Angelica and Michael met right after high school in Fremont, CA before they were headed off to college in 1987. Michael says, “A dozen or so friends all met at a swanky hot spot in Fremont (Burger King in Irvington). Angelica and I ordered identical items. I then turned to her and said, ‘You know what that means; it means we’re gonna get married.’ We hadn’t even officially met yet until a few minutes later when we were introduced by mutual friends.” They did not start dating, however, until 1994 after Angelica went to University in Southern California and Michael attended Stanford University.
Michael timed his proposal in Puerta Vallarta on Memorial Day just before the fireworks show, “so that way she could honestly say she saw fireworks when I proposed,” added Michael. They were married in 1998 at the Old Mission San Jose in Fremont and lived in Fremont until the summer of ‘22. They came to Walnut Creek two days after school ended and chose the Northgate area for its wonderful neighbors, scenic views of Mt. Diablo, trails, and proximity to the many great restaurants downtown and by Shadelands.
Michael was fortunate in his early career to join some of the most well-known tech companies – Cisco, NetApp, Apple, HP, and Microsoft. At Apple he was part of the team that launched the iPhone and Intel-based Mac computers. At Microsoft, he ran global partnerships between eBay, PayPal, Dropbox and Intuit. He was then recruited to join a prominent venture capital firm, Sierra Ventures, as VP of Business Development. This was all great experience to lead to his own startup Meritage.Group, a boutique strategy and advisory consultancy working with startups, entrepreneurs, and Builders of the Future in London, Tokyo and here in Walnut Creek and the SF Bay Area. Michael adds, “This was all possible as Angelica was steady at Cisco from early 90’s until 2008, when our 3rd child, Raphael, was born, which allowed me the opportunity to try new roles and exciting companies in Silicon Valley.” Michael also has a passion for music and is a professionally endorsed percussionist (@CongaKing) and performs with his band, Meritage (@MeritageMusic). He is also an ambassador of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce.
After Cisco, Angelica has had the opportunity to pursue her passions for food and wine. She is currently the co-winemaker, with Michael, at the family’s Nathan Family Vineyards, where they make Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a proprietary Anniversary Blend since 2022. The property has been producing wine since 2008. She was twice a Master Chef contestant and has just opened her own business, Artisan Spice Co., making handcrafted, unforgettable flavors of artisan spices – their mission is to elevate your culinary journey! (instagram: @ArtisanSpiceCo).
Michael says, “As winemakers, we make wine to share with family and friends, new and old, each glass shared lays the foundation for a new story.” They love to get together with friends and family and their wonderful neighbors around food and wine. “Food is central to the Nathan family. Everyone takes pride in their creations, from picking the menu to preparing the dishes and even customizing homemade pizzas.”
The Nathan children are all accomplished students and athletes. Natalia is a junior at Saint Mary’s College, majoring in Business with a minor in Economics and a concentration in Entrepreneurship. She is also a member of their NCAA D1 Track and Field team, running the 100M and 200M. She also swam for 12 years and was a certified Lifeguard for the city of Newark. During the pandemic, Natalia rallied the family to paint river rocks that were shared with the neighborhood. Neighbors would come by and leave one or take one, bringing the community together during that difficult time.
Roman is a sophomore at Azuza Pacific University in southern California and is a Business Management Major. He also swam for 10 years and, along with his sister, became lifeguards for the City of Newark. He also played basketball for his high school, Irvington High, and now considers himself a retired athlete and is focused on college studies.
Raphael is 16 and a sophomore at De La Salle High School. He is the Varsity Basketball Team manager and runs varsity track. He swam for 8 years, and now spends free time shooting hoops at The Ultimate Fieldhouse in the Shadelands and plays for the Oakland Soldiers AAU Basketball Team in the Spring. His favorite dish since he was 5 is his mom’s homemade spaghetti and jumbo meatballs.
The Nathans have an 8-year-old Maltese named RoccoFeller, or Rocco for short, who has snuggled his way from a rescue into their hearts. His biggest talent is his ability to fly when he really gets running!
The Nathan family has a strong faith, and God and family have always been central to them. A favorite holiday tradition is making tamales over the Christmas holiday. Before the kids went away to college, they would often spend the holiday in Huntington Beach. They also love to visit Avila Beach on the central coast. Some special family memories include a trip to Maui with Michael’s parents and a trip to Rome in 2019 with Angelica’s mom where they attended Good Friday at the Colosseum with the Pope and Easter Sunday at the Vatican.
Michael and Angelica spend lots of time cheering on their kids’ sports and rooting for the Warriors. They enjoy the beautiful neighborhood and cooking and making wine together. But most importantly, “We invite our family and friends, new and old, to share some wine and break some bread with us in the spirit of continued good health, happiness and success in all we do!”
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991 | Photos provided by Nathan family