Nancy C. Jerome, 93 of East Thetford, on September 26, 2023, a lifelong lover of music and canoeing, passed away at home in Thetford. Born in Summit, New Jersey, she was the daughter of James S. and Margaret W. Cawley.
Nancy began her career as a flutist and piccolo player early in life. She attended the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan and Middlebury College. While playing with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra she met Richard W. Jerome, the orchestra's principal flutist, whom she married in 1952.
Nancy was a member of numerous orchestras and was a founding member of the Boston Philharmonia. She performed in ensembles such as the Opera Company of Boston Orchestra, the Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra and Monadnock Music in New Hampshire. Nancy was most proud to play with the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a freelance musician.
Nancy’s historic wooden canoe Scherzo, built in 1889, brought her joy. She displayed and paddled it in period dress at antique boat shows across the Northeast.
Nancy and Dick summered at Island Pond in Stoddard, New Hampshire, where they built a cabin in 1970 and enjoyed over four decades of happy family memories.
Nancy enjoyed embroidery, basket-making, leatherwork, knitting, sewing, and bread-baking. During 17 years in the Mad River Valley, Nancy was a regular Green Up Day participant on her Fayston road. A 25 year volunteer usher at Dartmouth College, in her later years she found comfort in library books, VPR and PBS.
For twelve years she was caregiver for her husband; after 56 years of marriage, he died in 2009.
Survivors are her son Ted and his wife Lynn Sudlow of West Lebanon, NH; her daughter Jenny Menn and her husband Eric of Exeter, NH; her daughter Kitty and her partner Maggie Kanouse of Keene, NH; three granddaughters (Emily Pogozelski, Warren, VT; Monica Jerome, Hanover, NH; and Chloe Menn, Stoneham, MA) and seven nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters.
At Nancy's request her body was donated to the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. Donations in her memory may be made to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra or her favorite town libraries: Latham Library in Thetford, VT and Davis Public Library in Stoddard, NH. Her family gratefully acknowledges the compassionate care of the VNH staff.
