Continuing an active pre-retirement, Nancy Chambers has re-directed her energies during her five years in Florida. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, she later lived in Puerto Rico and St. Louis and, for more than half her life, Arkansas was home.
An R.N., Nancy earned her B.S. in business administration at St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Windham. A nursing home administrator and clinic manager of several outpatient clinics at the University of Arkansas Medical School, she also worked in dementia and autism research. But, her favorite job was for the American Cancer Society as the state’s Medical Affairs Director. Recruiting the best volunteers, implementing new programs and working with physicians on key projects were all rewarding, especially the creation of a cancer camp for children.
In Arkansas, Nancy found some ranch land, learned to ride horses and started breeding the Spanish, naturally smooth-gaited Paso Fino horses (the breed was clocked at 18 miles an hour, the rider holding a glass of champagne without spilling a drop). They are, Nancy says, “the Cadillac of riding horses.” The Foundation stallions were brought from Spain with Columbus.
Nancy moved to Florida to live closer to her son and three grandsons here. She also has a son and grandson in Dallas. On her first visit to UCC at Halloween five years ago, Leddy stepped out of a coffin draped in hanging gauze, dressed as a vampire. “Needless to say,” Nancy remembers, “wondering where the…am I? Until I heard her sermon. Then I was hooked. After that, it seemed every lesson was directed to the quandaries and questions in my life. I had attended different churches, but here I found my church home.” Even before she became a member, Nancy experienced a sudden severe illness, and “ Leddy was there checking on me and cheering me on.” At UCC, she has found many great friends and enjoys the activities and fellowship of other singles.
In the gardening phase of her “retirement,” Nancy accidentally got into fostering butterflies by planting the right bushes, although her most prized plant, Dutchman’s Pipe Vine, didn’t bloom for three years. A director on the Clearwater Garden Club Board, she chairs the children’s committee. Her club has encouraged and supported Joe Blum, science and religion teacher at St. Patrick’s Catholic School, who has had great success implementing a seed-to-table program and outdoor classrooms and many garden beds. Another gratifying experience for Nancy in Florida came from her appointment as guardian ad litem for children.
Nancy enjoys photography, traveling, reading, the theater, and dabbling in small art crafts. She loves her daily walks with her adored Sheltie companion Willow. Travel plans include Dallas, Little Rock and her yearly trip to Patagonia, AZ to visit a friend of 40 years. From there to Puerto Vallarta, an Alaska cruise and the lofty desire to visit Denali, highest mountain peak in North America.