| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Passing | (unknown) |
| About | Died of complications of MS. I met Nancy when I was 9-years-old , in my 4th grade class at Bush Hill Elementary School in Alexandria, VA. She was always smiling, and was always a very positive influence in my life. I remember her and I riding our bicycles together around our neighborhood, Winslow Woods and having lots of fun growing up together and attending Mark Twain Jr. High and Edison H.S., both graduating in 1971. We were on the Penn-Daw Duck Pin bowling team, hosted by her Mom who I adored as well as I did Nancy. Her big brother Gordon, who I believe was on the wrestling team and one or two years our senior was always giving me a "hard time", grabbing me and giving me "nuggets" on the head, all in great fun. I liked him and his Dad very much as well. I was up there at their house so often, I felt like, and was treated as a member of the family, though my feelings about Nancy were a bit more than "sisterly". We were very fond of each other and dated occasionally. As a Senior at Edison, one of her achievements was becoming co-captain of the Majorettes. I remember as a child watching her practice baton in her yard at her house at the top of my hill - she'd spin while I laid on the ground pulling grass and talked to her. She never once complained of me distracting her or making her lose her concentration. She put a lot of time - years - into achieving that goal and as a friend, I was very proud of her when she was named co-captain. She really earned that position, and that honor. After high school, I lost touch with her, but found her again in 1994 while living south of Alexandria. She was living in Glen Allen, only a few miles away and we reestablished contact until 1997. She was married to her husband then, Mark Monson, and had two wonderful daughters who took great and loving care of her after she was diagnosed with MS. Sadly, her husband misconstrued her feelings about our relationship, and in 1997 I suggested it would cause her less trouble if we again broke contact hoping that one day it could again be reestablished, even though we were only talking on the phone. She disagreed, but after moving back to the D.C. area that year and I found out that her conditioned had worsened, ad asked her to reconsider.. That was the last time I spoke with her directly, although it did keep tabs on her for a while with the help of one of her great daughters. As is the case with MS, her condition improved and worsened intermittently over the years. Just before New Year's, 2014 I learned she had passed away earlier that year, and even as I write this I feel a deep heaviness in my heart. We had known each other since the age of 9 and I at least had the chance to reunite with a friend with whom I was more than just font. We had experienced most of our lifetimes together, and she will be greatly missed. Not just by me but by everyone who was fortunate enough to have made her acquaintance. Especially those who knew they were truly her friends. God bless you, Nancy. I really miss you. And thank you for being my friend. Your presence in my life was always a blessing. I hug and kiss from me to you will always be waiting for you if I'm lucky enough to see you again. Bye...for now. |
