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Nathaniel French Caldwell Jr.
Nathaniel French Caldwell Jr., 68, of Southern Shores, NC, passed away on the morning of June 8, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his family with Patty, his wife of 46 years, holding his hand. Known to friends and family as French, he leaves a legacy of integrity, kindness, and dedication.
Born in Tullahoma, TN, on October 31, 1954, he was the son of the late Nathaniel French Caldwell Sr. and Gaynelle Williams Caldwell. He is survived by his wife, Patty; one daughter, Elizabeth; three sons, Lee, Randolph, and Joseph; three grandsons, Marxer, Odin, and Adrian; three brothers, Russell, Bruce, and Clay; and two sisters, Gaynelle and Shirley.
French grew up in Pascagoula, MS, but also had fond memories of his Grandmother’s house in Nashville, TN. In 1973, he entered the US Naval Academy, where he studied oceanography and graduated in 1977. A lifelong learner, he would continue to further his education and attended Old Dominion University, where he earned his Master’s in International Studies in 1987, and Northeastern University, where he earned his PHD in Law and Policy in addition to graduating as valedictorian of his class in 2018.
French’s dedication to service extended beyond academia. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1977, he served his country with honor and distinction aboard the submarines USS Birmingham, USS Baton Rouge, and USS Will Rogers. In 1991, he moved to Bethesda, MD, in the Washington, DC area, where he was a Federal Executive Fellow with the Brookings Institution for one year, and then served as Special Projects Officer for the Secretary of the Navy. In 1994, he retired from the Navy at the rank of Commander. Afterwards, he led a distinguished professional career, beginning as Diplomatic Liaison for the Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces.
In 1995, he joined Richard S. Carson and Associates as a Director; in 1997, he became a Senior Manager at Arthur Andersen; and in 1999, he became a Vice President and Gartner Fellow at Gartner, Inc., where he worked for the next 15 years. While at Gartner, he became an expert on government risk compliance (GRC), and colleagues referred to him as a pillar in the GRC community. One of his proudest projects at Gartner was alerting Congress and the military to the risks of a digital Pearl Harbor, or the idea that a cyber attack could create a crisis of confidence that would shift the balance of power. After leaving Gartner, he went on to work at MetricStream as Chief Marketing Officer for four years.
After MetricStream, French co-founded The Analyst Syndicate, a group of independent IT analysts who were highly influential in their fields, before joining Archer Integrated Risk Management as Chief Strategy Officer in 2021.
Beyond his educational and professional career, French was a dedicated father. He had a passion for the Boy Scouts that began at a young age, and continued as each of his sons entered scouts. He loved to travel with his wife Patty, and enjoyed touring Europe with his daughter when she lived there. He was a sailing enthusiast, and throughout his life, he always sought adventure, from hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah to climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Professionally, his proudest accomplishment was that of serving his country during his long Naval career.
French’s passing leaves a profound void in the lives of his loved ones, but they find solace in the memories of his unwavering love and dedication. His legacy of integrity, resilience, and compassion will continue to inspire all those fortunate to have known him.
Nathaniel French Caldwell Jr. will be deeply loved, deeply missed, and his spirit will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends. A viewing will be held at Little Flower Church on Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda, MD, on June 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon immediately followed by a memorial service. Afterwards, a reception will be held at Clydes of Chevy Chase on Wisconsin Ave., from 2pm to 5pm.
Please share condolences with the family at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc. was entrusted with local arrangements.
