Nancy Duggar Adams
Nancy Duggar Adams, age 95, beloved wife of the late John Farnham Adams, passed away on Friday, November 28, 2008 at the Whitney Center in Hamden. She was born in St. Louis, MO, to the late Dr. Benjamin Minge Duggar, who discovered the antibiotic aureomycin, and Marie Robertson Duggar. Nancy graduated from the University of Wisconsin and was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She lived most of her life in the New Haven area, and she spent many wonderful summers with friends and family at their summer cottage in Monterey, MA. Nancy was a poet and writer, and, in her eighties, she published two books of poetry. She was a board member of the Creative Arts Workshop, the National YWCA, and a deacon of the Church of the Redeemer. She is survived by a sister, Emily Saunders, and three children: Charles Adams of Seattle, WA, Robert Adams of Fairfax, VA and Katharine Walker of Boston, MA, and five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral service will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nancy's memory may be made to the scholarship fund of the Creative Arts Workshop or to the Church of the Redeemer. The Beecher & Bennett, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden is in charge of the arrangements.
Aunt Nancy was a great inspiration and changed the course of my life. While a student at Yale she and her family made me feel a part of the extended family. She was always willing to provide good counsel on all topics, from Shakespear to poetry to current events and to the myriad issues which confronted me as a student. And she also put up an awful lot of my girlfriends who came to Yale for a weekend. My wife, Nancy, who became Aunt Nancy’s namesake, Nancy Duggar, also developed a strong attachment to Nancy Adams. We will miss her. Our condolences to my cousins and their children and grandchildren — I know what a loss you have experienced.
Dear Family of Nancy Adams, I am sorry about the lost of your loved one. Words cannot describe feelings in a time like this. Many have found comfort in the Bible’s promise of seeing our past loved ones again. Please take care of yourselves.
I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy Adams a few years ago and remember such a lively, fun, bright mind and warm personality, in the midst of hundreds of books. My thoughts are with her family, especially with my dear friend and her loving daughter Katharine.
My condolences to the Adams family. Nancy’s adventuresome personality and lively endeavors were a true inspiration! It was always special to catch up with her at Pi Phi meetings. She will be fondly remembered in our thoughts and in her poetry.
My deepest sympathies to Nancy’s family. Nancy was the epitome of a Pi Beta Phi woman. I will always cherish her wit, humor, stories, and poetry.
Nancy was such a wonderful woman and an inspiration to anyone she met. Her participation in the Pi Beta Phi sorority was cherished by all.
To Nancy’s Family, My sincerest sympathy to all of you. Your Mother/Grandmother/Great Grandmother was a true gift! I so enjoyed getting to know Nancy through Pi Phi and her poetry! You are in my thoughts.
To Nancy’s Family, So very sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. She was a truly unique and wonderful person as well as an inspiration to all of us as to how to live each day to the fullest. She will be missed.
To the Adams Family, The Bixler Family sends sympathy and condolences to you and yours. Your mother Nancy, and your father Jack, were good friends through many years and we miss your father and now, your mother very much. We send our prayers and love to each of you. Peg Bixler
To the Adams family; Dick and I will always remember Jack and Nancy, having dinner at Whitney Center and discussing agricultural things as well as Pi Phi news. Nancy was always so interested in the Pi Phis, no matter what their age, and was so enthusiastic about all our activiities. We will miss her! I always admired her quest for knowledge, and her ability to write wonderful poetry.
To the family of Nancy Adams, Please know that you are much in my thoughts at this sad time. It was such a privilege to know Nancy, a kind Pi Phi who was so talented and so much fun to be around, one who gave so much to her friends,family, and community. She is missed but remains very much with us in spirit.
We are visiting family in CT and I saw the obit as I read this morning’s paper. I lived in Milford from 1979-82 after I married my husband. I had just graduated college and joined the Pi Phi Alumnae Club. Nancy was so welcoming and kind to me. She became a Golden Arrow during that time and one of the other members contacted her pledge sisters and many wrote wonderful letters to Nancy. When my husband and I moved to Michigan for his grad school degree, Nancy helped organize a summer get-together of the club so they could wish me well. Nancy was a very special woman, one who touched my life for a short time, but one whose generosity and kindnesses still have a place in my memories of my life in Connecticut. My sincere sympathy to Nancy’s family.
We have lost a most wonderful friend and inspiration. Nancy meant so much to the members of the New Haven Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi and especially to me. I pray her passing was peaceful, and I send my heartfelt condolences to her family, all of whom she praised each time I talked with her. We will all miss her so much. Aimée Suhie
We will miss you greatly Grandma (and great Grandma). Our thoughts and prayers are with the children of this fantastic, modern woman.