Nancy L. Rieser

Nancy Louise Rieser, of West Kingston, Rhode Island, passed away on February 20, 2021 following a period of declining health. Nancy was the daughter of the late Marie and Mark Rieser of Narragansett, RI. She is survived by her life partner, Paola Mangiacapra, her uncle, Charles Grim of Lititz, Pennsylvania, caring and generous cousins from both sides of Nancy’s family, and an entire universe of people who loved her. She was born in 1940 in Leesport, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Wilson High School in Pennsylvania. Then she attended the University of Rhode Island and graduated with a B.S. in Biology in 1962. Nancy began her career in Pharmacology at Pfizer in Groton, Connecticut and then moved to Hoffmann-La Roche in New Jersey. She then returned to Rhode Island where she obtained a M.S. in Computer Science at the University of Rhode Island. This prepared her for a position in URI’s Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Research, where she worked as a Research Associate/Programmer Analyst from 1971 until her retirement in 1999. Nancy’s wanderlust led her to have many adventures both in the U.S. and worldwide. She traveled extensively with Paola. Some of her favorite places were Iceland, New Zealand, the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. She also enjoyed traveling with the Wild Women - a close knit group of high school friends who maintained a unique friendship over the years. She was a very spiritual person, which was reflected in a multitude of ways. Her middle name was “Service to Others” and her boundless energy was a benefit to all. As a very active member of Westminster Unitarian Church, she took on many leadership roles including serving on the Board, re-establishing the Caring Circle, and being a faithful member of the Women of Westminster. One of her most significant initiatives at WUC was creating the Sharing Locker in 2010, a community outreach program which on a monthly basis continues to assist hundreds of people who are in need of non-food products or pet food. She was also a volunteer at HopeHealth Hospice and provided comfort to many people who were on the last part of their journey, and bereavement support to the families. She was passionate about political activism and wrote thousands of letters and postcards urging people to vote in the 2020 election. Nancy truly embodied the quote - “Be the Change that you wish to see in the world”. As a lover of nature and the outdoors, she enjoyed hiking, skiing, cycling, kayaking, and gardening. In her mid 50’s, she fulfilled her goal of hiking all of the 4,000+ foot mountains of New Hampshire. She never let gender stereotypes stand in her way, and throughout her life was a role model and mentor to younger women who didn’t realize that they too could actively enjoy the outdoors. She had a passion to continuously learn and improve, educating herself on social justice issues, taking courses through Ollie, and always developing new card-making skills. Her beautiful and unique handcrafted greeting cards were enjoyed by all who received them. Nancy had a rare and genuine concern for people, which was evidenced by always asking others questions and putting the focus on them, rather than talking about herself. She had a remarkably open heart and has touched many lives in profound and lasting ways. Her loving presence is a loss to the world at a time when selflessness is so needed. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Nancy may be given to HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI (www.hopehealthco.org/ways-to-give/donatenow or by phone to the Philanthropy department 401-415-4206) or by check to Westminster Unitarian Church (with a designation for the Sharing Locker in the memo line), 119 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich, RI 02818.