Condolences
Dear Caldwell family, My deepest condolences and prayers go out to you. I knew French from our time at MetricStream where I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him as I started building my career in GRC Sales. I loved listening to his presentations, joining events together, and grabbing a beverage or two at work events. He was a great leader and truly will be missed. I had the opportunity to connect with him last fall to discuss career advice. And even though it had been years since we worked together at MetricStream it was like no time had passed, which I consider a mark of a true friend. Unfortunately I will not be able to make the services, and I want to reach out and share my support for the family and friends as you go through this challenging time. God bless you, and may French rest in peace 🙏 Sincerely, Ryan
Dear Patty please except our sympathy over the passing of your husband French. It didn't seem that long ago we saw him riding his bike with amazing vitality through the neighborhood. After reading his obituary it is obvious French had a great intelligence and a zeal for living. Love, Shirley and Bob Ruff
patty and french lived next door to our family in a little place called coltman idaho. from the first day they moved in we were all one family. we loved them so much. ralph and i had a little daughter who was handicapped.patty became her 2nd mom /so good to her and my other children. french was very good to her. after they moved back east our daughter teresa flew back each summer for 17 years and stayed with them. french even took her campaining with him and she loved it. patty even came and spoke at her funeral. french and patty have been to my house since several times. patty and i talked on the phone several times a week. i was checking on french/ i also talked to french on the phone and told him how much i loved him and please give ralph and teresa a hug and tell them i loved them/ french was always very considerate of patty also. i will miss him/he was a great guy/love sharon
As a United States Naval Academy classmate and company mate to Frenchy I remember his distinct sense of humor and calm spirit. I reserve the description “brilliant” for those in my opinion who are very intelligent, but must also be able to share their intelligence with others for the good of others. Frenchy easily qualifies as BRILLIANT by my estimation. May God continue to bless French and his family. CAPT (R) Charles Ivey
Dear Caldwell family, My deepest condolences for your loss. Mr. Caldwell was a remarkable man. I will always be grateful for the many life lessons he taught us through scouts- especially for teaching us about the importance of family, service and the richness of nature. Be assured of our prayers in this trying time. Much love, Maria
I’m so sorry for your loss. French was a great guy and classmate. He will be missed. He leaves a terrific legacy of family and work. Jeff USNA ‘77
What an impressive guy and a great neighbor. Hugs to you Patty and your family.
To the Caldwell Family, I had the privilege of working closely with French when he joined the Archer business. It was always a pleasure to connect with him. I remember when he first joined and he made the treck to London to visit me while he was over visiting Elizabeth. I lost my mother a few years back when she was 66. What I can share is that nothing anyone can say or do will make it better. Time helps, but does not heal. It’s ok to not be ok. Grief is different for everyone. Take solace in the impact that he had on many people. He will be missed.
Dear Caldwell family, from the entire Papadopoulos family our deepest condolences for French's passing to our Lord. May God grant him eternal peace and give your entire family strength in these trying times.
I am very sorry to hear about French’s passing. I read his obituary in the Washington Post. I knew French for years, meeting him when he was at Gartner and I was CIO later Deputy County Executive at the Fairfax County Government. We corresponded by email occasionally since he left Gartner and we were at a Gartner event in Cannes France many years ago, where I was a speaker - French was talking about me and didn’t know I was actually standing behind him or even at the event! He said he thought I was innovative, which was a great compliment. I would be at the funeral but I am at my home in Florida and unfortunately not at home in Maryland. My condolences, Dave Molchany
I’ve known French professionally for nearly 20 years; he recruited me to join him at Metricstream. We had a great friendship. He was wonderful to work with, fun as well as brilliant. I am so sorry for your loss, he will be dearly missed.
French Caldwell was a great friend, and I'm sorry he died. Hope the family can deal with everything. He was is 20th Co. and I was in 30th Co. We saw each other all the time at USNA.
Heartfelt condolences to Patty and the rest of the family. French was a fellow crusader and real Republican patriot when he stepped up to serve as a candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1998 against the Marxists here in Montgomery County. It was an honor and a privilege to have served with him in the political arena that pivotal year in American politics. Perhaps I'll see him again in Heaven. Yours in Christ, Gus.
I'm really sorry to hear this. I worked with French as a vendor, when he was at Gartner. He was brilliant, challenging, unwaveringly honest, and vastly entertaining. When we connected outside of work, his stories of previous work and family spoke of a lifetime of accomplishment and generosity. My sympathies to his family and friends, I'm sure he leaves a huge hole but many outstanding memories.
My condolence to the Caldwell family, in particular I want to offer my sympathies to Patty. I know words are poor comforters, no words can fulfill the void we feel. You and your family will be in my prayers. French Caldwell was and will always be the G.O.A.T in the GRC domain.
