Nancy Hall Thompson

Nancy Hall-Thompson, a long-time resident of Ithaca, died peacefully on the evening of Sunday November 20th. She was 90 years old.

Nancy was born in Boston on 9th January 1926, the only child of Marjorie and Samuel Stratton. She grew up in Cambridge MA where her father was a professor at the Harvard Business School. After graduating from the Buckingham School she entered Radcliffe (now Harvard) College at the age of 17. After two years' studies she transferred to Middlebury College in 1943 when her father was appointed its President. At a MIT-Radcliffe dance she first met John Enos. They enjoyed a brief wartime romance in Cambridge before he was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force and sent to Florida, where they married in 1944. After the war they returned to Cambridge and together raised three children: daughters Andrea and Molly (both Ithaca residents) and a son, Walter.

Nancy moved to Ithaca in 1971 with her second husband, Malcolm Hall. Nancy had a passion for antiques and she delighted in displaying them in their charming old house on North Tioga Street. In 1973 after Mr Hall's death Nancy began taking classes at Tompkins Cortland Community College. Her college studies had been interrupted in 1945 by the arrival of her first child, and she was rightly proud when she finally earned her BA degree more than 30 years after starting it. Later Nancy trained as an alcoholism counselor and dedicated herself to this field for many years. After retirement she served in Ithaca's Information and Referral and RSVP offices. In 1987 Nancy was re-married to Robert Thompson of Song Lake; they separated in 1991 but remained lifelong friends.

Family was always Nancy's highest priority and the source of her greatest happiness. She was devoted to her grandchildren (and later, great-grandchildren) and was actively involved in their lives for as long as her health allowed. In 2006 she moved into McGraw House in downtown Ithaca; in 2010 when her health declined further she moved into Cayuga Ridge nursing home. To the very end she was delighted by the frequent visits of all her family, and they always enjoyed her sharp mind and witty conversation. She loved them above all else, and she will be sorely missed.

Nancy Hall Thompson is survived by her 3 children, Andrea Enos Tringle, Molly Katsoulis Light and Walter Enos step-children, Nanette Hall, Malcolm Hall and Edward Hall; 5 grandchildren (John Tringle, Gregory Katsoulis, Elizabeth Katsoulis, Samuel Enos, John Enos) and 2 great-grandchildren (John Tringle Jr., Melina Herson). A memorial service will be held in Middlebury VT at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name to the Middlebury College Alumni Fund would be most welcome. Bangs Funeral Home is assisting the family.