Nancy Jane Ramey Lethcoe, 1940-2022
Nancy Jane Ramey Lethcoe, 81, died the evening of March 30, 2022 from heart failure at the Providence Hospital, Valdez, Alaska.
A memorial service will be held on Prince William Sound in the summer.
Nancy was born June 29, 1940, in Seattle, Washington to Randall Stoner Ramey and Louise Boulware Ramey. She grew up, with her two younger sisters, on Mercer Island. Swimming and swimming lessons, canoeing, and family camping trips filled summer days.
Nancy’s enthusiasm and ability caught the eye of a local swimming coach and before long she was competing in swim meets around the state and on the West Coast. In 1956, Nancy won a silver medal in the summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and in 1958 set world records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly races. The Hungarian Revolution (1956) coincided with the Olympics, and when Nancy returned, she brought Susie Ordogh, a Hungarian swimmer back with her.
Nancy graduated from Mercer Island High School as a member of the first graduating class (1958), and the University of Washington (1963) with a B.S. in Philosophy. Nancy married James R. Lethcoe in 1962 and the two of them moved to Wisconsin for graduate degrees.
Nancy received her Ph.D. in Far East Religions in 1967. Shortly thereafter they moved to Anchorage, Alaska where Nancy was a lecturer at the Alaska Methodist University and also taught at Anchorage Community College and at the University of Alaska’s South Central Regional Center. In 1972 Nancy began an Assistant Professorship at Stanford University in Buddha studies. However, the draw of Alaska soon brought Nancy and her family back to Prince William Sound.
Jim and Nancy anticipated the boom in ecotourism in Prince William Sound and developed Alaska Wilderness Sailing Safaris offering sailing charters out of the Whittier and later Valdez harbors. Their experience on the Sound led to the development of the quintessential guide to the waters of PWS: “Cruising Guide to Prince William Sound,” now in its 5th edition. In addition to the Cruising Guide, Nancy and Jim wrote “A History of Prince William Sound” and “Valdez Gold Rush Trails.” Nancy wrote “Observer’s Guide to the Glaciers of Prince William Sound.”
For many years Nancy, Jim, and their daughter Athena lived aboard their sailboat in Valdez Harbor where they continued sailing charters in the summer and writing and volunteering in Valdez in the winter. Nancy was an activist and championed many ecological issues and actions.
Her husband, James R Lethcoe and daughters, Athena Ann Lethcoe and Sita Marie Lethcoe, preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sisters, Rae Ellen Ramey Syverson of Gibbon, NE, Elizabeth Louise Ramey Mates of Monroe, WA, and her “honorary” sister, Susie Ordogh Zimsen.
Remembrances may be sent to the Valdez Museum and Historical Archives, P.O. Box 8, Valdez 99686; or the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, 2499 Melru Lane, Escondido, CA 92026. Final arrangements are being made through Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla, Alaska.
