Nancy Blair
June 27, 1943 - August 12, 2012
NANCY LYNN BLAIR, originally from Texas and a long-time San Francisco resident (Go Giants!), died suddenly on August 12, from acute adult leukemia on a picture-postcard perfect day. At her bedside at home were her brother Bill Blair and sister Susan Blair Dial. It was sudden and much, much too soon for her family and friends, but not for her. She left us the way she lived - quickly, gently, and in glorious control.
Nancy was born on June 27, 1943, in Wharton, Texas, the oldest of the three children of Ruth and Charles Blair. She is survived by Bill and Susan and Susan's daughters Risa and Sara, and husband Roc. The Blair family moved from Texas to Connecticut when Nancy was 13. She spent her first year of college at Mills College and transferred to Barnard College in New York, where she graduated in Psychology.
She cut her business teeth in New York City with a management consulting firm, and then worked briefly in the State Department in Washington, DC, before moving to the Bay Area in the mid 70's. After receiving her MBA from UC Berkeley, Nancy worked until retirement for Wells Fargo, where she attained the position of Vice President of Special Properties - a quiet title that masks the tenacity and skills necessary for the job.
She enjoyed tee martoonis, crossword puzzles, chewing on politics, Rita her red Porsche, dare devil escapades, and walking, walking, walking up and down her beloved San Francisco in sensible shoes with strappy stilettos under her arm.
Today we honor Nancy's zippy spirit, her broad thirst for knowledge, savvy intelligence, insights, fine sense of taste, and fierce independence. We especially appreciate the way she deeply valued her friends and the consideration she showed for them, as friends were Family. We will greatly miss the fun and enjoyment of just being with her. She was, after all, a party girl.
Nancy supported in deeds and dollars the Insight Prison Project - a deeply effective and moving restorative justice program at San Quentin, SF Playhouse, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, Meals on Wheels SF, the Salvation Army, The Bay Institute, and personal mentoring of those needing help and knowhow.
Nancy requested that there be no formal service.

Published in San Francisco Chronicle from August 16 to August 19, 2012