Nancy Broadhead

1939 - 2025

Nancy Broadhead

New London, NH - Nancy Carolyn Olson Broadhead passed away suddenly on August 30, 2025. She was born July 11, 1939, the only child of Edwin and Katie Olson, and was home schooled by her father until she attended Northfield Mount Herman, graduating in 1956. She attended Wheaton College, Norton MA, completed her bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1960. While in college, she served on the Academic Committee and the Religious Association. Upon graduation, she accepted a position at IBM in the Boston office, where she remained for several years. She met and married her husband Edgar I. Broadhead, Jr. in 1962, before accepting a position in the computer department at Dartmouth College in 1964. This was shortly after Dartmouth began offering computer "time sharing" to area high schools, where students could learn BASIC computer programing language. Nancy oversaw user service operations at the Kiewit Computation Center, at Dartmouth, which contained the largest IBM computer in the world, located in its own separate building. Nancy appeared in a documentary entitled "The Birth of Basic" (now available on youtube.com). In 1989, Nancy transferred to the Registrar's Office at Dartmouth, where she retired as Associate Registrar in 2005. She also became certified as an EMT and worked with local fire departments for several years. Nancy and her husband Edgar were active members of the Porsche Club of America for 62 years, serving in the New England chapter of the Club. They received much recognition and appreciation from various regions of the Club for their generous contributions to the Club rallies, time trials, tours, as member of the Board of Directors, proofreader, secretary, and senior advisor over the years.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her husband of 63 years, Edgar I. Broadhead, Jr., and cousins. There will be no calling hours. A graveside committal service at the West Part Cemetery in New London will be announced in the future.