Nancy May Pool

Nancy May Pool, age 51, passed away peacefully at home in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 7, 2011. Nancy was born in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 1960, to Dr. Arthur and Eileen Schwartz. She was the last of five children.

The Schwartz family moved to Phoenix in 1962 when Arthur accepted a position to assist in opening the new Barrow Neurological Institute, where he worked for more than 40 years as a neuro-psychologist. Nancy and her family lived in north central Phoenix during her childhood where she attended Royal Palm Elementary School. She also attended Sunnyslope High School, where she excelled in the dive team, tennis and gymnastics.

Nancy initially attended Arizona State University and then transferred to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in art management. While at NAU, she served as the president of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity.

During her senior year at NAU, Nancy met Bill (also in his senior year at NAU) when he delivered a truckload of firewood to her on a cold winter night. They were married in her parents’ Phoenix backyard in 1985 while Nancy was working at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

In 1989, Nancy and Bill had their first child, Aaron, followed by Laurie Beth (1990), Rachel (1993) and Elizabeth (1995). Rather than working during these years, Nancy was a stay-at-home mom. Nancy was very active in her children's schools and often volunteered in the nurse's office or the kindergarten classes. In recent years, she played violin with the Phoenix College Community Orchestra.

In 2008, Nancy was diagnosed with brain cancer and for the next three years underwent several surgeries and treatments. Through it all, she maintained her sense of humor and beautiful smile. Nancy's legacy is her children who are all becoming very successful in their endeavors.