NANCY P. HUBBARD

That paints the picture of Nancy P. Hubbard, whose family and friends share with a tremendous sadness, that she died March 27, 2022, at home, peacefully, after a long and courageous 3-1/2 year battle against Ovarian Cancer. Born January 20, 1947, in Wheeling, WV, she is the second daughter of Senator and Mrs. Chester and Joan (Holloway) Hubbard. She received her elementary school education at Wheeling Country Day School, her secondary at Miss Hall’s School (MHS) in Pittsfield, MA, being graduated in 1965, and was graduated from Wells College in 1969.

To quote the Bio she wrote for her 50th MHS reunion: “Between 1969 when I graduated from Wells and 1983, I had a series of jobs that certainly gave me the foundation to start Hubbard Marketing Group. I spent many years volunteering for the Washington International Horseshow which truly taught me how to “multi-task”. I also worked for PBS from 1971 through 1975 where I began my education in the public relations and advertising aspects of marketing. After PBS, I spent 4 years working for a public relations company learning event planning and printing for major corporations’ PR campaigns. In 1979 I discovered the direct mail aspect working for an insurance company that did membership development for associations and then marketed their insurance products to those members. I definitely found my niche in direct mail, as you can absolutely measure results. From the insurance company, I was lured away to run the low-dollar direct mail program at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. This was in 1981 right after Ronald Reagan became President and it was an unbelievably fun and challenging time. My parents were excited for me as my father had been in Republican politics for many decades. I must admit that it was thrilling to go to major donor receptions and meet and have a photo taken with many prominent national figures like President Reagan and Vice President Bush. I even got to meet Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. After 2 years at Senatorial, I was considering starting my own company. While my parents were very concerned that I was leaving a good job for the unknown, I was confident that I knew how to successfully produce fundraising pieces at reasonable costs. My MHS and Wells educations and previous employment experiences gave me the confidence to learn and succeed. I am so thankful I took the risks and reaped the reward. Hubbard Marketing Group was a direct mail agency focused on fundraising for non-profits and political organizations and candidates. During the hey-day of the company, we were responsible for mailing more than 15 million pieces a year for our clients. I also started a list brokerage and management company in 1994 to provide lists of potential donors or consumers for our clients. I retired in the spring of 2013, on the 30th Anniversary of the company I started in 1983. Since retirement I’ve been able to play lots of golf as it was one of the promises I made to myself: when I turned 50, if I had worked hard enough, I would let myself play more golf. And I did. I love working on my golf game and have a wonderful coach who helps me with the hardest part – the 5 inches between my ears! I compete in a lot of tournaments.”

While she certainly enjoyed the times of meeting national and foreign figures and having her photo taken with them, she was hesitant to hang those on her office or home walls, not wanting to seem pretentious. And, Nancy knew and befriended people from all walks of life. And they remembered, really liked and respected, even loved, her. These, and so many other attributes about Nancy, always brought to mind Kipling’s well-known verse “If”: If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings nor lose the common touch.”

Her golf achievements deserve mention: She won The Evergreen President’s Cup 6 times – in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013; The Evergreen Ladies Senior Club Championship 8 times – in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015; The Evergreen Ladies Club Championship 4 times in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2013; and with her good friend Sarah Chase, The Evergreen Member- Member in 2004 and 2006. She once said, “If you take away my golf, you might as well take away my oxygen.”

When she was diagnosed in 2019, she remained positive, upbeat, not entertaining any negative thoughts, continuing, as she had throughout her life, to do her best to take care of herself, exercise, eat well and the like, and she never lost her fierce determination to fight with every fiber of her being – heart, soul, mind and body. When she did finally have to give up her beloved golf, even as her world and activities were being limited, she continued to be happy for all her friends when the weather was good and they could get on the course, happy for any family who were going on trips – and she was genuinely happy for others, despite having to fight cancer. Another verse from Kipling’s “If” comes to mind that evokes Nancy: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, And treat those two imposters just the same..”

Aside from being an avid golfer, Nancy was a beautiful and accomplished snow skier and tennis player. She also excelled at Bridge. On the tennis court when she hit a particularly good and winning shot, she’d say with a big grin and bit of a chuckle, and not in any gloating way, “That just tickles me so.”

In addition to golf, and helping others, and life itself, Nancy had a great passion for the African Elephant, under siege by poachers. As she wrote, “In October, 2014, I had probably one of the most “best of times” when my sister and I went to Kenya for 2-1/2 weeks on a “Save The Elephant” Safari. The trip was focused around the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Organization which is responsible for saving baby orphan elephants, with the goal of returning them to the wild. A totally awesome experience with so many wild animals and beautiful scenery. A trip of a lifetime for certain!”

Nancy’s favorite song was “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, from the musical Carousel. A favorite writing was Desiderata, and it speaks of so many of the qualities by which she lived her life.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy wanted and the family asks that Donations be made to any of the following:

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Organization, sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Wheeling Country Day School, 8 Park Road, Wheeling, WV 26003;

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, 1025 Main Street, #620, Wheeling, WV 26003;

Miss Hall’s School, 492 Holmes Rd, Pittsfield, MA 01201;

[http://www.misshalls.

org;]

www.misshalls.org;

Wells College, 170 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026; www.wells.edu

Middleburg Humane Society, 5000 Cunningham Farm Drive, Marshall, VA 20115; middleburghumane.org

LAWS / Loudon Abused Women’s Shelter, 105 E. Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176

She often spoke about how lucky a life she was given, blessed with wonderful friends and family. “My 3 sisters and I get together on a regular basis 2 or 3 times a year and have great times along with enjoying my nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. When we gather, they are times of fun, chaos, laughs, lots of sports activities and love. I cherish my time with my family.”

As do we, her family and friends, cherish our times with her. The hole in our hearts from her leaving, is large. We will turn to the myriad of good and fun memories as often as our sadness allows. We shall always be missing our Nancy – someone extraordinarily gracious, composed, genuine, selfless and above all, such fun and so loving. She epitomizes Henri Frederic Amiel’s verse: “Life is short and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us, so be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”