Nancy Carol Richards

1943 - 2017

Nancy Carol (Peters) Richards, 74, of Andover, CT passed away on May 7, 2017 in Branford CT. Born in Evanston, IL on May 6, 1943, daughter of the late Ernest J. and Irene M. (Huberty) Peters, she had lived in Andover CT since 1965. She graduated from Evanston Township High School and attended Northwestern University on scholarship before moving to Connecticut in 1963. She finished her undergraduate education at the University of Hartford with a B.A. in psychology, and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Connecticut graduating first in her class. Before moving to Connecticut, Nancy worked as an endocrinology research lab assistant at G.D. Searle & Co. pharmaceuticals (now part of Pfizer, Inc.) in Skokie, IL. As a stay-at-home mom raising her two sons, Nancy was active in educational, political and environmental activities in the community. Nancy's career then included Systems Analyst at Capehart Corporation, and ten years at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT as a Research Associate in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health. She was co-author of several research articles in professional journals and edited two books. She went on to spend twenty years at Aetna in various positions including healthcare network development, health program management, and medical informatics before retiring in 2006 as Director of Business and Competitive Intelligence in Strategic Marketing. She then formed her own company, Nancy Richards Associates, and did consulting and market research for a number of health plans, retail and finance firms. Nancy relished a life of quiet pleasures and comforting routines. She loved caring for her house, gardens and woodlands through all the New England seasons - spring wildflowers, the wood thrush singing in the summer dawn and dusk, golden hickory foliage in the fall and new fallen winter snow. Nancy was an avid gardener, hiker and nature enthusiast. Together with a group of Andover friends, she helped to start Andover's glass recycling program by crushing bottles in a barrel with a sledge hammer. She played the piano and 12-string guitar and performed as a member of the Rainy Day folk trio group for over a decade. She loved to cook holiday meals for her family, and cherished memories of hosting dozens of family vacations in scenic locations all over the U.S. She enjoyed reading, writing, genealogy research, classical and folk music, sewing and needlework, as well as the company of her Labrador retriever, Kona. She participated in the University of Connecticut Center for Learning in Retirement, and especially enjoyed the Memoir Club. She had recently joined a drum circle at the Unitarian Universalist Society East in Manchester, CT. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honorary Society, University of CT Alumni Association, Aetna Retiree Association, Andover Young at Hearts Club, Andover Friends of the Library, Sierra Club, was a past a member of the League of Women Voters, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Manchester Ski Club. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law Christopher and Susan Richards of Brentwood TN; four grandchildren, Jeremy Rich of Middletown, CT and Cameron, Bryanna and Diana Richards of Brentwood, TN; numerous other relatives in Illinois and Wisconsin; and her much-loved companion and chocolate lab, Kona. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Jerome Peters all of Evanston, IL, her son Bryan Richards of Peabody, MA, and her loving partner and soul mate of 25 years Norman Lindberg of Andover, According to Nancy's wishes, funeral arrangements are private at the discretion of the family with interment at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain is assisting with arrangements. Please share a memory or note of sympathy at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com