Longtime Truckee resident Natale “Nat” Albert Turco, 50, died suddenly while on tour with Toby Keith in Nashville, Tenn., on July 19, 2007.

Nat made his home in Truckee for the past 25 years. He loved living in the mountains close to Lake Tahoe. In his early years, he worked as a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service and became a skilled sawyer. He also spent several winters at the west end of Donner Lake without a snow blower!

Nat found his joy in life when he followed his passion for skiing, which led him to avalanche control at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe. He expanded his work as a blasting engineer and then pyrotechnics, where he did fireworks displays for professional sporting events and concerts.

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No matter how much he traveled, Nat considered Truckee his home and the people there his extended family. At home, he enjoyed taking care of his property in both summer and winter. He never tired of telling stories about his life on the road and the great people he worked with. He loved to play golf and the guitar while on breaks on the road. Nat remained a kind and genuine person who maintained strong ties with his parents and family. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. The pain of losing of Nat will be felt everywhere.

Nat was the son of Dr. Vincent “Bob” and LaVerne “Lovey” (Kiss) Turco of Wakefield, R.I. Nat has two sisters, Patricia A. (Turco) McConnell of Wakefield and Katherine R. Turco of Fairbanks, Alaska; and two brothers, Vincent J.P. Turco of Kingston, and Keith Turco of Durango, Colo. He was the beloved uncle of Molly and Adam McConnell of Wakefield, and Rae and Joseph Turco of Kingston. Nat is the nephew of Robert and Dolores Safko of Newbury, Ohio; Edward and Rita Oktares of N. Olmstead, Ohio; Claire and the late Everett Peduzzi of Westerly; Arthur and Esther O’Neill of Pawcatuck, Conn., and the late Joseph and Margaret Gomes of Westerly. Nat was the grandson of the late Natale and Rosina Turco of Westerly.

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As he wanted, Nat is buried next to his grandmother and grandfather in St. Sebastian Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. A memorial fund is being established in Nat’s name for the promotion of safety in respect to pyrotechnics and blasting.

Memorial donations may be sent to: The Nat Turco Memorial Fund, 77 Main St., Wakefield, RI 02879.

A gathering in honor of Nat will be held in Truckee, but the date is uncertain. For more information, please e-mail his sister Kathy at kath@alaskas-spirit.com or call her at (907) 455-4286.