Obituary of Nancy Everett Day
Nancy Everett Day died peacefully Tuesday, October 23, 2012 in Portland, Oregon. She was born on December 1, 1924 to Elizabeth Westerfield and Walter Day in Glen Ridge, NJ. After attending Berkeley Secretarial School and Hunter College, Nancy was employed as an Executive Secretary for Look Magazine and later The Museum of Modern Art. She spent the last 15 years of her career as the Administrative Assistant to the Chairman of the Music Department, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University before retiring and moving to Portland.
Nancy was a gifted and devoted cellist. While in New York, she played in many amateur chamber groups, frequently under the coaching of Edith Eisler. Upon moving to Rutgers she began lessons, after her 50th birthday, with Jean Goberman and Arnold Kumad Kvam. Nancy continued her studies in Portland with India Jobelmann and Hamilton Cheifetz. She loved chamber and symphonic music and played whenever she could. In addition to her 20-plus years as cellist with the Oak Grove Players quartet, she played with the Oregon Sinfonietta, Jewish Community Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Mid-Columbia Sinfonietta, Reed College Orchestra, the Beaverton Chamber Symphony (now Beaverton Symphony Orchestra) and the Willamette Falls Symphony. She was an active member of the Oregon Cello Society.
A wonderful poet, Nancy loved all things relating to poetry, especially haiku. She wrote for almost 20 years with dear friends in the Sunday Writing group. Her wit and wisdom worked magic with words, as this haiku shows: Aerial migration/ has left foxgloves/ in its wake. Nancy's smile, laugh, unceasing curiosity and delight in people, animals and the world around her were magnetic and infectious. She made friends and spread joy wherever she went. Nancy is survived by her brother Lee Rose, her sisters Susan Potter and Aileen deVergie-Zmuran, seven nieces and nephews and by her cat, Dubus. She will be interred in Orient, New York.
Friends and acquaintances are invited to a Celebration of Nancy's life on Sunday, December 9, 2012 beginning at 2:30 pm at West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8470 SW Oleson Road, Portland, Or 97223. Donations in her honor can be made to Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, the Oregon Humane Society or an organization of your choice.
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