Nicole Ganz

Nicole Ganz, eminent Doctor of Chiropractic, beloved daughter, sister, niece, cousin and dear friend to everyone who knew her, passed away on August 29, 2024 after a yearlong illness. She was 61. Nicole was born in Washington, DC, and she and her brother Brian were raised in the Maryland cities of Kensington and then Columbia, children of educators Paul Ganz and Dianne Sheffer Ganz (later Dianne Scheper). As a child Nicole studied the guitar and displayed gifts for singing, dancing and acting, once playing Macbeth in a youth production of Shakespeare's play. As an adult she would rediscover her gift for singing, performing in occasional outdoor festivals in the Kensington area. Nicole attended Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, where she excelled in field hockey and developed many deep and enduring friendships, graduating in 1980. She went on to graduate from St. Mary's College of MD in 1987 with a B.A. in Human Development, reflecting what would be a lifelong passion for people: what makes us healthy and thriving physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This passion led to her life's work, and she earned her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Logan University in St. Louis in 1995. She worked for several chiropractic offices in Louisville and Baltimore before establishing her own practice in her original hometown of Kensington, MD. There she settled and thrived for over two decades, bringing comfort, relief and enhanced well-being to hundreds of patients in her practice, while nurturing relationships with family and friends with her exquisite blend of humor, compassion and wisdom. Nicole is survived by her maternal aunt Suzanne Liggett of Berryville, VA, stepfather George Scheper of Baltimore, paternal uncle Daniel Ganz of Belair MD, brother Brian Ganz, with whom she was especially close, nephew Dylan Ganz, and many beloved cousins. She is also survived by 5 step-siblings: Jeanne and David Scheper, Robert and Matthew Crane and Deborah Crane Suckling. Nicole leaves behind countless grateful patients who achieved new levels of health and well-being thanks to her healing gifts; many became close friends along the way. All family, friends and patients grieve her loss and miss her deeply. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 19 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. All are welcome to the Celebration, which will also honor Nicole's father Paul Ganz, who passed away in July of 2023.