Nancy Lynn Roberts

August 27, 2024

I FIRST MET Nancy when her daughter, Corrine, played soccer with my son, Ryan. They were both playing for a team called the "Pink Panthers" with pink team shirts and very small soccer balls. Nancy was cheering for Corrine, and I found myself cheering for Corrine too. What an athlete!

I saw Nancy at school functions from elementary school up to high school. We both brought in cupcakes, helped at school functions and attended assemblies. I remember Nancy taking photos at Grad Night while I gave out door prizes. Those years seem to have flown by.

Nancy and I lived close to each other, and I used to see her take her daily walks. She walked twice a day and always looked so full of pep. I used to drag myself around the block once a day. She was way more motivated than I. I wish that I had her energy.

Nancy and I shared a love of sweets -especially cookies. The highpoint of the holiday season was her Christmas Cookie Party. I remember having an argument with my manager at Xerox Corporation because he wanted me to stay late to write part of a proposal for a customer. The appointment was the next morning, but I was afraid that I was going to be late to Nancy´s Christmas Cookie Party. I made it on time to get everyone´s delicious cookies and have a couple Fuzzy Navel cocktails.

Nancy was a great organizer. She organized monthly dinners at various ethnic restaurants. Our group of women was very diverse and so were the restaurants. Nancy was the hostess and made sure that we all had a chance to speak. She was a leader in her own quiet way.

I guess that the one event that sticks out in my memory was when I was a volunteer in Ibarra, Ecuador in 2004. I lived with a Spanish family in Ibarra and all my students spoke Spanish. All of the newspapers and magazines were written in Spanish. After about 4 months, I was desperate to read some English. So, I went to an Internet café and called Nancy. I was looking for some mystery novels to read in ENGLISH. I asked her if she could send some to me in Ibarra, Ecuador. She said, "Yes". I was not even sure if the postal service could find Ibarra. But one day, there was a box of books for me. I read each book three or four times.

Only another English teacher would have understood what it was like to be isolated in South America without anything to that was easy to read. Nancy and I both loved trying to figure out "Who Did It?" These were before the times of cell phones or Kindles.

I miss Nancy. It is always difficult to lose a friend. I know that she would have loved to take her grandchildren to the park or museums or an animated movie. I am sure that a few mystery books and ice cream cones would have been included too. The photo attached was taken at Loard´s Ice Cream Shop. Nancy and I enjoyed a Loard´s ice cream sundae together. Her sense of humor and smile will be missed.
-Sharon Welch

Nancy was a treasure to all who knew her and enriched our lives with her brilliant mind and kind, calm logic. I know I will never forget the twice weekly walks to took early in the morning when the day was just beginning.

Nancy always was poised and lovely! I remember taking the ferry to San Francisco and running into Nancy and Craig who told us they did this day trip frequently to have a bit of an adventure together. They were so happy to enjoy the excursion together.