Nathaniel Preston, a retired professor of government at American University in Washington, D.C., died Nov. 27, 2009 from a fall. He was 81.
At age 16, Preston joined the Merchant Marine during World War II and helped deliver airplanes to England. After the war, he attended Harvard and then graduated from Boston University in 1950. He earned a master’s degree in political science in 1952 from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton in 1960.
After having taught at other colleges and universities, Preston moved to Washington in 1961 to teach at American University. There he rose to vice president for academic affairs, but left that post to study law. In 1981 he received a law degree from American University and set up a law practice. He retired in the mid-1990s. Among his retirement activities, he helped the homeless through a church program.
Preston is survived by his wife, Ravida, whom he married in 1958; three children; and four grandchildren.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.