Nancy Preston Johnson, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Nancy was born in Excelsior, Minnesota, on June 24, 1932, the daughter of Robert and Mildred Preston. Nancy graduated from Excelsior High School in 1950 and the University of Vermont in 1954 with a triple major in history, English, and education.

Nancy married her high school sweetheart, the late New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice William “Bill” R. Johnson, on August 14, 1954—the start of a beautiful and loving 55-year marriage until Bill passed away in 2009. With a shared passion for public service, their marriage was a true partnership. While Bill attended Harvard Law School, Nancy worked full-time at the Harvard University Physics Department’s Lyman Research Laboratory. They moved to Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1958 when Bill accepted an associate position at the Law Firm of Cotton, Tesreau & Stebbins. With Nancy by his side, Bill had a remarkable career and was appointed to the NH Superior Court in 1969 and the NH Supreme Court in 1985, retiring in 1999. Bill was also an adjunct professor of Business Law at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration for 40 years, and Nancy would diligently type all the case studies and examinations using a Smith Corona typewriter.

Nancy was active in the Hanover community for over 60 years. She attended the United Church of Christ at Dartmouth College and served in numerous volunteer roles there. In 1971, Nancy and Bill founded the Friends of Dartmouth Basketball, the first of the now thirty-four Friends groups of Dartmouth Athletics. She spearheaded the Red Cross Blood Drive at Dartmouth College, served as a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta board of directors for the Dartmouth College chapter, and was actively involved with YMCA Camp Coniston in Croydon, NH, for 60 years. 1988, Nancy and her daughter Catherine founded Wheelock Travel, Inc.; the family sold the business in 1999.

Nancy and Bill, Dartmouth College Class of 1953, hosted hundreds of small class reunions at their home after Dartmouth football games, and Nancy became an integral and beloved member of the class. Not a great athlete by her own admission, Nancy loved sports and was a knowledgeable, passionate, and devoted fan, especially Dartmouth Athletics.

Nancy selflessly devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, loving them unconditionally. Her insatiable desire to learn included remarkable pursuits into the passions of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, allowing her to connect with them even from a distance. She attended countless sporting events, play productions, and school activities, showcasing her unwavering support for her family. In true Nancy fashion, she learned the rules of chess to play with her grandson, participated in an annual March Madness bracket with her family, and had a recent foray into Spider-Man for her great-grandsons. An avid reader, Nancy achieved her goal of completing 500 novels before her 50th college reunion, including every book her grandchildren were assigned in school so that she could engage with them about each one, even if they didn’t read the assigned books.

Affectionately known as "Granny," Nancy touched the lives of so many. To know her was to love her; for those fortunate enough to be loved by her, it was an honor and a privilege. With a generous spirit and compassionate heart, she radiated a vibrant appreciation for life. Her kindness was complemented by a witty sense of humor, a treasured characteristic she shared with her granddaughter. She was a testament to the beauty of resilience—always seeing the good in others, knowing what to say, and ready to help. May her memory be an inspiration, and may she forever rest in peace.

Nancy is survived by her daughters Catherine Johnson and Susan Bower (Andy Bower), Dartmouth Class of 1985; grandchildren Sarah Donahue (Kendrick Washington) and Will Bower (Alex Eifert); and her three great-grandsons, William, Jackson, and Theodore Washington. Her grandson and great-grandson were both lovingly named after Nancy’s late husband—a tribute to the impact of their marriage across generations.

The Johnson family would like to express our sincere gratitude to Wheelock Terrace, an assisted living facility in Hanover, NH, and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, NH, for their compassion and care, where Nancy felt genuinely loved by the incredible staffs of dedicated healthcare professionals.

The family will hold a private service at a later date.

Nancy believed passionately in the mission of YMCA Camp Coniston and the core values of the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to YMCA Camp Coniston in memory of Nancy Johnson at coniston.org/donate or mailed to YMCA Camp Coniston, PO Box 185, Grantham, NH, 03753.

 

View/Sign Guestbook