Natasha Maynard Thomas

Natasha Maynard Thomas, 46, peacefully passed away on March 12, 2016 at the Regional Hospice and Home Care in Danbury, Connecticut with her loving husband, Michael, by her side. Affectionately known as, “Schatzi” by her family and friends, she was a force of nature who gave over 100% to all of her endeavors.

Born the only child of Joseph A. Maynard IV and Kathleen Shearer (who preceded her in death) in Heidelberg, Germany, her family returned to New York when Schatzi was ten months old and she spent her early life in Durham, North Carolina, White Plains, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut. An outstanding honor student throughout her life, she attended Eastview Elementary School in White Plains, Springdale Elementary, Dolan Middle School, and Stamford High School, graduating from Stamford’s Westhill High School in 1987. Schatzi was the 42nd recipient of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, graduating as an Economics major from Harvard University Magna Cum Laude and from Harvard Law School. Natasha began her law career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. Her extensive experience in corporate, employment law and administration, included employment at Mead Westvaco, Goldman, Sachs & Co., UBS Warburg, and Jackson Lewis, LLP. Lastly, due to the untimely death of her mother, Schatzi embarked upon a career in healthcare. She took prerequisite courses at Norwalk Community College, and while there, helped revise their affirmative action policies.

Natasha wanted to help people more personally and discovered healthcare was her true calling. “Healthcare is a Right not a Privilege,” became her mantra. Natasha went on to earn the following at Yale University School of Nursing: a Master’s of Science in Gerontological Nursing in 2010 and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing in 2012. She earned part of the first and all of the second designation while battling cancer as she embarked upon her journey to become a psychiatric and geriatric nurse practitioner. She merged her legal background of representing healthcare providers with her interest in healthcare policy. Although her specialty was in geriatrics, her passion expanded to caregiving support and other end-of-life family management issues. Natasha even found time to write a chapter in a published nursing college textbook on legal and ethical issues in psychiatric nursing. Her last position before retiring due to illness was serving as a Behavioral Specialist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Schatzi was a fireball who loved life! She and her husband, Michael, enjoyed several cruises throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, the Mediterranean, and Egypt. She mentioned that visiting the Pyramids in Giza was one of the highlights of her life. Other hobbies included exercise cycling, in-line skating, swimming (a former lifeguard), leisure cycling, crocheting, knitting, salsa dancing, and spending time with family and friends.

Our beloved Schatzi is survived by her husband of nearly 14 years, Michael Thomas, Jr., Esq.; father, Joseph Maynard IV (Elaine); grandmother, Phyllis Shearer; aunts, Elizabeth Ann Maynard (Barry) and Susan Maynard; uncle, John Shearer (Marianne); cousins, Alison, William, Iman, Naeemah, and Shomari; in-laws, Michael Thomas, Sr. (Andrea); sisters-in-law, Dana Thomas and Shelley Thomas-Harts (Frank); stepfather Charles Shepherd (Joan), stepsisters Laura Shepherd Brooks and Kelly Shepherd, and a host of loving relatives and friends. In addition, she is survived by her energetic chocolate Cocker Spaniel, “Vegas”.

In lieu of flowers, Natasha’s family requests that contributions be made in memory of Natasha “Schatzi” Maynard Thomas to the Regional Hospice and Home Care in Danbury where she received compassionate care. Please designate your donation to the ‘Special Patient Fund Hospice’ at http://regionalhospicect.org/about/donate/ (203) 702-7417 or by mail to:

Regional Hospice and Home Care

30 Milestone Road

Danbury, CT 06810