Nancy Jackson Strauss

Nancy Jackson Strauss, a former teacher who enjoyed so much of life that including skiing, sailing, playing piano and singing in her church choir passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 3 at the age of 84.  The daughter of Stanley J. and Ellen Lantz Jackson, she was born on April 10, 1933 and she lived much of her life in the greater Pittsburgh area.  She married Gernot “Gary” Strauss in 1955 after graduating from Allegheny College with a degree in Economics, and spent most of the next 12 years raising her family.  She returned to college at what is now Slippery Rock University for a degree in Elementary Education and began her teaching career in 1975 in the Pine Richland School District near Pittsburgh.  She continued to teach until 1994, when she and her husband moved to Jacksonville to be near family members.

As eminently capable sailors, Nancy and Gary spent many years cruising the Chesapeake Bay on their 36-foot Dickerson sailboat with family and friends.   The infamous NSBBC (Not So Bright Bridge Club) left their indelible mark on the Oxford, MD sailing community every summer.

Nancy was active in the choirs at Orange Park United Methodist Church in Florida and The First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown in Pittsburgh, PA.  She also continued to employ her teaching skills tutoring students once she and Gary had moved to Jacksonville, saying that she didn’t feel quite ready to completely retire as working with young children helped keep her young as well.

Her joy of children was evident when she spent time with her grandchildren:  Kristin Rae (Otterson) Cronic of Jacksonville, Jacob Jackson Strauss and Tara Hannon Strauss of Sarasota FL, and Harper Andrew Steinke of Baltimore, MD.  In addition to her grandchildren, Nancy is survived by her two daughters and one son, Kathy Strauss, Patty Otterson and Richard Strauss and great granddaughter Eleanor Ann Cronic. 

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2051 Park Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073.    In lieu of flowers donations are requested for the Music ministry at Orange Park United Methodist Church, 2051 Park Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073.   

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