Nancy Heffelfinger Wilson

Nancy Heffelfinger Wilson, age 84, of Ithaca, NY passed away on September 20, 2021 at Hospicare in Ithaca. Born in Bethlehem, PA, Nancy grew up in a loving family that included her parents Jim and Ruth, and her younger sister Carol. In her youth, she enjoyed neighborhood games and sports and she and her sister became excellent tennis players. Nancy also enjoyed academic study and was the first in her family to enter higher education, receiving a scholarship to Vassar College. There she graduated with a BA in mathematics; she also enjoyed the many free concerts and plays Vassar provided, and playing bridge with friends. One summer during college, Nancy worked at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute where she met her future husband David Wilson. They both went to California to pursue PhDs, Nancy subsequently receiving her PhD in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. During their time in graduate school, Nancy and David married, and when David accepted a tenure-track job in the Biochemistry department at Cornell University, they came to Ithaca to live, work and raise their family. In Ithaca, Nancy cared for her young family and taught economics at Ithaca College. She later changed career direction to work in computer services at Cornell University. She also worked at MIT and as an independent consultant, before retiring. Over the years, Nancy greatly enjoyed renovating her beautiful old Ithaca farmhouse, playing tennis with her husband and friends, socializing with family and friends, nature, reading, politics and travel. Nancy was a devoted mother and grandmother and she will be dearly missed. Nancy is survived by her daughters and their significant others: Allison Wilson and Jonathan Latham of Ithaca, NY, Ashley Wilson and Jesse Fowler of El Segundo, CA, Laurie Wilson and Marcus Chacona of Ithaca, NY, her grandson Louis Latham, and her niece Holly Thesieres and her family. She is predeceased by her husband David Wilson, and sister Carol Thesieres. Contributions in lieu of flowers, if desired, can be given to Hospicare in Ithaca or to Loaves and Fishes.

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