Nancy Keltner

I have great memories of Nancy and her family when we were in high school together. After we reconnected via email in the 1990s, we communicated often, and I am saddened by her passing. RIP, Nancy.

The picture of "grown-up" Nancy Keltner has the same joy and impishness that the little girl in the picture frame in her grandfather Branch Rickey's baseball office. I treasure the one afternoon I spent with Nancy in NYC when we went to the Morgan Library art museum for the "Babar the Elephant" exhibit. She and her siblings and cousins helped me so much in writing a full portrait of her grandfather. Her loss was immeasurable, but she is immortal in my heart, soul, and mind.

As a UCD Ophthalmology resident in the early 80's, when John was chairman of the eye department, Nancy was like a second mother to all of us residents. Her warm, nurturing manner was role model for all of us on how to relate to our patients and colleagues. She will be missed greatly.

It was a shock when I learned just now of the passing of Nancy Keltner. I used to call her "sister Nancy" because of her warm human feeling. She was a wonderful source for me about the human side of her grandfather (Wesley) Branch Rickey when I was writing my biography of the baseball legend earlier this century. I treasure my one meeting her in my home town of NYC and exploring the Morgan Library and happily walking around town. It is hard to picture a world without her warmth and humor....

My favorite memories of Nancy (Rick) as she was then known are of one of my college roomates, with amazingly positive delightful energy. She created a huge daisy for the wall of our room and removed a petal every day until the grim month of February in Ohio was over..then with her first two little ones in Central Park, NYC at the historic merry-go-round...her wonderful advice re: caring for a mother with Alzheimers "...just agree with whatever they think.. no arguements.That just makes people...

She is the granddaughter of Branch Rickey who integrated baseball with Jackie Robinson

I met Nancy and John on my trip to Africa. They were the best travel companions as I was alone. John, I am so sorry to hear about Nancy. I just sent her an email a few days ago with photos of our time together. Sending love and hugs.