I just learned that a friend and former colleague passed away about a year ago after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. Nancy had moved away from Washington and although I had seen her at lunch once or twice over the past decade, I’d lost regular touch. A big redhead, Nancy was from Texas and could come across as larger than life. However, she was one of those individuals where you sit down after not seeing them for two or three years and the conversation just picks up mid-sentence where you last left off.

When Judy, another friend, passed along the news I was stunned.

Judy described Nancy best as “quite the over-bright star.” Anyone who spent any time with Nancy knew “she lived almost all her minutes fully and with great joy and emphatic honesty.”

Nancy and I first connected more than 20 years ago, as I was stepping aside from day-to-day fundraising and she was joining us to help build a professional, long-term development office. I learned so much from Nancy about how to gather support for the mission of nonprofit organizations. I also learned a lot about life. She left a legacy of grace and wisdom everywhere she went.

When I was interviewing Nancy, I noticed something on her resume. Soon after college she went to the U.K. and served as the personal assistant to Brian Epstein. Now anyone of a certain age would immediately recognize that name. I asked her about it and she said, “Yes, it was a long time ago but someone once told me to never take it off my resume!” That was great advice.

So I loved seeing the following in Nancy’s obituary:

“[S]he graduated from the University of Texas in 1967, where her love of the arts inspired seeking wide experiences.

This curiosity led Arata from Texas to England, working as a personal assistant to Beatles manager Brian Epstein. After two formative UK years, she headed west to San Francisco, serving as assistant company manager for the first ‘Hair’ touring production at the Orpheum Theatre. Roles followed at the American Conservatory Theater and San Francisco Opera, growing her arts career.”

I laughed out loud. That Beatles reference stayed in to the end!

Judy shared Nancy’s last message sent to friends and family just a few days before she passed. In it, Nancy talks about drawing from a great reservoir of gratitude for the wonderful life she’s been given. What a beautiful way to think about our time on earth, and it was so typically gracious of Nancy.

Then she ends by saying, “Please take good care of yourself and remember to love the people you love every day.  Life is finite … love is not.”

I think Nancy would appreciate my ending with a couple of Beatles references. As John Lennon sang, there are special people we all remember who touch our lives.

“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

Rest in peace my friend.

More to come . . .

DJB

Photo of sunset by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash.