Arliss Nygard

Arliss Nygard, of Saratoga Springs, New York, passed away on October 23, 2025, at the age of 88. She was born on October 13, 1937, and lived a life marked by compassion, civic engagement, and a deep belief in the power of community.

Arliss earned her Bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology from Bard College, subjects that reflected her lifelong interest in people and social progress. In the early 1970s, she helped implement the Schenectady Employment and Training Act (SETA), and later became Director of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program for Schenectady, where she guided initiatives that helped many find new jobs during the massive layoffs in Schenectady during that period.

From the early 1980s until her retirement in 1996, Arliss served at the New York State Department of Labor, where she was Assistant Director of the Community Service Division.

Beyond her professional life, Arliss was deeply involved in civic and community organizations. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters and the Saratoga Unitarian Universalist Congregation, where her compassion and insight were valued by all who knew her. She also worked tirelessly for years in support of New York State's Death with Dignity legislation, reflecting her lifelong commitment to individual choice, empathy, and human dignity.

She was an accomplished and profitable artist. Her sons remember that she had a wicked sense of humor as well as a rebellious, adventurous side to her. During her teen years she used to ride along with pilots of light planes amassing hours, on lunch roundtrips from a small airport near Chicago to Iowa City. She also learned then to race a friend's Porsche on icy lakes.

Arliss was, above all, a "people person." She found great joy and solace in meaningful conversation, laughter, and helpful interactions with others. Her warmth, intelligence, and steady kindness enriched the lives of her family, friends, and colleagues. She was much loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Carl ("Murray") Penney; her sons, Andrew and Eric Nygard; by Andrew's wife Petra and Eric's wife Yan, by her granddaughters, Margaret and Camille Nygard; and her "sons-in-law" Michael and Jeff Penney.

A celebration of Arliss's life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 3:00 PM.