Nancy Speed M.D.

1951 ~ 2010 "Life is too short to drink bad wine." Nancy Speed, M.D., passed away quietly of complications from brain cancer Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. Once she realized she was faced with a fatal illness, she and her husband, Joseph, embarked on a series of remarkable travel experiences that included France, Japan, Greece, the National Parks, Egypt, Thailand and most recently, Ireland. Dr. Speed was born and raised in southern Mississippi. Soon after her birth, her mother was stricken with polio and Nancy was, for a time, raised by her aunt and uncle. Her father, a Methodist minister, opened his church to the congregants of bombed out black churches. His racial inclusiveness led to death threats serious enough that FBI protection was provided to her family. Nancy was smart and determined to contribute to her community. She was a performing pianist and earned tuition by playing at weddings and funerals. She attended Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and graduated from University of Louisville Medical School. Nancy met and married Joseph while she trained in Psychiatry at UCLA. After completing a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar Fellowship, she accepted a faculty appointment at the University of Minnesota. Subsequently, she joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, where she held the position of Chief of Psychiatry at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center. She published academic papers on a variety of subjects, including the psychiatric outcomes of former prisoners of war, functional brain imaging in patients after strokes and studies exploring the relationship between brain injury and mood disorders. A gifted teacher, she lectured for the US State Department. Among her international presentations, she particularly valued the invitation she received to speak at El-Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Tripoli, Libya. Her talk on dementia was informative, but she also appreciated the importance to the women in the audience of her mere presence on the podium. Resonating with the philosophy of the fictional Alice Rumphius, she wanted to "travel the world, live by the sea and make the world more beautiful." She moved to San Luis Obispo in 1993. For a time, she was the medical director of the Psychiatric Day Hospital Program at French Hospital. Later, she held the position of Medical Director at Sydney Creek. "I am always grateful for the patients who walked through my door." She was devoted to her patients and felt honored by the confidence they had in her. She was heartbroken when illness forced her into early retirement. "Many people have helped along this journey of illness. I want to express my appreciation to so many." She was always ready to lend an effort to "the good of the order," and brought a generous spirit to teamwork. She loved travel, music, cooking and her friendships. Were she still among us, she would chide us to take better care of each other. She would help us listen to our better angels. Nancy is survived by her mother, Mary Katharine Speed of Yazoo City, Miss.; brother, John Speed of Hattiesburg, Miss.; two sons Jeremy Speed Schwartz and Joshua Speed Schwartz; her husband of over 30 years, Joseph Schwartz, MD; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Her life touched an international community of scientists, healers and musicians. A memorial remembrance will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at Congregation Beth David, 10180 Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo. In lieu of flowers, she asked that people give generously to music and theater organizations that include young performers. Her favorite charities were: Habitat for Humanity, Central Coast Shakespeare Festival and the San Luis Obispo County Youth Symphony. In your memory, dear Nancy, we promise to do more than our share to make this world a little better.