Nathaniel James Diego

Nathaniel James (“Jim”) Diego
February 14, 1984, to December 16, 2022

It is with great sadness to share the news about the untimely passing of our beloved Jim Diego.
Jim was the only child of Mr. Vicente (Vic) and Dr. Nenita (Nitz) Diego.

Jim was born and grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where early on he showed a talent and passion
for arts and entertainment. Throughout his elementary and high school years, he sang in the
choir and a Capella, played piano, saxophone, marimba, and vibraphone, acted in plays and
school productions, and could hold his own in modern dance. He would continue on and take
these talents to the University of Michigan, where he earned a B.S. in Architecture. During his
Ann Arbor years, Jim showed the unique ability to give his all throughout his academic,
business, and arts and entertainment pursuits.

After graduating from Michigan, Jim would take his journey to New York in 2006, where he had
interned during the summer. For the next 16+ years, Jim would give new meaning to the saying,
“joie de vivre.” Jim would apply his urban planning, design, partnership, and economic and
community development expertise to Hester Street (Sr. Project Manager), Greater Jamaica
Development Corporation (Sr. Project Manager), and the Department of Citywide
Administrative Services, Asset Management (City Planner). He also earned his M.U.P. in Urban
Planning from Hunter College/City University of New York, while working full-time. Outside of
work, Jim would produce a Capella songs, albums, music videos, and was often requested to
lend his wonderful voice for a variety of events. He was also a member of Broadway Barkada,
an organization comprised of nearly 100 active members whose aim is to nurture and support
Filipino artists who believe in the importance of cultural awareness.

Over the last decade, Jim’s singing and new passion for running would converge. As a proud
member of the New York Road Runners and Front Runners New York (FRNY) clubs, he
completed 138 marathons around the world. He ran a full marathon and at least two half
marathons in all 50 states and won the FRNY Ultra-Runner of the Year in 2019. As part of his
nationwide running adventures, Jim performed the National Anthem on race day in all 50
states. The talent of Jim’s running and singing made him a local legend in New York, and he was
often invited to commence race day with his rendition of the national anthem in NYC races,
most recently at the 2022 NYC Marathon.

However, in addition to all of this, the greatest quality about Jim was his care for his family—a
loving son to his parents Vic and Nitz, loyal Diego and broader family member, as a fun and
amazing Tito (uncle) and Ninong (godfather), and wonderful friend to many locally and around
the world.

On December 21, 2022, in New York, and later in Wichita after the holidays, and beyond, we
will celebrate Jim’s life—one that he lived to the fullest.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nathaniel James Diego, please visit our floral store.