Nancy and Lawrence Lewis

Nancy B. Lewis died peacefully on August 13, 2021 with her husband Lawrence B. Lewis at her side in White River Junction, Vermont. Larry then passed away six hours later on the morning of August 14, 2021. They were married 72 years, had 6 children, George, Sandy, John, Tom, Lawrence Jr. and Kate Lewis-Reimanis. They began their married life together in Summit, NJ then lived in Detroit, MI, Pittsburgh, PA and back to Summit, NJ for 23 more years before retiring to Marathon in the FL Keys. After one hurricane too many, they moved north to Venice, Florida. Their recent move this spring to Vermont to be near to their daughter Kate Reimanis, was done smoothly with thoughtful assistance of all their kids, their spouses and Nancy's sister, Betsy Morris of Marblehead, MA.

Joanna "Nancy" Buechner was born January 11, 1928, in Bronxville, NY to Anne Lines Buechner and Thomas Scharman Buechner. She lost her father by age 16 but not her lovely spirit. Nancy attended Bronxville Public School and graduated from St. Catherine's School in Richmond, VA; then attended Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in NYC. Attired in her plaid skirt, bobby socks and saddle shoes, she loved attending USO dances with her cousin during the WWII. Nancy was introduced to Larry Lewis by her friend Betty Monroe and after a brief courtship, they married in 1948 in Bronxville. They honeymooned on Grand Lake in Michigan. They loved surf fishing together and hitting tennis balls.

Nancy was ever athletic and a wonderful tennis player throughout her life. She always was quick to smile and pat a head, console a friend, was an amazing caregiver to her kids when they were seriously ill, was an early education teacher and gave freely of her time to help others. She volunteered at Martland Hospital in Newark, tutored children in public schools and assisted the houseless throughout the Florida Keys and greater Sarasota.

As a Mom and as "Nanoo" to her grandkids, she remained a reliable friend and engaged easily in games and adventures. Getting lost in the Everglades with her son John, clobbering all comers in croquet, smuggling cassette tapes of the Beatles and Rolling Stones into Russia on a cultural trip in the early 1970's or hanging with her eldest son George in Paris, she was the youngest at heart Mom ever.

Lawrence "Larry" Boggs Lewis was born in Newark, NJ on March 31, 1923 to Christina Boggs Lewis and George Lippitt Lewis. An only child, he grew very close to his mother after losing his father by age 12. His father's death was due to, in part, to wounds suffered in WWI. Larry lived in Short Hills, NJ, then attended Kent School in Connecticut and then Princeton University enrolling in the ROTC program. Larry was a 1st lieutenant in the 10th Armored Division in Europe in WWII. He received a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Ribbon. After recovering from his injuries, he finished college in 1945 with high honors in history from Princeton. Larry then embarked on a career in Employee Relations and General Management in the oil, machine tool, steel and banking industries.

Larry marched for civil rights in Detroit in the early 60's. While working at Allegheny Ludlum Steel in Pittsburgh he coached a junior hockey team the Vos Levellers where his son George played keen defense. As senior Vice President at the Bank of New York, Larry made time for the Boy Scouts and the rugged camp outs with his son, Tom. He kept a meticulous vegetable garden every hot summer in New Jersey, with a freezer full of green beans year-round.

Several weekends a year he devoted his time as a race officiate for USAC Indy cars at the Trenton and Pocono Speedways. Eventually he enrolled in Bertel Roos race car school. Always an athlete, he ran nearly every day, year-round, and completed two NYC Marathons and the Jersey Shore Marathon. He also enjoyed blue fishing on the Outer Banks and attending Jet games with his son, John. After retiring from the Bank of New York and as a Management Consultant, Larry found further enrichment as a senior lecturer and member of the Adjunct Faculty of Graduate School of Management and Urban Profession at the New School in NYC. Larry developed a strong bond with both daughters during summers on Grand Lake in Michigan and in South Strafford Vermont. Lakeside, he engaged in many humorous interactions, hijinks, and political chats with his daughter, Alex. He and his daughter, Kate became water skiing buddies in Michigan as well. Larry was ever proud of the strengths and abilities of his wife, daughters and sons in their lives and professions and always praised them openly. From being simply Dad, he soon became known as Gaga to his grand children who he admired and loved greatly.

Larry and Nancy enjoyed playing tennis together until well into their 80's. They always got a kick out of each other and made time for just the two of them to go off on holidays, at times hiring memorable babysitters manifesting their kids becoming more appreciative of them. They travelled to Spain to see their daughter Alexandra perform in a circus, to Australia and New Zealand to hike, went down the Grand Canyon on a raft for five days and 10 years ago drove across America keeping their cell phone turned off and their children in suspense.

Larry and Nancy continued to volunteer in their communities as educators, helping the homeless, taking on church responsibilities and as able caregivers to their family and their community wherever they lived, right up to the end of their time on Earth.

Sadly, they were predeceased by two of their children, Lawrence B. Lewis, Jr. aka "Charlie" who died from cerebral palsy complications and Sandra Evans Lewis aka, Alexandra Middendorf Lewis who died from ALS.

We will miss Larry and Nancy's soft calling whistles as they kept track of each other wherever they went during the day. They remain ever in the hearts of their loving family including grandkids, Gabriel and Jordan Middendorf, Henry, Reed and Deva Lewis, Laila and Charlotte Reimanis and their great granddaughter, Pippa Middendorf.

In lieu of flowers please, donate to the General Fund at Atlanta University in Lawrence B. Lewis's name or Child Care International and Planned Parenthood in Nancy B. Lewis's name.

A Funeral Service for Lawrence and Nancy will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at 10AM, at the United Church of Strafford, 230 Justin Morrill Hwy, Strafford VT. Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.