Nancy Hall Rinehart

Nancy Hall Rinehart, author, professional tennis instructor, English language graduate, financial manager, athlete, organizational leader, entrepreneur and nurturing matriarch of a blended family of 34 children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren, passed away on December 4, 2018, in Dallas, Texas. Nancy was 86.

Nancy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1931, the second of two children born to Harry Hall and Katherine Metz. She grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Upper Darby High School. After excelling at field hockey and tennis in high school, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953. There she received the Father’s Trophy, presented annually to the senior who best exemplified the ‘all 'round college student', recognizing athletics, scholarship and service. She was president of the Tri Delta sorority, was elected to Penn’s women’s athletic honor society, Athlon, played field hockey, tennis and badminton for the school and was elected to academic honorary groups, Sphinx and Key. She was also the secretary and vice president of the Women’s Athletic Association at a time when women were becoming more prominent in sports.

After moving to Niles, Michigan, then Dallas, Texas, to raise a family of three, she became a United States Professional Tennis Association instructor, a member of the US Tennis Association and a member of the Southwest Tennis Umpire Association. She worked as a tennis club manager and Dallas Parks and Recreation Department tennis director. During that time, she co-authored two books about tennis league management and was a featured speaker at national tennis conventions.

Nancy’s entrepreneurial efforts led to her pursuing a Certified Financial Planning degree and managing a women’s investment club. Virtually every club or organization she ever joined, she became President or leader to add value.

Nancy will be remembered by her friends and family as intuitive, tough, practical, an amazing listener, a patient English language teacher (“use the right word, not big words”), a skilled leader and an over-achiever. When her life was highlighted in a family video, the title summed up a life where she was one of the first women in an Ivy league college, broke through the glass ceiling professionally and was one of the first females on various boards and in the Texas tennis community. The video was called “Independence Hall” after her maiden name, hometown landmark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and trademark style.

Always young at heart, Nancy's connection and relationship with her family was cherished. When each of her children left for college, her only advice was to “keep a keen sense of humor”. And, whether it was organizing grandchildren cookie bakes and Christmas Eve celebrations, or just talking on the deck at the lake, fond memories and traditions were made and shared with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She believed in thank you notes, quiet time, minimizing drama, routines, serving scrapple, sticky buns, competing for the last piece of bacon at breakfast and the daily consumption of Godiva chocolates. She also enjoyed researching and writing family histories. And, she penned monthly newsletters to family, extended family and friends for 43 years to keep them connected.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Richard Rinehart of Dallas; son, Thomas Kirwan and wife Leslie in Texas; son David Kirwan and wife Patricia in Colorado; daughter, Amy Langston and husband Gary in Alabama; grandchildren Katherine Moorehead and husband Shawn in Missouri, Thomas Kirwan and wife Aimee in Texas, Courtney Neel and husband Derek in Colorado, Emily Kirwan and husband Michael Hill in Colorado, Tyler Kirwan in Colorado, Erin Evans and husband Mitchell in Kentucky and Hunter Langston in Illinois; great grandchildren Molly, Graham and Quinn Moorehead, Greyson and Asher Neel, Ainslee Kirwan, and, Anna Evans. She is also survived by husband Richard Rinehart’s daughters Ann Liberty in Texas and Laura Raymond and husband Matt in California; and, grandchildren Beth Liberty and husband Trevor Avery in California, Rachel Liberty and husband Dustin Fairbrook in Washington and Kristen Liberty in Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Hall, Sr. and Katherine Hall and her brother Harry Hall, Jr. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and friends along with her faithful Labrador Retriever, Harry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society or the DFW Labrador Retriever Rescue Club.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on December 15 at 4 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas at 7405 W. Northwest Highway, in the Chapel. A reception will follow in the same building.