Natividad (Nat) Campos passed away this week after a long and courageous battle against diabetes. He was a wonderful individual, who I valued as a friend and colleague. We worked together at City Hall, when he became Director of Planning. In his quiet way, he helped pave the way for the City and County of El Paso to become a better planned and laid out metroplex. Nat was instrumental in organizing the first cross border planning gathering with our sister city of Ciudad Juarez. He also worked diligently with TXDOT, PSB, UTEP, and the IBWC on projects along the border.

He had a great sense of dry humor and was dedicated to make this part of the world a better place to live. Nat was a true Paseño. John Donne penned in a sonnet the words "Death be not Proud." That is especially true in the case of Nat Campos. He was too young and will be sorely missed by his many friends and family. It is fitting that he be laid to rest at Ft. Bliss National cemetery. He was an outstanding public servant who gave his all and never once complained. Vaya con Dios!

Sincerely Bill Tilney

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Editor's note: Bill Tilney is former mayor of El Paso, 1991-93. The following is the obituary that appeared in the El Paso Times

Natividad "Nat" Campos, Jr., born September 16, 1947, passed away November 17, 2008. He was a native El Pasoan, devout Catholic, United States Army veteran and proud 1966 Cathedral High School graduate. He earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1973, he earned a Master's degree in Educational Administration from UTEP and a Master's in Urban Planning from Trinity University in 1977. Nat began a long-term career with the City of El Paso in 1976. During his years of service, he held numerous positions including: Federal Grants Coordinator; Transit Planning Coordinator; and, Senior Planner for the Planning Department. In 1991, he was selected Director of Planning and later served as Special Assistant to Mayor Carlos Ramirez. In June 2000, after 28 years of service to the city, he accepted the position of General Manager for the Department of Planning and Management for the County of El Paso. During his career, he worked on many local, regional, state, federal and international projects including the development of a downtown revitalization plan; the City of El Paso Comprehensive Plan, the Parks Open Space Plan; the Oregon Street Mall; the Union Plaza; renovation of the Union Depot for mass transit use; the development of the Art Museum; expansion of the Civic Center; Cleveland Square Redevelopment that focused on expansion of the downtown library; affordable housing and construction of the El Paso Museum of History. He received national recognition for his work on The Mission Trail Preservation Plan. In 2002, Nat was presented the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association Lifetime Achievement Award. The El Paso City Council bestowed him with its highest honor, the Conquistador Award, in 2000. He was preceded in death by his mother. He is survived by his wife, Lydia; his son Vincent; his daughter Natalie Eckberg and her husband Jonathan; his father Natividad; several brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. His loving spirit and generosity will be missed. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 20 at Martin Funeral Home, 3839 Montana Avenue with a Rosary to immediately follow. Funeral Mass will be at 9:45 a.m. at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Edward Gonzalez, Steve Andow, Jon Eckberg, Ruben Chris Melendez, Gabriel Luera, Jaime Carillo, Salvador Morales and Ralph Campos. Honorary pallbearers will be Javier Campos and Hector Campos. Services are entrusted to Martin Funeral Home.