Nancy Ann Howe Payne

Nancy Ann Howe Payne of Wellesley October 21, 2024, died peacefully at home with friends by her side at the age of 90, after living 15 months with a cancer diagnosis. She was the only child of Harold Clark Howe and Sarah Anne (Blackburn) Howe Glidden. She is survived by her husband, Robert J. Payne. She grew up in Wilbraham, moving with her family to Springfield just before she entered Junior High School. She graduated from Springfield's Classical High School in 1951. She attended Bates College and received her B.A. in 1955. While in college she discovered her love of working with children. After graduation she taught at St. Luke's School for Boys in New Canaan, CT, where she began studying for her Masters, first taking courses at Columbia, and completing her M. Ed. at Boston University. With her diploma fresh in her hand and her conviction in the importance of public education, she came to Wellesley where she taught until her retirement, first at the Annie F. Warren School and then at the Katherine Lee Bates School. After retirement she rekindled her love of painting, initially in watercolor and later adding acrylics to her palette. She studied at the Danforth Museum, deCordova Museum, Concord Artist Association, Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, and the MFA. She was a member of the Concord Artist Association and the Wellesley Society of Artists. She had a lifelong love of music and dance and shared those with Bob. They never missed a season at Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow. Later they would subscribe to the BSO. A celebration of her life will be held at the Village Church in Wellesley on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 10:30 AM.