Nancy Clapp

Nancy Louise (Monbleau) Clapp died at her home in Harwich Port on October 11, 2022, after a long series of illnesses. She was 86. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Carl L. Clapp, DMD. Nancy was born in Bristol, Connecticut, on July 22, 1936, the third child and first daughter of The Reverend Charles Henry and Lola Genieve (Hamilton) Monbleau.

She grew up in Malden, and moved with the family to Cape Cod in 1955, when her father was called to the pulpit at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Harwich Port. While attending Bridgewater State Teachers College, she spent summers waitressing at the former “Lincoln Lodge” and “New York Restaurant”—later “Sword and Shield”— both in Harwich Port.

She earned a B.S. in Education from Bridgewater in 1958, and married Carl Clapp the weekend after graduating. They lived in Weymouth, while Carl attended Tufts Dental School and Nancy taught school in Quincy.

The couple moved to Harwich Port in 1962, and bought the South Street property that had belonged to Carl’s parents, Dorris and Robert Clapp. He began his dental practice in what had been his mother’s beauty salon, and Nancy took on the running of Clapp’s Guest House that had opened in 1937.

Throughout her life, Nancy remained involved with family, church and education. She was an active member of Pilgrim Church—as Sunday School teacher, Youth Fellowship advisor and longtime choir member. She also was a Cub Scout den mother in Quincy, Weymouth, Hyannis and Harwich.

She was on the board of Cape Cod Collaborative, Southeast District of the Regional Advisory Committee to the State Board of Education. Closer to home, she was a member of the Harwich School Committee for 12 years, nine of those as Chairman. She also was a member of The Chatham Music Club and the Captain Joshua Gray- Jonathan Hatch Chapter of the DAR.

Avid world travelers, Nancy and Carl took their children and their families—14 in all—on a wonderful trip to Tanzania to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2008.

Nancy’s family will always remember her beautiful alto singing voice and ability to put together a good show, her sharp wit and keen sense of humor, her appreciation for a challenging crossword puzzle or card game, her passion for politics, horses, rug hooking and all things crafty, her deep love and affection for her family, friends and those who cared for her daily in recent years, and perhaps most of all, her remarkable good cheer, strength and resiliency.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents and brothers, David and Ron. In addition to her husband, she leaves four children: Pamela (Greg) Hinkle, of Plymouth, Robert (Melissa) Clapp, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Jennifer (David) Jones, of Chicopee and Becky (Rob) Halverson, of Leadville, Colorado; a sister, Marcia J. Monbleau, of Harwich Port; and five grandsons—Andrew and Brian Crafts, Christopher and Eric Clapp, and Ian Hinkle.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 3 PM at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Harwich Port. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the VNA of Cape Cod Hospice and Palliative Care or to an organization that is meaningful to you.