Nancy Katz, longtime Cape Gazette columnist
Nancy Katz, 78, of Rehoboth Beach died peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family Saturday, July 3, 2021, after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born July 7, 1942, in Norwood, Mass., to the late Anthony and Pauline Nado. Her brother Frank Nado died this year.
Nancy was the devoted wife of Dr. Mayer M. Katz, who established the vascular surgery program at Beebe Healthcare and was the founder of Delaware Bay Surgical Service in Lewes. She was a loving mother to Pamela Katz Jensen of Princeton, N.J., and Stephen Katz of Chicago, Ill.; son-in-law Eric Jensen, and daughter-in-law Molly Kinsella Katz; and grandchildren: Garret Jensen of San Francisco, Calif., Sophie Jensen of New York, N.Y., and Eliza Katz of Chicago.
Nancy held a bachelor of arts degree (cum laude) in English Composition from Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., which greatly enhanced her abilities in being the successful author of "Notes from the Beach" and as a longtime columnist for the Cape Gazette feature titled Around Town, entertaining readers with her humorous and satirical writing style on life in a resort town. She loved working for the Cape Gazette, and her legions of loyal fans loved reading her takes on topics ranging from daylight saving time to summer romance, gardening to geezerhood, political mayhem, modern technology and nostalgic memories of times gone by.
“Our dear Nancy has been with us since we first published the Cape Gazette in 1993. Through thick and thin, Nancy composed pithy, poignant and truly hilarious columns we could all relate to, living in the Cape Region and elsewhere. Her favorite themes were grandchildren and their dogs, pesky overnight guests, absurd family reunions, patriotic holiday themes, and, of course, crazy local traffic. We will never be able to replace Nancy’s Around Town column in this newspaper or in our hearts, but she will continue to be our biggest cheerleader from above as we move forward,” said Trish Vernon, co-publisher and editor.
Cape Gazette Publisher Emeritus Dennis Forney noted Nancy’s longtime influence on the paper. “With Nancy’s death, we’ve lost one of the cornerstones of the Gazette’s durable lineup of columnists who have shaped the paper’s personality for decades. Her voice and well-crafted writing have been steadily authentic, fresh and dependably timely.”
Nancy and Mayer met when she was a nursing student at Mount Auburn Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge, Mass., where she received her RN degree. Mayer, who was a surgical resident, was assisting in an open-heart surgery and Nancy was the surgical cardiac nurse. He noticed her blue eyes above her surgical mask, thus blossomed a marriage that would last 58 years. Nancy was devoted and loyal to Mayer's long and exciting surgical career, which took him from Massachusetts to California to Vietnam to Wisconsin, and finally, Rehoboth Beach.
Nancy was a warrior against cancer, having successfully battled breast cancer, and then finally ovarian cancer, which ultimately took her life. She loved being involved with the community through art, gardening, friends, her neighborhood and volunteering. Her passions were watercolor painting, gardening, writing, reading mysteries, and working the New York Times crossword puzzle.
In Nancy's neighborhood, she started a Caring Committee where she would personally visit those in need, provide meals, run errands or just send a simple get-well card. She coordinated this work up until her death, thinking of others.
Her many community involvements including being a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children in Sussex County; serving on the board of directors of the Sussex Gardeners and Rehoboth Beach Yacht & Country Club Homeowners Association; co-chairing the Thanksgiving Ball at Beebe Medical Center for 16 years, and originating the Beebe Holiday of Lights fundraiser. She was an active volunteer with the Salvation Army Store, Lewes-Rehoboth Meals on Wheels, and the Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation and Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.
Nancy was a member of the DeVries Business and Professional Women’s Club and was named its Woman of the Year in 2005, honoring her many contributions to the community. She was a member of Cape Artists and Rehoboth Art League, as well as Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. She was honored with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Friend of the Delaware Chapter Award and the Marcia Marvel Award. Nancy was also a member of Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Lewes Yacht Club and St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach.
Nancy loved spending time with her three grandchildren, painting, and doing arts and crafts. She was caring and thoughtful, and had a great sense of humor. She was a fighter until the end with her cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 20, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach.
Masks and social distancing are suggested during all aspects of the funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider gifts to the Children’s Beach House, 1800 Bay Ave., Lewes, DE 19958, cbhinc.org/get-involved/donate, or to your favorite charity of choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
