Puffer, sister-in-law Velda (Duncan Pike), and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Newark Area Welfare Committee, P.O. Box 951, Newark, DE 19715-0951 or online by clicking here; or to the University of Delaware Library Associates, Attn: Gift Associates, 83 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716 or online by clicking here; or a charity of your choice in Nat’s honor.