Good Morning,
We celebrate today the life of Nancy MaGill a beloved mother, daughter, sister, niece, teacher, consummate professional and friend.
It is a sad day, but we can also be joyful. I can see Nancy looking down at us with that glint in her eye preparing some witty self-deprecating remark- like ……… Sheila I wish the roles were reversed!
I had the honor of working with Nancy on the Our American Voice Program. It was too short. But I learned so much from her those 18 months, and she introduced me to an “awesome” network of educators. More importantly, she became a good, respected, and trusted friend.
What an incredible dry sense of humor she had! When Nancy learned she had breast cancer, we were only 4 months into the program; she never played the victim and never allowed us to feel sorry for her. She met that disease head on with courage, wisdom and wit. She always had a quick retort when asked how she felt, which I think helped get her through those long months of fighting the cancer– and it got her friends through that journey as well.
And friends she had! They were there with her as she took and recovered from her treatment, and they stepped up to the plate when she needed help with the Our American Voice after-school program.
Mary Ellen, Angie, Mary Ann, Bill – thank you for being there for Nancy and Courtney. She told me she couldn’t have gotten through without you and all the other friends who helped.
Courtney you don’t need me to tell you that you were the light of your mom’s life. Nancy’s face would light up when she talked about you. I related to her love because I too have an only child – Lisa – and we would talk and share stories about our daughters hoping that one day they would meet.
My mom was a professor who also at one point taught middle school. I am sure Nancy and my mom have met by now. They are so much alike – special teachers who loved to learn, to teach and to mentor. Women liked Nancy– she never competed, she encouraged. Children loved her because she respected them, listened to them and liked them– and they knew it!
The Our American Voice program is a reflection of her love of learning and insistence that teaching and learning be fun. Her loss that is so deeply felt by her family is also felt by all who have shared with Courtney their respect and affection through notes and emails, by friends, fellow teachers, associates, and students, those who came non- stop last evening, and by everyone here today.
In November, Nancy and I had to go to Springfield for some meetings. She insisted that she drive – I don’t think she trusted my driving, nor my directional skill. We had an opportunity to share many stories as well as some of our favorite poems. One we both identified with was. . .
e e cummings’ ‘I carry your heart”
Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
And the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher
Than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
And this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
Danielle Scharf worked with Nancy and it was Danielle that suggested Nancy for the Our American Voice program. Danielle told me that she met this terrific professor/teacher who was also on the Lt. Governor’s Service Learning Commission – she said to me this woman can teach, she understands our vision of connecting citizenship to engaged action. Danielle couldn’t be here today. She is our e e cummings and she asked me to share this poem with Courtney
Dr. Nancy MaGill –
Biological mother to one
Spiritual mother to all
She had a fierce sense of humor
And her attitude was great
Her passion was teaching and
Making the world a better place
She had those tiny shoes to fill, knowing she’d give more:
“Goddess of the Universe” was the plaque on her door.
She will be deeply missed day in and day out
She helped us to see what life’s all about
Dr. Nancy MaGill
Biological mother to one
Spiritual mother to all
May you rest in peace, knowing that you touched us all!
Courtney, thank you for sharing your mother with us, we carry her heart in our hearts.
Nancy’s daughter, Courtney, has asked that you record your memories of her mother at this
e-mail address: Dr.NancyMaGill@yahoo.com
