Obituary of Nancy Dillman Peck

Nancy Dillman Peck Died peacefully on September 2, 2010 after a nineteen-month battle with brain cancer. Nancy died as she lived: with incredible grace and courage, and surrounded by loving family and friends. Nancy was especially grateful for the skilled and devoted caregivers at Strong Memorial Hospital and the Jewish Home and Infirmary during her final weeks. Her strength, intelligence, and humor throughout were an inspiration to all who knew her. Nancy was born and raised in St. Louis where she graduated from the Mary Institute. She attended Wellesley College and later married Dr. William Peck. They raised their three children, Catherine, Edward, and David Peck in Rochester. There she immersed herself in numerous activities and local politics. Nancy became an early Executive Director of the Rochester Area Foundation that evolved to become the extraordinary community organization we know today. She finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of Rochester, graduated from the University at Buffalo Law School and was admitted to the New York Bar. She married attorney Robert A. Feldman in 1982 and together shared a love of the law, reading, tennis, and family, and practiced their professions while making time to travel the globe. Nancy loved summers on Canandaigua Lake. In recent years, she and Bob enjoyed spending winters at their new home in southern California where Nancy’s children and granddaughter, Jacqueline Nelson, live. Nancy was President of the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys (GRAWA) in 1985-86, and served as President of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA) in 1990-91 as a delegate of the American Bar Association. She had a successful law practice in Rochester and was also a member of the California State Bar. Throughout her life Nancy was a committed supporter of the arts and dance. A dancer since childhood, she enjoyed training with and became Chairman of Garth Fagan Dance. Nancy is survived by her loving husband, and three sisters: Judith Humes and Cynthia Todorovich of St. Louis, and Judy Berry of Jackson, Mississippi, as well as her three children: Kate Peck Nelson (Brent), Ned and David (Ray Kelly) Peck and granddaughter, Jackie. She is also survived by four step-children: Michael (Norma), Jonathan (Jill), Tim (Andrea), and Margaret Feldman. She was Nana to five step-granddaughters: Jayme, Alex, Sarah, Kathryn and Molly and four step-grandsons: Joseph, Gabe, Jason and Henry. A memorial service will be held at 6 pm Saturday, September 11, 2010 at the University of Rochester’s Interfaith Chapel. Click here for directions to the U of R Interfaith Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Nancy’s honor to the URMC Palliative Care Program 300 East River Road PO Box 270032 Rochester, New York 14627 Link to the URMC Palliative Care Program Home Canandaigua, New York Birthplace St. Louis, Missouri