Nan Jane Bayersdorfer (nee Loucks), beloved wife, devoted mother, cherished grandmother, loyal friend, and esteemed business owner, departed her earthly home at Well-Spring Retirement Community in Greensboro, NC, after a long, brave battle with Alzheimer’s disease to embark on her next great adventure. She will be remembered as a kind, smart and joyful wife, mother, grandmother (lovingly known as Nani/Nana), step-sister, aunt, cousin and friend who created so many moments of joy and humor for the people she loved.
She is survived by her husband, John, their children, Erik (Abbi; Belleair, FL) and Lauren (Brian Winstead; Greensboro, NC), and four grandchildren, Tegan (Bayersdorfer) and Rachel, Jacob, and Nathan (Winstead). She is also survived by her step-brother Glenn Morris, and her extended Mowerson-Bayersdorfer family.
Nan was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, on May 18, 1944 to Glenn and Ina Mowerson Loucks. Her father, an Army Air Corps P51 fighter pilot, was killed in September 1944 during a WWII mission over Germany. Nan grew up in Wyckoff, NJ, with her mother, her aunt Catherine Mowerson and her grandparents, Arch and Anna Mowerson. During her childhood, she spent summers at By-the-Way Guest House, a B&B in Harwich Port, Cape Cod, MA, owned and run by her mother and aunt, where she helped serve breakfast to the guests and spent hours enjoying the beach and collecting shells. She eventually inherited the house and shared it with family and friends for many years. The annual Fourth of July party hosted by Aunt Catty and Nan was renowned for its lobster and laughter.
Nan attended Ramapo Regional High School in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and graduated magna cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ, where she majored in history and political science. She also attended Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix, AZ. She married John Bayersdorfer in May 1969, and the couple spent their early married years in South Hackensack, NJ, and in Fullerton and Santa Monica, CA.
In 1973 Nan and John moved to Montclair, NJ, where they raised their two children. There, Nan served as a Junior League member/officer and fundraising director for the Arts of Essex County and helped establish a day care for low-income families in Newark, NJ. She also was office manager for the now-renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz.
Nan brought commitment, energy, and enthusiasm to all her endeavors. In 1990, when the family moved to Greensboro, NC, Nan joined the Junior League Sustainers. She was a board member for her church and a fundraiser for The Family Life Council, Bel Canto, and the Greensboro Symphony. She also served as president of the Greensboro College Circle of Pride, a founding member of the Triad Youth Lacrosse Association, and an officer of several book and gardening clubs. Over the years, she earned the reputation as a consummate hostess and event organizer.
In 1998, her love of travel led her to open her own travel company, Nanco Travel Services LLC. She specialized in planning and leading custom trips all over the world, crafting unique itineraries and adventures for family, countless friends and clients. A true “memory maker,” she helped them to appreciate not just the sights but the insights one gains from visiting other countries and experiencing their cultures.
Nan was a remarkable woman with a vibrant spirit and zest for life, insatiable curiosity, and love for learning, researching and adventure. She was an avid sailor, skier and tennis player, and she and John spent many hours coaching and enjoying their children’s sports activities in ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse as well as their grandchildren’s many activities in drama/dance and scouts.
The family wishes to thank the dedicated Health Care staff of the Well-Spring Retirement Community and The AuthoraCare Collective for their professional, kind and compassionate support during the recent years.
A Celebration of Life Service for Nan will be held in the theatre at Well-Spring Retirement Community, 4100 Well Spring Dr., Greensboro 27410, on March 22, 2024, at 2:00 pm. The service will be followed by a reception in the special occasions room. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com. Contributions in Nan’s memory may be made to the Well-Spring Retirement Community Benevolent Fund or a charity of your choice.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5