Washington - Nancy Skinner Nordhoff, an American philanthropist, environmentalist, visionary women's advocate, community builder, wife, and mother, died on January 7 at her home in Langley, Washington. She was 93.

The youngest of three children of Winifred Swalwell Skinner and Gilbert W. Skinner, Nancy was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She attended Laurelhurst Elementary School and earned her high school diploma at St. Nicholas School on Capitol Hill, where she was named the S Girl award-winner and was president of the Athletic Association.

Following high school, Nancy went on to the first love of her life: Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she was a first-class athlete. Nancy excelled in Chemistry, but failed in English. She talked the dean into allowing her to remain a student, and graduated in 1954. This was a wise decision, as Nancy was later honored by the College with the Alum Medal of Honor award and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2004. It was while working on behalf of Mount Holyoke that Nancy first became a fundraiser, a skill that she would hone and apply for the rest of her life.

After college, Nancy returned to the Seattle area. She took flight lessons at Bellevue Airfield, which Arthur Nordhoff managed, and was where she kept her plane. One thing led to the next, and the couple married in 1957. Nancy and Art settled in Clyde Hill and raised three children: Chuck, Grace, and Carolyn. Although never formally employed, Nancy was hardly a stay-at-home-mom. She volunteered at, co-founded, advised, and led countless non-profit organizations, including Overlake Memorial Hospital (established in 1959), the Junior League of Seattle (president in 1971-72), the Pacific Northwest Grantmakers Forum (established in 1976), and CityClub (founded in 1980).

After a full career as a volunteer fundraiser, Nancy took great delight in advising organizations on how to successfully ask for money. Her principal belief was simple: asking for a donation was not arm-twisting, but rather offering people the opportunity to experience joy through their giving. Many a fundraiser, both new and experienced, learned from Nancy the many ways to ask for a gift. The true power of philanthropy guided Nancy and fueled her endeavors as a mentor, a founder, and a donor. She also was a meaningful model to many people with resources about how to direct their money to make positive change.

For the first 50-odd years of her life, Nancy did what she felt was expected of her. In the mid-1980s, however, she realized that she could choose her own path. Drawing on her experience at Mount Holyoke and in partnership with her friend, Sheryl Feldman, Nancy founded Cottages at Hedgebrook Farm, a retreat for women writers on Whidbey Island near Seattle. Since its creation in 1988, Hedgebrook has hosted more than 2,000 authors, all at no cost, and is recognized both nationally and internationally as a transformational opportunity for women writers of all genres.

While living on Whidbey, Nancy met and fell in love with Lynn Hays. Nancy and Lynn were partners for 35 years, and legally married in 2014. With Lynn's artistic talents and Nancy's community-building skills and philanthropic ways, they became pillars of South Whidbey. The Whidbey Institute, Bayview Corner, The Goose grocery store, the Whidbey Buddhist Temple, and Downtown Langley Park are durable testaments to their involvement in a broad spectrum of activities. In 1999, Nancy started Goosefoot, an economic development generator on South Whidbey Island; its impact continues today.

Nancy loved all sports, and was the world's biggest baseball fan. One of Nancy's baseball highlights was attending the 1956 World Series and witnessing Don Larsen's perfect game. If Nancy had one disappointment in her life, it was that she never had the chance to cheer on her beloved Mariners in the World Series. Nancy also enjoyed many of Seattle's other professional and collegiate sports teams. And for years, you could find her on the sidelines of her children's and grandchildren's many sporting events.

Nancy delighted in spending time with her children and grandchildren. Gatherings often featured champagne, roast beef, delicious red wine, and several rounds of card games. From trips to Alaska, France, Ireland, Las Vegas, and of course sporting events, many family memories were made together and will be treasured forever.

Ever humble, Nancy avoided the spotlight. Just the same, she received a number of significant awards during her lifetime. She was recognized in 2006 by the National Women's History Project with the Builder of Communities and Dreams award, in 2006 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the Outstanding Philanthropist award, and in 2009 by the Seattle Storm with the Inspiring Women award. For a number of years, CityClub recognized a Seattle-area citizen with the annual Nancy Nordhoff Civic Leadership Award.

Nancy believed in people and ideas. She sent her resources, both funds and wisdom, out into the world. She helped many live securely so that they could create, think big, and pursue their dreams. Just as with Hedgebrook, the ripple effects of Nancy's generosity and visionary spirit are impossible to quantify but monumental in their goodness and humanity.

Nancy passed away peacefully at her home in Langley on January 7, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Gil and Win; her brother, David E. "Ned" Skinner; her sister, Sally Skinner Behnke; and her former husband, Art Nordhoff. She is survived by her wife, Lynn Hays, Lynn's daughter Tessa Hays-Nordin, and Lynn's grandson Valadon Hays-Nordin; her children, Chuck Nordhoff (Maribeth O'Connor), Grace Nordhoff (Jonathan Beard) and Carolyn Nordhoff Reid (Kevin Reid); seven grandchildren (Emily, Freddie, Ruthie, Jaquelin, Jo, Adam, and Natalie); and one great-grandchild (Ellie).

For 93 years, Nancy lived life and built community to the fullest. May her legacy of generosity, vision, and leadership be an inspiration for generations to come.

Celebrations of Nancy's life will be held on February 28 at Town Hall Seattle, starting at 11:30 AM, and at a future date on Whidbey Island. Donations in her honor would be warmly accepted by Hedgebrook and Mount Holyoke College.

See also,

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/an-appreciation-nancy-nordhoffs-leap-of-faith-is-changing-the-world/

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/seattle-area-philanthropist-nancy-skinner-nordhoff-dies-at-93/