Nancy was one of my dearest friends, a beautiful soul with red hair and an infectious giggle, who was always ready for fun and adventure.
Nancy found me in the HPHS cafeteria, and we shared many wonderful lunch times together. Besides being in the same social studies class, Nancy and I used to go on bicycling adventures on the weekend, and her friendship inspired my poem, "you and i," written in an e.e. Cummings style.
Nancy was the middle child of seven children, and it was she who first introduced me to the art of coloring Easter eggs at her home. (How else would a Jewish girl discover these things?) During our college years, we lost touch for a few years, and then later got reconnected. She was adored as a nursery school teacher in Oak Park, and was very engaged in making learning fun for her wide circle of young fans. She was a loving wife to her husband, Joe, and an amazing mom to her sons, Timmy and Ryan. She supported them in all their baseball games, and was greatly loved by everyone in her family. At her funeral, one of her sisters commented that Nancy was "the heart" of the family... the middle child who helped keep the balance between everyone.
My last time with Nancy was over brunch in Highland Park, where we reminisced about our growing up experiences in school. As always, Nancy could easily laugh at the smallest things... such a happy spirit. She commented to me that she had pain in her upper arms and shoulders, and the doctor had diagnosed this problem as a pinched nerve. I told her it sounded like it could be her heart. But at the time, I naively thought that if the doctor had told her that diagnosis, he must have checked everything out. I also thought she was probably too young to be seriously ill. I was wrong. Later, I wished that I had suggested for her to get a second opinion. She gave me an impromptu gift of an orange pumpkin for Halloween. Two weeks later, on the morning of November 1st, I got the shocking phone call from her niece that Nancy had passed away from a sudden heart attack. She was only 50.
Nancy loved life and people with all her heart. She gave of herself and will always be cherished by me and many others.
What a nice tribute to Nancy. My family was good friends with the Slawins, mostly thru IC. My sister Carol was best friends with Nancys' sister Fran. Later on in life, my wife, Judi, worked with Nancys dad in the chemical business. I am making a copy of what Lynn said, and forwarding to her brother Kevin.
Lynn Bogen (Sanders)
Nancy was one of my dearest friends, a beautiful soul with red hair and an infectious giggle, who was always ready for fun and adventure.
Nancy found me in the HPHS cafeteria, and we shared many wonderful lunch times together. Besides being in the same social studies class, Nancy and I used to go on bicycling adventures on the weekend, and her friendship inspired my poem, "you and i," written in an e.e. Cummings style.
Nancy was the middle child of seven children, and it was she who first introduced me to the art of coloring Easter eggs at her home. (How else would a Jewish girl discover these things?) During our college years, we lost touch for a few years, and then later got reconnected. She was adored as a nursery school teacher in Oak Park, and was very engaged in making learning fun for her wide circle of young fans. She was a loving wife to her husband, Joe, and an amazing mom to her sons, Timmy and Ryan. She supported them in all their baseball games, and was greatly loved by everyone in her family. At her funeral, one of her sisters commented that Nancy was "the heart" of the family... the middle child who helped keep the balance between everyone.
My last time with Nancy was over brunch in Highland Park, where we reminisced about our growing up experiences in school. As always, Nancy could easily laugh at the smallest things... such a happy spirit. She commented to me that she had pain in her upper arms and shoulders, and the doctor had diagnosed this problem as a pinched nerve. I told her it sounded like it could be her heart. But at the time, I naively thought that if the doctor had told her that diagnosis, he must have checked everything out. I also thought she was probably too young to be seriously ill. I was wrong. Later, I wished that I had suggested for her to get a second opinion. She gave me an impromptu gift of an orange pumpkin for Halloween. Two weeks later, on the morning of November 1st, I got the shocking phone call from her niece that Nancy had passed away from a sudden heart attack. She was only 50.
Nancy loved life and people with all her heart. She gave of herself and will always be cherished by me and many others.
Ray Dempsey (Dempsey)
What a nice tribute to Nancy. My family was good friends with the Slawins, mostly thru IC. My sister Carol was best friends with Nancys' sister Fran. Later on in life, my wife, Judi, worked with Nancys dad in the chemical business. I am making a copy of what Lynn said, and forwarding to her brother Kevin.