Obituary of Nancy Roberts Herndon

Nancy Roberts Herndon

February 8, 1935 - March 6, 2025

Nancy Roberts Herndon was a grand lady who lived her life much in the same way as she played her beloved jazz piano - with spirit, dexterity, and soul that was tuned in to the very heartbeat that is life! Her energy was infectious, her perseverance and integrity never wavered, and her belief in the goodness of people was reflected in her actions and sincere generosity to all.

Nancy was born Nancy Ross Roberts in Springfield, Illinois to Mark Owen Roberts and Florence Grigsby Roberts. She was the eldest of four children, sister Marcia Herington (deceased), brother Mark Roberts Jr. (deceased) and sister Grig Roberts of Carmel Valley, CA. She received her Associates Degree from Bennett Junior College, Millbrook, NY, and attended Northwestern for a year.

Her studies focused on music, specifically the piano, and her participation in the woman's singing group, the Novelettes, at Bennett formed the groundwork for her creative pursuit of composing music and writing accompanying lyrics so witty and clever, fun and funny, that those who heard her play and sing could not help but be filled with good cheer.

Nancy married Noah Twist Herndon, also of Springfield, Illinois, December 29, 1956. They moved to Boston that same year when Noah began his studies at The Harvard Business School. After graduation, Noah was hired on by Brown Brothers Harriman in their Boston office. At that same time Nancy and Noah settled into their first home in Weston, MA. There they raised their three children, Noah Herndon Jr. (deceased), Mark Herndon and Calista Herndon.

Family was first and foremost to Nancy and Noah and was firmly rooted in love, guidance, tradition and hard work. When Noah Jr. struggled in grammar school due to his dyslexia Nancy and Noah helped start the Carroll School in Lincoln, MA which has become one of the most important educational institutions for elementary, middle and upper school students diagnosed with specific learning

As Noah excelled in his career, eventually becoming the managing partner at Brown Brothers Harriman, Boston, Nancy immersed herself in her own endeavors in and about Boston. She became a member of The Junior League of Boston and The Vincent Club.

She composed and sang songs in most of The Vincent Club follies, which was a fundraiser for The Vincent Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed the fellowship and social engagement found at numerous clubs and over the course of her life became a member of The Chilton Club, The Union Club, The Harvard Club, The Country Club, The National Society of The Colonial Dames, and The Higginson Society that is associated with The Boston Symphony Orchestra.

In 1974 Nancy and Noah purchased a summer home in Duxbury, MA. This seaside town became very dear to the family, especially so when Noah Jr. became a first generation cranberry farmer in Kingston, MA. The whole family took great pride in this operation and harvest time at the Herndon cranberry bogs became a celebration known and enjoyed by many from the community. In Duxbury their generosity was widespread and they supported many local institutions and programs including The Duxbury Music Festival and The Duxbury Free Library. As a member of The First Parish Church, Nancy was a major donor for the restoration and refurbishment of the 1853 organ. Nancy was very committed to supporting Plimoth Patuxet Museums and Mayflower Il believing in the importance of American history and the role it plays for children, adults and for generations to come.

Nancy loved a party and she and Noah entertained often. She was a welcoming hostess to many a varied guest at their homes in Weston and Duxbury, and later in life in Chestnut Hill and Boston. She studied art, architecture and interior design in addition to her musical pursuits, and traveled extensively thoroughly enjoying the immersion in unique cultures and environments and always with the desire to expand her knowledge

Nancy and Noah were a team and the " Light of each other's life". Upon Noah's passing in 1999, Nancy carried on with grace, courage and optimism. Just like her beloved jazz piano music she improvised and reinvented herself saying" one of the things I like about Jazz is I don't know what's going to happen next". And she never missed that beat throughout the course of her 90 years of life!

Nancy is survived by her son Mark Herndon, her daughter Calista Herndon and her fiancé Scott Billings, and her sister Grig Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Carroll School, 45 Waltham Rd., Wayland, MA 01778, carrollschool.org/give, for the Herndon Family Scholorship Fund or to Plimoth Patuxet Museums, PO Box 1620, Plymouth, MA 02360, www.plimoth.org, in memory of Nancy R. Herndon.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Nancy's life will be held at The First Parish Church of Duxbury on Saturday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow.