- Date Of Death: Nov. 23, 2010
- State: Arizona
David Nations, 51, formerly of Flagstaff, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, in Orlando, Fla., where he had lived and worked as a professional photographer for many years.
His health had been in decline since Dec. 23, 2008, when he suffered a seizure and fall at the Orlando Airport. The fall resulted in a traumatic brain injury that required surgery, followed by anti-seizure medication. Since then, he suffered additional seizures, falls and another brain surgery. Recently, after dramatic improvements, he began to revive his photographic profession as David Nations Photography in Orlando and was planning for the future.
Mr. Nations was born in England, where his father was a U.S. Air Force pilot, and he lived in many places as a child. He grew up in Flagstaff and attended Flagstaff High School, where he served as student body president. He was active in football and excelled in the pole vault on the track team, setting school and state height records. He also attended Northern Arizona University, where he continued to excel in the pole vault, which led to his transfer to Grossmont College in San Diego, where he continued to train under the tutelage of track coach Ron Vavra, with a hope of qualifying for the USA Olympic Track Team. That training came to an end as a result of back injuries caused by an automobile accident.
Mr. Nations had a talent for photography, which led to his employment as a professional photographer with several production companies, major manufacturers and ultimately, with his own studio at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. He had more than 25 years of experience in fashion, commercial and advertising photography. He was based at Universal Studios Orlando from 1989-2008, where he worked with some of the biggest names in the film and television industry.
He is survived by his parents, Dale and Audrey Nations; his brother, Derek and his family; and his grandmother.
