It is with great sadness that the family of Nancy Sack, née Levin, announce her passing on October 23, 2024. Nancy resided for many years with her late husband, James W. Sack, and her family in Marblehead, MA. More recently, she lived in Lexington, MA, Tucson, AZ, and most recently, in Portsmouth, RI.
Born on September 11, 1924, to Bernard and Meta Levin of Buffalo, New York, Nancy is survived by her daughter, Emily (and her husband, Anthony Cottone), and her three sons, James (and his partner Suzanne Lemley), John (and his wife, Mary Malley), and William; her four grandchildren, Jamie Sack (and her husband, Robert Clemence), Alexis Heinz (and her husband, Nathan), Dana Sack, and James Sack; her two great-grandsons, Jameson and Dashiell Clemence; her step-grandchildren, Katherine Cottone, James Cottone, Sarah Carlson-Davies (and her husband, Ben), and William Cottone; and her step-great-grandson, Jasper Carlson-Davies.
Nancy graduated from the University of Chicago, Phi Beta Kappa, and received her M.A. in English from that University in 1948. She had a life-long love of literature (as well as history and philosophy) that was encouraged by her late brother, Professor Richard Levin, who taught Shakespeare at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Throughout her life, Nancy loved and excelled at teaching students in a variety of settings. Beginning in 1965 and for two decades thereafter, she was an English teacher at Marblehead High School in Marblehead, MA, where she taught a variety of courses in literature and writing. After her retirement, Nancy, along with her late husband, James, and subsequently with her late partner, Harold G. Basser, became very involved with the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR) in Cambridge, MA, eventually becoming what HILR described as its "intellectual heart." On the occasion of its 35th Anniversary, HILR described Nancy "an inimitable leader of 64 courses" who had "a major influence on HILR's governance as HILR President for three terms, as Chair of Curriculum and Nominating Committees, and as Chair of the 10th Anniversary Celebration."
Nancy was an avid traveler throughout Europe and the world. She was a lifelong Democrat, who first campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 Presidential election, and followed politics closely up until the day she died. She was also an active member of the League of Women Voters, as well as a loyal supporter of Elderhostel (now known as Road Scholar) and Planned Parenthood. Known by many as "Nancy Nice" (and that was true), she was above all passionate about her family, her intellectual pursuits, and sharing her love of learning with others. For those who would like to honor her memory, the family suggests a donation to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund either online at www.plannedparenthoodaction.org or 123 William Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10038.
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