Nancy Elliot Nicholson Spear

Nancy Elliot Nicholson was born on October 4, 1939, to G. J. Guthrie Nicholson, Jr., and Mary D. Nicholson (née Cleveland) in Rolling Hills, Long Island, NY. Nancy spent her childhood on Long Island and, later, at Black Point Farm in Portsmouth, RI with her sister Robin and brother Nick. She graduated from St. Mary’s-in-the-Mountains School in Littleton, NH in 1957, when she also made her debut. She received her nursing pin from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in NYC in 1960.

Nancy married Douglas R. Spear of Brimfield, MA on August 5, 1961, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. Nancy and Doug had three daughters, Cassandra Elliot, Victoria Ashley and Elisabeth Blair. While Nancy had great success with several businesses, nursing is what she always returned to and her true calling in life.

Nancy is survived by her daughters Victoria Rice and Elisabeth Spear, grandchildren Max Redmond, Emily Tavino and Peter Tavino, by her brother G. J. Guthrie Nicholson III and her dear cousin, Holly Gifford. She is also survived by her niece Susan Holmes, by her nieces Mary and Sarah Nicholson as well as her great nieces and nephew – Helen Aguirre, Caroline Holmes and Nathaniel Heller – along with many other young people and many old and dear friends who loved her joy in life and her sense of mischief, including her partner of many years, August Miller.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 AM on October 2, 2021, at St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. For more information, please call Elisabeth Spear at 954-326-0905.