In Memoriam: David B. Nau
David Barry Nau, an award-winning creative designer/manager passed away Oct. 18 of natural causes in Medford, Oregon. He had moved there from the Washington, D.C. area in 2015.
Originally from Boston, he graduated from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1985 with a B.A. in package design after studying industrial, graphic and package designs. His career included positions as director of design, owner of an exhibit design company, salesman, and senior exhibit designer. This variety of positions has provided experience in all phases of the exhibit business: designing, quoting, selling, directly working with clients, interfacing with builders and manufacturers, staging and supervising setup. He enjoyed working closely with sales, marketing, and management in the development of design strategies within the clients’ budgets. He built design teams, tracked hours and progress of design, and coordinated outside creative resources when needed.
He faced life’s challenges with bravery and courage and in doing so brought his inherited unending love of art to the center of his life. From his first job creating a stellated dodecahedron for a local artist to his time at Pratt Institute he demonstrated the insights and skills that unfolded throughout his career as an industrial and commercial display and design artist. However, he never left his love of painting far behind. His company, Earth Energy Art, featured “Paintings to enhance body, mind, and spirit using genuine gemstone and organic pigments – painted by watercolor artist David Nau. His many canvases reveal a wide range of interests, most of which looked at the impact of landscapes on our daily lives.
Colleague Keith Guyer wrote in his online guest book: “Just heard the sad news of David’s passing. RIP Dave. Dave and I first met and worked together at Sacks & Co in ’86, he was the big shot custom exhibit designer that came to work for the portable & modular exhibit company. We often ventured across the street for a couple adult beverages, this is where I first came to know David Nau as a person. We then joined forces again in the ‘90s at Access TCA. David was our go-to designer for all big projects, he always rose to the occasion with inspiring, cutting-edge design. We pitched many exhibits during our tenure at Access, and yes, we still went out after work once in a while to decompress. Glad to hear he had some retirement years in the beautiful Northwest to do what he loved. Fare thee well ole’ friend—eternal wisdom is at hand!”
Kevin Peetz, a fellow exhibit designer who also worked with David at Access TCA years ago, shared, “When you had to compete against him, you knew you were in for a battle. He forced you to work hard, to get the best out of you. He was a great friend and I’ll miss him.”
He leaves behind three sons: Sean, Adam and Timothy, his older brother, Richard (Kathy), his sister Kristen and her mother, Maryann, share the grief of this unexpected loss. David was predeceased by his sister Diane, his mother Ruth, and father Dr. Otto S. Nau Jr.
As a father, brother, and husband his compassion and love of life shall be remembered by those who were touched by his life. To honor him, his family asks you to see the beauty all around you in the natural world. To share a memory or condolences in his online guest book, visit https://www.hillcrestmortuary.com/guestbook/7185635.