Nathan Warren left this world a better place because he selflessly went out of his way to help people tackle personal challenges and sort out their troubles.
In his work with young students as an educational assistant at Glenview elementary school, his kind and compassionate approach to his duties earned him the same kind of universal popularity and respect he found on the soccer field as manager and right midfielder of the Westwood Sports Pub men's team.
At just 26, while his teammates were celebrating their playoff win last Sunday which qualified them for their third straight North Cariboo Senior Soccer League Open Division final, Warren died suddenly of a heart attack.
"It doesn't make sense, he was 26 years old, the guy was fit, it's such a sad thing," said Westwood captain Scott DeBianchi. "I was talking to a couple of my friends the other day and the only thing we could come up with was he was needed somewhere else.
"I'm not a hugely religious guy and I don't know about the afterlife, but thinking of his life, this guy committed himself to the church. He worked at AimHi with special needs kids and he was the definition of a good guy."
Warren was a youth leader with the Fort George Baptist Church and was also active as a volunteer with the Prince George Youth Soccer Association and Northern B.C. Children and Families Hearing Society. His spiritual side showed in his choice of tattoos, lyrics from a song from the Christian band Underoath, which were on his feet. "I know because my feet have scars to show."
"He was one of the most giving people I knew and the best man I knew on this earth," Warren's brother Jonathan told CKPG sportscaster Rich Abney. "He helped a lot of kids, and older people as well, so a lot of his friends looked to him for advice through tough times. He was a comforter. He was a really good person."
Warren didn't play in Westwood's 3-0 semifinal win last Sunday over the Grewal Group. He'd phoned DeBianchi the day before to tell him he wasn't feeling well and had been admitted to hospital. Warren was eventually released and returned home and died Sunday afternoon.
Warren was passionate about soccer, whether he was playing it or watching his favorite team, Arsenal, flex its muscles in the English Premier League. He travelled to New York in July with his wife and parents to watch the New York Red Bulls take on Arsenal in an exhibition game. He and his wife Kimberly named their dog Eto'o, after Everton striker Samuel Eto'o.
"He was a workhorse on the field, he was a hustler, he was a good player and every game he gave his all every game," said DeBianchi. "His soccer touch wasn't the best but his work ethic made up for it. I would have him on any team. If he felt bad for someone sitting on the bench he would sub himself so that they could get some playing time.
"The only reason our team was successful is because of that man. He managed the team, he'd text all of us before every game, he'd Facebook message us before every game. He was the one who got it going."
Warren first made his mark in the league as a Division 2 midfielder. When the top two divisions amalgamated two seasons ago, he took on the job as manager for Silent Cabinets, starting the team from scratch. After a mediocre regular season, the team turned it on in the playoffs and won the open division championship. Last season, with a new sponsor, Westwood Sports Pub, they were the team to beat from start to finish and kept that roll going in the playoffs.
"He was a guy with the kindest heart who would do anything for anyone and we are all just in shock," said Westwood player Liam MacPhail, to Abney. "He's been there every game for us and it's going to be different. It's going to be very emotional."
On Sunday, starting at 5 p.m. at North Cariboo Field, Westwood will go for the Division 1 threepeat. After winning the regular season with a 17-1-2 record, DeBianchi said there's no way his team will lose, knowing how much it would mean to their manager to finish the season with a celebration. The final has been given the title the Nathan Warren Memorial Game and the players will be wearing black armbands and commemorative shirts in tribute to Warren.
"It's going to be such a good game because the guys will all be on edge and ready to play and we're going to win, we cannot lose this game and everyone has that same feeling," said DeBianchi. "I don't care if I have to run the whole game, I'll do whatever I can to score as many goals as I can just for Nathan."
Rolling Mix finished third in the league with a 9-2-9 record and qualified for the final with a 2-1 semifinal win over Nancy O's. In Sunay's other division championships, the Caledonians take on Subway in the 45-and-older final at 1 p.m. At 3 p.m. in the 30-and-older final, Eden Spas/Geotech will play Queensway Auto World.
Warren is survived by his wife Kimberly, parents Greg and Susan, brother Jonathan and sister Michelle. A visitation with Nathan will start today at 2 p.m., at Westwood Mennonite Brethren Church (2658 South Ospika Blvd.), with a funeral to follow at 3 p.m.
