Nancy
Stead, 83, of Wake Robin, Shelburne / Stowe, Vt., left us on June 21,
2024, leaving behind a legacy of love, adventure and advocacy.
Born
on September 7, 1940, to Gilbert and Betty Wolfe in Schenectady,
N.Y., Nancy was destined for greatness from the start. After
graduating from Concord Academy, she earned a history of art degree
from Smith College in 1962. She then embarked on her first job at
Polaroid in Boston, where she was one of only three employees who
knew the entire formula for Polaroid’s color film.
On
a fateful errand to Stowe, Nancy met Dick Carlson, decided to forego
Polaroid’s offer to pay for a PhD, married Dick and had two
wonderful children, Carl (Skip) Carlson and Julia Carlson Aiken. She
thrived on hosting family gatherings, teaching her children to ski
and gathering friends for a float on her pond or cocktails on the
patio.
Nancy
embraced life in Stowe. She was an active member of the Stowe
Planning Commission and volunteered for various organizations,
including Planned Parenthood. As one of the founders of Carlson Real
Estate, Nancy welcomed and supported new members of the real estate
community and generously shared her knowledge and expertise over a
30-year career. Later, she represented the Mt. Mansfield Company
during their expansion, embodying professionalism in every aspect of
her business. From the earliest Ski Bum races in Stowe, her team,
SLIDE, (Stowe Ladies International Downhill Experts, later shortened
to SLID) was the catalyst for many of Nancy’s adventures with
lifelong friends. The group became truly international, sailing for a
week in the Grenadines and beta testing a new zip line in St. Lucia.
Nancy’s negotiating skills earned them a free ride in exchange for
an article!
In
the 1990s, Nancy’s life took another exciting turn when she met her
second husband, Jim Stead, in Stowe. Jim left for Vanuatu and the
Peace Corps in 1991. Missing Nancy, he proposed via FAX (due to the
scarcity of phones), and she joined him shortly thereafter. They were
married in May 1992 by the Reverend Hajuju on the island of Erakor,
surrounded by family. While Jim worked for the Peace Corps and USAID,
Nancy pursued a degree in Melanesian culture, managed a project in
small business development and passionately advocated for women’s
rights.
Nancy
and Jim returned to Stowe in 1995, where they built a new house. They
continued to travel the world, and she particularly enjoyed her
summers playing tennis at the Stowe Tennis Club, swimming wherever
she found a cool body of water, and kayaking and cruising on Lake
Champlain in their Albin 27 trawler.
Nancy
was brilliant, passionate and adventurous and wrote travel profiles
for the Stowe
Reporter,
Sail
Magazine and the travel sections of numerous national newspapers. The
townspeople enjoyed her “gossip” column, which she revived from
earlier years when it was known as “Over the Fence.” Nancy’s
version was much more colorful, especially when she scolded those who
had Christmas wreaths still hanging in March. As she stated: “You
know who you are.” Everyone quickly removed their wreaths.
Nancy
moved to Wake Robin with Jim in 2018, where she continued her passion
for travel, writing and her many athletic endeavors. Her heart never
left Stowe, and she visited often.
Nancy
was predeceased by her son, Carl (Skip); her sister, Caroline
Kostanecki; her brother-in-law, Bruce Biddle; and her parents, Betty
and Gilbert Wolfe. She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter,
Julia, and her husband, Andy Aiken, and their daughter, Abby; her
grandson, Franklin Jin; her granddaughter, Hanna Carlson; her sister,
Betsy Biddle; and Jim’s daughters: Louisa Zai-Ravaris and her
husband, Paul Ravaris, and Katy and her husband, Jason Watkins; and
many nieces and nephews.
The
Stead family sends a special thank you to the caring staff on the
Juniper wing of Wake Robin, Bayada Hospice and dear family and
friends.
A
celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on July 11, from 2-4 p.m.,
at the Green Mountain Inn. All are welcome to come and share their
stories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to
Planned Parenthood or Friends of Green River Reservoir.
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2024.