January 11 – Nancy Margaret Shaffer With her family by her side, Nancy Margaret Shaffer passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2024. She was born on October 23, 1937 in Wellington, Kansas. When Nancy was four, her family moved to Albuquerque, NM. This is where Nancy spent the rest of her life, attending Monte Vista Elementary and Jefferson Junior High. She graduated from Highland High School in 1955. She enrolled in UNM’s College of Nursing and, along with eight other students, became the newly formed college’s first incoming class. Nancy graduated in 1959 with a BS and RN. She accepted a job as a nurse at a hospital associated with UCSF, and briefly moved to San Francisco. Upon her return to Albuquerque in 1960, while working as an APS nurse, she met and began dating the love of her life, George Shaffer. It was genuine love at first sight and they soon married and started a family. Active in many organizations, Nancy became the first female member of the Bernalillo County Medical Center Board (now known as UNMH) in 1968. In 1974, the Shaffers moved to Placitas, where she became a member of the Jardineros de Placitas, Placitas. Presbyterian Church, and formed the first PTA organization at Placitas Elementary School in 1975. Nancy was active in Republican politics for many years and was a member of the National Federation of Republican Women. Nancy and George had a beautiful life together. During their 58 years of marriage, they were able to travel extensively with family and friends and have fun wherever they went. After George’s passing in 2018, she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and many of her lunch groups. Nancy was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will always be remembered as a sweet, generous and kind soul who touched so many lives. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Nancy is survived by her three sons: Steve (Mary Gourd), Richard and David (Yvette), as well as her five grandchildren: Max, Sarah, Ruby, Liam and Jude. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte NE, Albuquerque, 87122. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Nancy’s memory or the Breakthrough T1D association (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund/JDRF): www.breakthrought1d.org/ways-to-give/ or to Sandia Presbyterian Church: www.sandiapres.org.
