Nathaniel Kurt Shaw passed away on November 9, 2024 peacefully at his home in Belle Mead, NJ.
Son of Sol and Frida Shaw, Nathaniel (Nat) was born on July 16, 1935 in Newark, NJ. He graduated from Weequahic High School in 1953 and attended the Newark College of Engineering (now called New Jersey Institute of Technology) where he also joined the United States Air Force ROTC program. Nat graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. While serving in the Air Force, Nat achieved the rank of Captain. As an engineer with NASA, he helped deploy the global tracking system for the Gemini and Apollo missions.
In 1963 Nat married Gloria Winograd (deceased), and in 1972, with their 2 children, moved to North Brunswick, NJ. That year he started Shaw Electric, providing electrical contracting services to customers in central New Jersey for two decades.
In 1989 Nat married Phyllis Shepard and they moved to Belle Mead, NJ.
He continued work as an electrical inspector for numerous municipalities including Hillsborough Township until his retirement in 2003. Nat also enjoyed teaching electrical code classes at Middlesex County College.
Nat had many lifelong hobbies, but above all, he loved flying. He first got his pilot’s license in 1957 and even got his commercial pilot’s license in 1968. In retirement, Nat also volunteered his time at the New Jersey Air Victory Museum.
Nat is survived by his wife Phyllis, his children Leslie Polaski and husband Alan Polaski, Steven Shaw and wife Julie Chung, Debbie Hartrum and husband John Hartrum, Dawn Purdy and husband David Purdy, and his 6 grandchildren Steffanie Oriole, married to Tom Oriole and their children Peyton and Jack, John Joseph Hartrum (JJ), Ryan Polaski, married to Maddie Polaski and their child Lakyn, Rachel Polaski, Collin Purdy, and Graham Purdy.
Nat will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband, son, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. We will miss him dearly.
Donation in lieu of flowers may be sent to:
– The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or The Parkinson’s Foundation
– New Jersey Air Victory Museum (https://njavm.org/contribute/)
A celebration of Nat’s life is to be held on Saturday November 16th at 2pm at Blawenburg Reformed Church, in their school building to the right of the main church. 424 Georgetown-Franklin Turnpike, Skillman, NJ 08558.
Submitted by
Steven Shaw