Obituary of Ira Clifford Nathan

Born, June 4, 1930 within walking distance of Yankee Stadium, to Lillian and Abraham Nathan, Ira Clifford Nathan attended New York City schools, graduating in the top 10% of his 1950 class from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with a B. Management Engineering. His first job was at the New York Naval Shipyard as a metallurgist involved with the development of nodular cast iron for the Navy’s newest carrier. The Korean War was in the headlines when he joined the Air Force. Upon discharge he remained on active duty in the Air Research Command and was promoted to 1st Lt. He’d met his future wife, Tama Ripps, while working in Brooklyn, and they were married on June 6, 1954. They honeymooned in the Caribbean, island hopping on Pan-Am clippers. Taking up residence in Ft. Lee, NJ, Ira joined Wright Aeronautical in developing a new jet aircraft engine. Ira’s father and brother were Past Masters of Audubon Lodge, Masons, NYC and Ira also was honored to become Master of the lodge in 1955. The family moved to Morristown, NJ, and after several other jobs, Taylor-Wharton hired Ira as Quality Control manager & metallurgy for its High Bridge facility that had provided cannon balls to George Washington’s army. When EPA rules closed the foundry, Ira’s reputation as the man who got the job done, brought him to Shreveport as Modernization manager for Thiokol at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. Ira was an ardent philatelist and was President of the Red River Stamp Society. He was a devotee of of Marjorie Lyons theatre when Bob Buseick was director, and enjoyed the many productions of the Shreveport Opera and Shreveport Symphony concerts. As a member of East Ridge Country Club, he served on the Swim Team Board and enjoyed the club’s Bridge evenings. He was a member of the American Defense Preparedness Assn. and Kiwanis. Ira was listed in 1979 Who’s Who in the South & Southwest, Personalities of America, The Dictionary of International Biography and Men of Achievement. He kept his allegiance to the NY Yankees, wearing his Yankee’s cap on all occasions, and cheered for the Dallas Cowboys. Working for the Dept. of Defense, Ira was the Chief of Operations for the Louisiana and Longhorn Army Ammunition Plants when he retired, He then opened his own travel agency, Travel By Nathan that serves clients throughout the country. With friends and family, Ira explored and enjoyed the culture and people in every corner of the globe. No matter the size of the boat, it was his favorite kind of travel. When he became a laryngectomee in 2016, smaller river boats, especially in Southeast Asia became his preferred travel mode and he experienced the joy of exploring Burma and Cambodia even with the agony of 30-40 hours of air travel. His courage in overcoming the difficulty of speaking through a device, was amazing. In spite of this difficulty, he managed to connect with fellow passengers, staff and villagers, etc and met everyone as a real friend. In these last months, his goal was to complete the Safari in Kenya and Tanzania that was cancelled by the pandemic. Ira is survived by his wife, Tama, and was blessed to have three wonderful children and 6 awesome grandchildren: his son, Keith Michael, daughter-in-law, Kathleen and their children, John Austin, Joseph Dane, and Katherine Lyndsey, Seabrook TX; his daughters, Bonnie Rachel Baker, and her husband, Rodolfo Baker, their daughter, Bonnie Baker, Bocas, Panama and daughter Shari Merrill Nathan, Pacific Palisades, CA and her sons, Wyn Jake Delano, his wife Leigh Gaines Delano, Washington DC area, and Hero Perry Delano, Pasadena CA. Ira was the very best husband, partner and mentor, and he was so very proud of each of his children and grandchildren. His face lit up when the “grands” phoned and he loved attending their special events. Ira had a wonderful life. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.