Nancy Ann White

Nancy Ann White, age 64, died unexpectedly, yet peacefully, surrounded by love on December 9, 2022. She is survived by her wife of 25 years, Kim Lanzillotta and son, Toby Lanzillotta-White of Brewster, two dogs, Tank and Tori, sister Sandra White and mother Elizabeth White of Waltham, Aunt Pam Person of Maine and several loving cousins. She is predeceased by her cherished father, David Keith White. She leaves a vast circle of friends, neighbors, business colleagues and acquaintances in every genre imaginable - acquired over 64 years; a tribute to her love of life, genuine charm and charisma.

Nancy grew up in Laconia, NH and soon landed in Hanover, MA. She attended Hanover High, where she first met her wife, Kim. Nancy excelled in any sport she undertook – but specifically softball and basketball. Known as ‘White-O’, she was always a crowd pleaser, high scorer and fan favorite. She graduated from Lyndon State College in 1980 with a BS in Park and Recreation Management, and was also the Commencement Speaker. At Lyndon, she played Varsity Softball and excelled as a pitcher and left fielder. She began her professional career in Park and Recreation in 1981 in Fairfield, CT as Director. But in 1983, she got the ‘chance of a lifetime’ as she describes it – to apply as Park and Recreation Director in the town of Needham, MA. Selected out of a field of 219 applicants – she had become the youngest and first woman Director of one of Needham’s largest departments. When she took over at age 25, she had some tough shoes to fill. She turned the town’s skepticism into enthusiasm and optimism and earned the respect of her colleagues and the Needham Community. Casual and confident, her professionalism was balanced by a sharp wit and easygoing manner. As Nancy said ‘to be a Park and Recreation Director, I have to be social worker, public relations manager and marketing expert, but I was born to do this’. Her memorable programs in Needham were the ‘Prune the Fat/Healthy Strides Walking Program’ and the ‘Life. Be in It’ campaign; as well as making ‘Rosemary Pool’ the only place to be on a hot summer day. During her tenure in Needham, she was also serving in MRPA (Massachusetts Park and Recreation Association) as Vice-President (1986-1988) and then as President (1988-1992).

After 13 years in Needham, she made a move to the private sector to take a sales position with a Playground Manufacturers Rep company, where she would stay for 18 years and also become the VP of Sales. In 2013, she decided to venture out on her own with the support of her wife, Kim. On a cold New Years Day, while sitting in a hotel in New York, they developed a business plan and mission statement over Diet Coke and Red Wine. Playground Inspections of NE, LLC was conceived. Overnight, Nancy became a Business Owner and Kim became an Operations Manager. They both had very little doubt Nancy could make this work and even soar. Nancy was the rainmaker, Kim was the back office. Her inspection business thrived – and she was able to develop an ‘app’ for her inspections with the help of an engineering firm on the North Shore. This helped elevate her reporting to a professional level. She was one of the very few third party unbiased playground safety inspectors in New England. Her business then morphed into Playground Consulting and Management.

All along the way, she always had the support and confidence of her Park and Recreation community. In 2013, Nancy was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the MRPA (Mass Park and Recreation Assoc); a great honor in her eyes. This was the wink and the nod from her peers.

On a personal level, Nancy, Kim and Toby moved from Natick where they lived for 18 years to Brewster in 2016. In Brewster, they found a wonderful neighborhood and community. They enjoyed walking the ‘hood’ with their dogs, kayaking on Sheep Pond, biking, walking the beaches, and working in their yard. “Simple pleasures” Nancy would say. Nancy was a problem solver, consensus builder, and a genuine person. She often said what was on her mind and what others could not. Always quick to apologize, admit her mistakes, forgive and forget - kind of person. She loved a crowd, was never intimated by it and rarely ever needed a script at meetings or presentations.

She was a dedicated mother to Toby, the ‘fun’ mother – the one who would watch him play video games or take him on weekend getaways. She would feed him lasagna for breakfast for 3 days straight – but that was okay - it was food after all. Nancy was a devoted, loving wife to Kim – always quick to compliment and to show love. Nancy’s work ethic was strong and fierce always with the best interest of her clients and children in the forefront. She was honest and straightforward, and well respected. She could speak with ease to a Contractor, Principal, Landscape Architect, Principal or Mother of a child with a disability. She was a very good listener. However, Nancy was a terrible speller and never believed in the use of periods or commas. She was not a friend to technology. She would often say - "I have Kim who is tech savvy and an English minor, so why do I need to learn this useless stuff? I know more important stuff - I can keep kids safe on a playground and make sure all kids regardless of any disability will have access to the fun." She was correct. Who needs commas when you have an accessible route of travel to a swing?

Nancy was a unique, charismatic warrior until the end. She wanted to live and fight, but her physical body could not. She was allowed the dignity and peace to let go by the loving, caring staff at Cape Cod Hospital (CCH) ICU. Thank you CCH - Oncology, Mugar 5 and ICU for helping make dark days a little less dark. She was also very well cared for at Liberty Commons/BroadReach Rehabilitation in Chatham. Nancy made friends at each stop along the way during this battle with the cancer beast. ‘Life. Be in it” – Nancy was.

A celebration of Nancy’s amazing life will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster (Rte 6A/Main Street) from 12:00p - 4:00p in 'The Carriage House".

Donations may be made in Nancy’s honor to:

MRPA

PO Box 721

Marlborough, MA 01752

MRPA will be accepting donations on Nancy’s behalf to encourage and train new professionals interested in Parks & Recreations as she has helped and mentored so many young professionals along the way.

Contact information: [email protected]; phone: 508-333-0914