NANCY FURST FIGGIE

Nancy Furst Figgie, age 90, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2016.  Mrs. Figgie was the cherished wife of 59 years to the late Harry E. Figgie, Jr;
adoring mother of Harry E. Figgie III (deceased), Mark P. Figgie (Connie)
and Matthew P. Figgie; treasured  grandmother of seven and loving great grandmother of one.


A native of Cleveland, Mrs. Figgie was a graduate of Lakewood High School, where she was editor of the yearbook.  She worked in advertising prior to attending college and then graduated from Northwestern University in 1949.   She was president of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma and of Mortar Board, the women’s National Honor Society.

An accomplished artist, Mrs. Figgie beautifully created vivid artwork in a multitude of genres – watercolors, oils, acrylics, and chalks.   She took classes and designed beautiful pieces right on up to the time of her passing.

Nancy Figgie met Harry Figgie while attending Northwestern University, married, and together, raised three children, built numerous businesses, created tens of thousands of jobs and established an enduring legacy of charitable and philanthropic works. She was Mr. Figgie’s faithful sounding board and ardent supporter.  He knew he could rely on her for the truth and the ability to come at a problem from a different perspective.  Mr. Figgie was always the strict, disciplined and precise engineer, while Mrs. Figgie was always his true balance when it came to compassion and a total focus on people.  It was Mrs. Figgie’s final decision for Mr. Figgie to purchase Clark-Reliance, a global manufacturing company located in Strongsville.  This crucial acquisition occurred one year prior to the purchase of Automatic Sprinkler, which then became the foundation for the formation of Figgie International.  Mrs. Figgie always cared very deeply for the happiness, well-being and financial security of their employees … considering them all truly family.  One of Mrs. Figgie’s greatest loves and accomplishments was as the creator and founder of The Figgie Foundation, serving as its long-time President.

Mrs. Figgie exhibited a strength of character, a sincere compassion for all and an unending commitment to her family inspired by exceptional standards.  She often stated that “Harry and I based our lives on old-fashioned American values.”  Her entire family was her most revered accomplishment.  Family time, every single day, provided a forum to learn about academics, have amazing fun, discuss sports along pass along crucial life lessons.  Attending her children’s and grandchildren’s athletic, artistic and scholastic events was an all-time favorite for Mrs. Figgie. Always the life of the party – she was the most charismatic and magnetic individual. Mrs. Figgie’s true hallmark was her brilliant adventurous spirit.

Mrs. Figgie was a vibrant, intelligent, elegant, strong and caring lady.  Her enduring legacy is directly reflected through her immediate family, her family at Clark-Reliance and all of the other Figgie family enterprises, and especially the countless number of people that she touched through her lifetime of inspirational philanthropic works!

Memorial contributions to the St. Christopher's by the River, Nancy F. Figgie Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 519, Gates Mills, OH 44040.