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Nathan Robinson has mastered the theme song to one of his favorite shows, The Office.  Last week’s episode paid a tribute to the young man who died from complications of the flu last month by showing the above video, followed by “In Memoriam.”

Nathan, a 15-year-old freshman at Newton North High School, continued to play the piano, and later the clarinet, every day until just before his death Friday of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, pneumonia, and influenza at Children’s Hospital Boston.

“Every morning he would get up at 6:10, get dressed, have his cereal, and at 6:30 he would sit down and play the piano; you could set your watch by it,” his father said.

A few weeks before his death, Nathan was at a friend’s house, and the two were talking about “The Office,” their favorite television show. Nathan’s friend suggested he play the theme music to the program, so Nathan looked online for the sheet music. Nathan mastered the song almost instantly, and his impromptu performance was filmed and posted on YouTube.

Nathan, a straight-A student, loved math and had said he wanted to be a high school math teacher some day. He devoured books, usually reading more than one each week, his family said.

“He loved the homework; he loved the math tests,” said his mother, Stacey Alden. “If it was too easy, if it was multiple choice, he’d be disappointed.”

Sounds like the community of Newton, Mass. has lost a good one.   I wonder how much actors John Krasinski and B.J. Novak had in this tribute, since both are from the same town as Nathan Robinson. [Source: Reel Pop Blog / via]

If you are able, please donate to the scholarship fund that has been set up in Nathan’s name. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.  Please send checks to:

Nathan Alden Robinson Scholarship
City Of Newton
c/o Toni Duncan-Brown
18 Dana Road
West Newton, MA 02465