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Nancy Jamison Obituary
Nancy Jamison
April 13, 1955 - July 9, 2021
San Diego
Nancy Jamison, a philanthropic leader in San Diego for over 14 years, passed away on Friday, July 9, 2021 after a battle with glioblastoma. She was 66. Nancy inspired those around her to believe that everyday we each can contribute to making things better. Her impact will be felt in our community for years to come.Nancy attended Louis and Clark College and Stanford University and served as President and CEO of San Diego Grantmakers (now Catalyst) until she retired in 2019. Under her leadership, the network blossomed to more than 150 organizations, funders and impact investors.Nancy loved her family deeply and is survived by her two dear children, Alec and Susanna; her adoring husband, Mark Dillon; her mother, Barbara and brother, Tom. Nancy's sense of joy and curiosity about life was infectious. A wise and generous thought partner, a quick wit with an easy-ready laugh, a lover of all things music and dance, the world is dimmer without her. Nancy was the epitome of grace, authenticity and leadership. She grew; she imagined and she believed in the best of us all. Nancy was committed to advancing social justice and equity. The Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice has been established, so we may continue the work that was so important to her. If you would like to carry on Nancy's legacy, you are invited to learn more at www.catalystsd.org/nancy.
Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jul. 25, 2021.
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Christine Hale (Apostolou)
This is what I shared at the reunion:
Some of you went from kindergarten through high school together and can’t remember when you met. Instead, you have a sense of each other having always been there. I can still visualize the first time I saw Nancy Jamison. It was 7th grade PE class on the Jordan field and Nancy was tying a pinny over her blue snap-up gym suit as Miss Pfaff divided teams for field hockey.
Nancy and I were cast as twins for a play in our 7th period drama class, creating a special bond we enjoyed for 54 years. Nancy continued her involvement in theater. You may remember her powerful voice in Jordan and Paly musical productions. Nancy’s other big interest was psychology. She was eager to understand everything about people. The two of us used to ride Caltrain to San Francisco, sitting on the upper level, looking down, and randomly picking out someone of interest, then making up their life story—an endlessly fascinating game.
Nancy pursued her interest in psychology at Lewis & Clark College. There we shared a dorm the first year, a room the second year, and friends both years. After Nancy transferred to Stanford, we continued to connect whenever possible.
A lot of life happened in the decades of our friendship, some of it difficult. I witnessed Nancy’s struggle with the dissolution of a 25 year-long marriage. Nancy proved resilient though, eventually remarrying a wonderful partner. Additionally, she began important life work. In 2005, she became President and CEO of San Diego Grantmakers. Under her leadership, the network blossomed to more than 150 organizations, funders, and investors. Nancy’s earnestness, joy, and curiosity was infectious, inspiring those around her to believe that every day we each can contribute to making things better. Nancy became increasingly aware of and committed to the need for philanthropy to address inequality and racism. The Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice was established to continue her important work.
I remember the last time I saw Nancy, May 1, 2021. In her home in San Diego, she lay in a hospital bed looking out at the sky. I had known that Nancy was dying. She called me days after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and we spoke many times during the eighteen months she hung on. Even so, I’d been hesitant to invade this last stretch of her life, wondering if this should be a time reserved for family only. This was during the pandemic, and no one was going anywhere. However only two days before, Nancy’s husband had begged me to come down to say goodbye. He said one of the loveliest things, “You are part of the furniture of Nancy’s life.” This exactly describes why all of us are gathered at this reunion. We are part of the furniture of each other’s lives. We can both offer and take great comfort from one another.
Steve De Pangher
Thanks for posting this, Christy. Nancy is such strong part of my "mental furniture" about Jordan and Paly. Thanks for honoring her by sharing the memories of your long friendship.
Bonnie Bogardus
Utterly lovely Christy, I can hear your voice in the words and am sorry to have missed you speaking
your thoughts at the reunion.
Nancy always struck me as a gentle soul on the outside with a strong as steely interior. A good combination.
I am not at all surprised that she accomplished great things in her time here.