In appreciation: Nancy Tuckerman

Salisbury lost a good friend last week. 

When I read Nancy Tuckerman’s New York Times obituary it was as if time stopped for Nancy when she left New York. Not true; she had a rich, full life here in Salisbury for a good portion of her time on earth. 

The Nancy that we all knew in Salisbury was a vibrant part of our community. She taught table manners to the children at Salisbury Central School and the Housatonic Child Care Center, volunteered at Bartholomew’s Cobble, and was an avid opera-goer at the Mahaiwe. She also had a radio show on WHDD.

She was kind, thoughtful and the belle of the ball at both The Roast and later, The Bistro, where she could always be found with her morning coffee and The New York Times, surrounded by her gentleman admirers. Nancy was fun; she loved to laugh and tease the guys. 

Nancy was a good friend. She helped people who needed it, brought food to sick friends and was a good friend to me. Nancy told me many things about her own life, but mostly she wanted to hear about mine. 

Even at the end, when I visited her at Noble, she was always delighted to see me and she deflected questions about her well-being by asking me about my life, my children, my travels and so on. She remembered the names of my children and what they were all up to, and she was that way with everyone. 

Nancy edited a manners book, and she embodied good manners. Manners are just a formalized way to show consideration and kindness toward other people and that is the lesson Nancy had for all of us. 

Anne Day

Salisbury