Sincerely, I will miss my friend and best mentor, French Caldwell. His loss has left a void in our hearts, and I offer my condolences to his wife, Patti, family, and loved ones during these difficult times. French was an exceptional individual who significantly contributed to the global governance, risk, and compliance community. His expertise, gained through years of dedicated research, insightful panels, and impactful conference sessions at Gartner, distinguished him as a trailblazer. Beyond his professional accomplishments, French was a remarkable person. He possessed a keen intellect, an infectious sense of humor, and a genuine humility that endeared him to audiences, clients, and fellow research analysts. He generously shared his knowledge, always ready to assist new Gartner analysts with research recommendations and fresh insights. Having worked closely with French at Gartner and The Analyst Syndicate, I can attest to his invaluable guidance and friendship. Many global research firms hold him in high regard and respect for his contributions, and I cherish our shared memories. Florence and I are thinking of his family, who were a source of love and support in his life. French's absence will be felt deeply by all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire and impact the lives of many worldwide.
As we were in different companies, I did not have the privilege of knowing French when we were Midshipmen. I did have the honor to be on a briefing team with him for "Capstone" event a few years ago. He kindly shared his insights with the 1/c Mids & all benefited from his wisdom.
Sincere condolences. GK, USNA '77
Dear Paty and family, We wanted to let you know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers. French is resting in Heaven happily ever after. Love Paulina, Jorge and children
I am shocked to learn of French's passing away. I spoke to French in 2018 by way of an introduction from a colleague as I had started a start up, and French provided me with his views on GRC and potentially got be interested in thinking about what we were buiding from that perspective. I was hoping to have a follow up conversation and searched for him on the internet when I stumbled upon this unwelcome news. I remember a kind an generous man who gave his time to a stranger with a real passion for his principled beliefs and professionalism.
Dear Caldwell family,
My deepest condolences and prayers go out to you. I knew French from our time at MetricStream where I had the opportunity to learn a lot from him as I started building my career in GRC Sales. I loved listening to his presentations, joining events together, and grabbing a beverage or two at work events. He was a great leader and truly will be missed.
I had the opportunity to connect with him last fall to discuss career advice. And even though it had been years since we worked together at MetricStream it was like no time had passed, which I consider a mark of a true friend.
Unfortunately I will not be able to make the services, and I want to reach out and share my support for the family and friends as you go through this challenging time. God bless you, and may French rest in peace 🙏
Sincerely,
Ryan
Dear Patty please except our sympathy over the passing of your husband French. It didn’t seem that long ago we saw him riding his bike with amazing vitality through the neighborhood. After reading his obituary it is obvious French had a great intelligence and a zeal for living.
Love, Shirley and Bob Ruff
patty and french lived next door to our family in a little place called coltman idaho. from the first day they moved in we were all one family. we loved them so much. ralph and i had a little daughter who was handicapped.patty became her 2nd mom /so good to her and my other children. french was very good to her. after they moved back east our daughter teresa flew back each summer for 17 years and stayed with them. french even took her campaining with him and she loved it. patty even came and spoke at her funeral. french and patty have been to my house since several times. patty and i talked on the phone several times a week. i was checking on french/ i also talked to french on the phone and told him how much i loved him and please give ralph and teresa a hug and tell them i loved them/ french was always very considerate of patty also. i will miss him/he was a great guy/love sharon
As a United States Naval Academy classmate and company mate to Frenchy I remember his distinct sense of humor and calm spirit. I reserve the description “brilliant” for those in my opinion who are very intelligent, but must also be able to share their intelligence with others for the good of others. Frenchy easily qualifies as BRILLIANT by my estimation.
May God continue to bless French and his family.
CAPT (R) Charles Ivey
Dear Caldwell family,
My deepest condolences for your loss.
Mr. Caldwell was a remarkable man.
I will always be grateful for the many life lessons he taught us through scouts- especially for teaching us about the importance of family, service and the richness of nature.
Be assured of our prayers in this trying time.
Much love,
Maria
I’m so sorry for your loss. French was a great guy and classmate. He will be missed. He leaves a terrific legacy of family and work.
Jeff USNA ‘77
What an impressive guy and a great neighbor. Hugs to you Patty and your family.
