NORTON, NANCY
United States
Born circa 1921 in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania
Died 13 July 2003 (while vacationing) in London
Active 1940s-50s.
[From her Boston Globe obit]
Nancy Norton, 82, professor of history, top tennis player
By Noelle Barbosa, Globe Correspondent, 9/11/2003
A memorial service is planned for Sept. 20 for Nancy Norton, who taught in the history department of Wheaton College for more than three decades and remained active there for five.
The Mansfield resident died in her sleep July 13 while vacationing in London. She was 82, and regularly traveled to keep in touch with alumni and former students.
"She was a great organizer of getting people together," said a former colleague, Frances Shirley. "She made friends across a wide range of people. She had a long list of students and she knew what they were up to."
Dr. Norton was born in Williamsburg, Pa., but grew up in Naugatuck, Conn. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in US history and received a doctorate in economic history from Radcliffe College.
In 1953, Dr. Norton took a job as a history instructor at Wheaton. She was an assistant dean from 1958 to 1965, before becoming a full professor in 1969.
She was honored with a faulty faculty appreciation award in 1972 and, in recognition of her strong teaching skills, held the William and Elsie Prentice Chair from 1979 to 1982.
Dr. Norton was fond of teaching at 8:30 a.m. because she believed that only motivated students who really wanted to be in her classes would show up at such an early hour, said a former colleague, Paul Helmreich.
In 1955, she co-wrote a book on a New England manufacturer, called "Broadlooms and businessmen: a history of the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company."
Dr. Norton was also an accomplished tennis player who took to the court at age 14 when her father introduced her to the sport. She played two tournaments at the US Nationals in Forest Hills, N.Y. During one tournament, Dr. Norton was defeated by 14-year-old Billie Jean King, who would go on to become a tennis legend. She also once played at Wimbledon.
In 1950 and 1953, Dr. Norton was ranked among the top 10 players in New England doubles. She was also ranked among the top 10 singles in 1956 and 1957. Her love of the sport led her to establish the first New England Junior Wightman Cup, a tennis tournament for young people.
In 2001, Dr. Norton was inducted into the New England Woman's Sports Hall of Fame, with Billy Jean King on hand.
Dr. Norton was a baseball fan whose interest was sparked by the Boston Braves and later extended to the Atlanta Braves and the Pawtucket Red Sox. She bought a computer to organize baseball statistics, her sister said. And she visited Florida during spring training season. "She was an unusual mix of intellectual curiosity, and she loved to go to baseball games," said her sister, Pat Hoover of Durham, N.C.
After retiring from teaching in 1987, Dr. Norton continued to be active at Wheaton. She often returned for lectures, events, and sports games, and also audited several classes.
Dr. Norton enjoyed traveling to far-off destinations including China. She was fond of making new friends but never forgot to stay in contact with old pals.
"Nancy absolutely loved people. She never met a person she didn't like," said her sister. "She was one of the youngest 82-year-olds that I know."
In addition to her sister, Dr. Norton leaves many nieces and nephews.
[
The Sun Chronicle account gives more tennis related details]
“ One of her favorite stories was in the first year Billie Jean King played her first U.S. national match, she played against Nancy and beat her in the U.S. nationals,” Helmreich said. “ After the game she said she would appreciate from Nancy any tips to help her game. Nancy told her to work on her backhand.”
Norton competed twice in the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Association National Championship at Forest Hills and also played once at Wimbledon.
Sources:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/obi...tennis_player/
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/nanc...professor-and-tennis-ace-dies/article_fda5750b-c6b9-5b0c-97f8-62a74ed2ec14.html
[Thanks to LKK for this biography]
