Nancy McHugh

NANCY GREEN MCHUGH

Cedar Rapids

Nancy Green McHugh, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 10, 1926, died of natural causes on Jan. 12, 2015. The daughter of Howard R. Green and Stella Wolfe Green, Nancy lived her entire life in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Franklin Senior High School.

Her sister, Polly Green Kemp, and brother, William Howard Green, both preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathy McHugh Bauer of Fort Collins, Colo.; son, Peter McHugh (Lydia) of Edina, Minn.; and three grandchildren, Emily Bauer, Michael McHugh and Bryan McHugh.

Survivors also include many nieces and nephews from both Kemp and Green families.

She attended the University of Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Journalism, with a certificate in advertising, and was awarded an Alpha Gamma Delta scholarship. She graduated with distinction and was elected to Mortar Board and Gamma Alpha Chi honorary journalism and advertising fraternity. While at Iowa, Nancy was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity and served as its president her senior year.

Nancy first worked at the Cedar Rapids Gazette on the news staff. She then was employed by the Cedar Rapids Public Library as a communications consultant where she was awarded three national John Cotton Dana Public Relations Awards.

She became the editor of Building Progress magazine, a syndicated publication at Stamats Communications, from 1967 to 1985, when she retired.

Nancy was appointed to the Iowa State Board of Architectural Examiners by then Governor Ray as a public member. She also served on the board of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation from 1983 through 1998, serving as president when the Foundation moved from a private to public charity and chair emerita. She was honored for her service in 2013 by the Foundation at the William Quarton Heritage Society luncheon.

Nancy also served on the first board of trustees for Brucemore and was involved as it transitioned from a private residence to a non-profit organization and property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Nancy was an early member of the Friends of the Library. As a member of the Cedar Rapids Public Library Board of Trustees for two consecutive six-year terms, Nancy was fundamental in securing funding in the mid-1980s for the new library, which had failed several bond elections. Her fellow Trustees deemed her a "catalyst for quality" as she chaired the building committee. Her involvement with the Public Library spanned three decades of tireless service.

One of Nancy's favorite slogans was "Idle hands are the devil's workshop," and even while working, raising two kids and volunteering throughout her life, she enjoyed the art of calligraphy and created Pencraft Studios with the late Betty Altorfer and Charys Pinney. Her creativity came to life with a line of hand-lettered quotations printed and sold to gift shops nationwide and the company was sold after several successful years. She also enjoyed sketching, creating greeting cards and was a prolific medium-format photographer.

She also served on the Cedar Rapids-Marion Arts Council's Art Advisory Committee and fully enjoyed the symphony, theater and the many cultural opportunities available in Cedar Rapids.

For decades, Nancy's summers were spent in Estes Park, Colo., where she hiked the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Her homes in the Rockies included Hewes Kirkwood Lodge and Wind River Ranch. She and her hiking pal, Nene Field, of Omaha, had their favorite lakes and "the summit is not always found at the top." Lake Isabelle in the Indian Peaks was a favorite and their laughter can still be heard in the pines.

Spiritually, Nancy joined St. Johns Episcopal Church in 1983 where she served on the Vestry as Senior Warden twice and became very involved as the congregation evolved to Christ Episcopal Church.

A celebration of Nancy Green McHugh's life, creativity and service to the community will be held Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th St. NE, in Cedar Rapids.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Nancy G. McHugh Fund in care of the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation, the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation or Christ Episcopal Church.