To the Caldwell Family,
I had the privilege of working closely with French when he joined the Archer business. It was always a pleasure to connect with him. I remember when he first joined and he made the treck to London to visit me while he was over visiting Elizabeth. I lost my mother a few years back when she was 66. What I can share is that nothing anyone can say or do will make it better. Time helps, but does not heal. It’s ok to not be ok. Grief is different for everyone. Take solace in the impact that he had on many people. He will be missed.
Dear Caldwell family, from the entire Papadopoulos family our deepest condolences for French’s passing to our Lord. May God grant him eternal peace and give your entire family strength in these trying times.
I am very sorry to hear about French’s passing. I read his obituary in the Washington Post. I knew French for years, meeting him when he was at Gartner and I was CIO later Deputy County Executive at the Fairfax County Government. We corresponded by email occasionally since he left Gartner and we were at a Gartner event in Cannes France many years ago, where I was a speaker – French was talking about me and didn’t know I was actually standing behind him or even at the event! He said he thought I was innovative, which was a great compliment. I would be at the funeral but I am at my home in Florida and unfortunately not at home in Maryland. My condolences, Dave Molchany
I’ve known French professionally for nearly 20 years; he recruited me to join him at Metricstream. We had a great friendship. He was wonderful to work with, fun as well as brilliant. I am so sorry for your loss, he will be dearly missed.
French Caldwell was a great friend, and I’m sorry he died. Hope the family can deal with everything.
He was is 20th Co. and I was in 30th Co. We saw each other all the time at USNA.
Heartfelt condolences to Patty and the rest of the family. French was a fellow crusader and real Republican patriot when he stepped up to serve as a candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1998 against the Marxists here in Montgomery County. It was an honor and a privilege to have served with him in the political arena that pivotal year in American politics.
Perhaps I’ll see him again in Heaven. Yours in Christ, Gus.
I’m really sorry to hear this. I worked with French as a vendor, when he was at Gartner. He was brilliant, challenging, unwaveringly honest, and vastly entertaining. When we connected outside of work, his stories of previous work and family spoke of a lifetime of accomplishment and generosity. My sympathies to his family and friends, I’m sure he leaves a huge hole but many outstanding memories.
My condolence to the Caldwell family, in particular I want to offer my sympathies to Patty. I know words are poor comforters, no words can fulfill the void we feel. You and your family will be in my prayers. French Caldwell was and will always be the G.O.A.T in the GRC domain.
Sincerely, I will miss my friend and best mentor, French Caldwell. His loss has left a void in our hearts, and I offer my condolences to his wife, Patti, family, and loved ones during these difficult times.
French was an exceptional individual who significantly contributed to the global governance, risk, and compliance community. His expertise, gained through years of dedicated research, insightful panels, and impactful conference sessions at Gartner, distinguished him as a trailblazer.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, French was a remarkable person. He possessed a keen intellect, an infectious sense of humor, and a genuine humility that endeared him to audiences, clients, and fellow research analysts. He generously shared his knowledge, always ready to assist new Gartner analysts with research recommendations and fresh insights.
Having worked closely with French at Gartner and The Analyst Syndicate, I can attest to his invaluable guidance and friendship. Many global research firms hold him in high regard and respect for his contributions, and I cherish our shared memories.
Florence and I are thinking of his family, who were a source of love and support in his life. French’s absence will be felt deeply by all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire and impact the lives of many worldwide.
As we were in different companies, I did not have the privilege of knowing French when we were Midshipmen. I did have the honor to be on a briefing team with him for “Capstone” event a few years ago. He kindly shared his insights with the 1/c Mids & all benefited from his wisdom.
Sincere condolences.
GK, USNA ’77
Dear Paty and family,
We wanted to let you know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
French is resting in Heaven happily ever after.
Love
Paulina, Jorge and children
I am shocked to learn of French’s passing away. I spoke to French in 2018 by way of an introduction from a colleague as I had started a start up, and French provided me with his views on GRC and potentially got be interested in thinking about what we were buiding from that perspective. I was hoping to have a follow up conversation and searched for him on the internet when I stumbled upon this unwelcome news. I remember a kind an generous man who gave his time to a stranger with a real passion for his principled beliefs and professionalism.