NEWSLETTERS

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Nancy King

Dear MWLS Friends and Supporters, After a 20+-year valiant effort, Nancy King lost her battle with cancer. She lived life doing what she loved, practicing law and directing a legal aid office for the past 30 years. Her dedication was apparent in so many ways, the most obvious, perhaps, being her commitment to attending meetings and being a stalwart presence in our office, often until late at night. Despite her increasing weakness, she was determined to carry on and was in her office up until a week ago. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed.  They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. We will never forget Nancy. She has left behind a legacy of committed staff and a program deserving of her reputation.

Nancy King, obituary | Boston Globe Obituary | Boston Globe Guestbook | Slideshow

Words accompany donations to the Nancy King Memorial Fund

Jacquelin Apsler: “SMLS is the “David” to society’s “Goliath.”

Margaret Kierstead: “Nancy was both a pupil (piano & flute) and a dear life friend.”

David W Rosenberg: “It was an honor to know Nancy. I know how much her presence will be missed.”

Eric Ammondson: “She was inspirational to me and to my family beyond words. I trust that her spirit will live on and guide SMLS in the years ahead.”

Lewis Finfer: “I know you will all be working hard to carry forward Nancy’s legacy.”

Joseph/Goteiner Family: “We share the sorrow of Nancy’s tight-knit family and an entire community of friends and co-workers who will miss her love, passion, energy and commitment.”

Richard Neyman: “Nancy was a great help when I was at the United Way and we all know that her premature death is a huge loss… We will all remember her as someone who put everybody else’s needs before her own.”

Jayne Tyrrell and Steve Casey, MA IOLTA Committee: “We are very sorry for the loss to the program and everyone affected, and know you will put the funds to good use and in a way that will reflect proudly on Nancy’s work.”

Constance Cullinane: “She will surely be missed by all.”

Stanley J Eichner, director, Disability Law Center: “All of us at the Law Center were so deeply saddened to hear about the death of Nancy King. Although we were aware of her longstanding struggle with her health, Nancy was always so actively involved in every issue of importance to the larger legal services community, it seemed that she would always be there. In addition to all her amazing legal services work, she was always a particularly special friend to DLC. Although we did not have the honor and pleasure of working with her on a daily basis, as you did, nevertheless we will feel the great vacuum left by the loss of this incredible leader. Please know that our hearts and best wishes are with you as you struggle to move forward without Nancy. SMLS will carry on all the wonderful work to which Nancy dedicated her professional career.”

Linda R Lacke: “I had the pleasure and honor of working directly with Nancy over the past 7 years through the Neponset Valley Community Health Coalition. I am also familiar with the noteworthy and much-needed services of SMLS through my work with local Councils on Aging, as a former trustee of Caritas Norwood Hospital, and as a member of the board of directors of HESSCO Elder Services. I appreciate you using this donation for a cause important to Nancy. I always admired Nancy for her sweet gentle nature amidst incredible strength, and I will miss her dearly.”

Jennifer Singh: “This donation is in memory of the fabulous Nancy King.”

Ginny Kuykendall: “We all remember what a remarkable person Nancy was and how widespread her energies for everyone amidst her own demons. She was an inspiration to us all, as well as being a good friend. May you carry on the good work that has been the reputation of SMLS. Best job I ever had.”

Pattye Comfort: “It is with such sadness that I write to let you know that I am thinking of you (and everyone at SMLS) and hoping that people are coping as well as can be expected in the face of Nancy’s death. She will be greatly missed by me and the entire EJC Committee- there really is no one else who can quite do what she could always be counted on to do: whether it was not backing down to our esteemed lobbyists (no names shall be mentioned!) or making all the calls that she made to general counsel she didn’t’ even know, getting the county bars lined up for Walk to the Hill and on and on.”

Margaret Davitt: “Dear Friends, I had to write to tell you how proud Nancy would have been of all of you. Your dedication and commitment to her in life continues, following her death…Two things I suggested/demanded she do for herself. 1. I told her to buy a nice mattress and box spring. I was such a nudge I called her day after day. Finally, when I called she answered the phone and said “Stearns and Foster.” I guess that’s what she bought. 2. The second thing I told her to do was to hire a cleaning lady. She was so conflicted, but finally did it. She told me many times afterward that it was the best thing she ever did.”

Sen. Pam Resor: “Nancy was such a uniquely qualified person for the fantastic job she did of advocating for SMLS and responding to the needs of your clients. I miss her—I know you all do!”

Sen Karen Spilka: “It is with great sadness that I send this contribution to you- in honor and memory of a truly great woman, lawyer, and friend- Nancy King. All I can say is she did more for the people of the entire MetroWest area and state than most- and she did it with passion and compassion. She is sorely missed.”

Barbara Olin: “I miss Nancy and think about her everyday.“

Neponset Valley Community Health Coalition: “Nancy was an integral member of the Coalition, serving on a number of its sub-committees. She was a woman of great courage, compassion and generosity. Working with Nancy as a part of the NVCHC, was an honor and a pleasure. She understood and embraced the pain of others, striving always to put their needs ahead of her own. Nancy’s warm smile and ability to celebrate the simple pleasures of life made her an example of kindness we all wished to emulate. She loved her family and friends unconditionally and we were all blessed to have had her touch our lives. She taught us what was really important in life: love, laughter and selflessness. Nancy made an incredible difference in this world- she has challenged us all to continue her legacy and those whom she helped and those whom she loved are all the more richer for her presence in their lives.”

Patricia Macomber: “I am a friend of Eileen Coburn (Nancy King’s sister). I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy a couple of times. What an incredible woman she was!”

BayPath Elder Services: ‘Nancy was a wonderful colleague and friend, and we are grateful to have known her.”

Annamarie Dangelo: “I worked for Nancy King many years ago and admired her very much.”

Shari Belanger, President, Maynard Community Chest: “We all thought so highly of Nancy and looked forward to the monthly meeting she would attend as the representative from SMLS. On a personal note, Nancy was one of my main inspirations for taking over as president of the MCC. The first time I attended a meeting, Nancy was there and her dedication to what your organization does to help the underprivileged was awe-inspiring. Last time we met with Nancy, in winter 2007, she was wearing a head scarf but seemed very upbeat that she was going to kick the cancer. Again, a true inspiration. I a m thankful that Nancy was a part of my life…Thank you to all of you for the incredible work you do.”