Nancy L. Conover – known as Nance to her friends – packed a great deal of accomplishment, singing, community development work, biking, advocacy, and love for her son Jonathan into a life that was both intrepid and courageous. Across many alliances and communities, she was unwavering as a change-maker for economic and social justice. Nance died at her home in Oakland, California on June 11, 2019 due to diabetes-related complications. She was 61.
Even those who knew her well express surprise upon discovering the true breadth of her activism and varied interests – for she was modest and never sought acclaim. Her life’s calling was in living the community action she worked for — from working with farmworkers and sharecroppers in Salinas Valley to developing economic empowerment programs in Oakland to name just two.
“Nance was a force of nature,” said Jane Graf, President and CEO of Mercy Housing where Nance worked as a community developer for the past 18 years. “She had a deep sense of the mission that extended far beyond the affordable housing that we build.”
Nance built a career in economic development and worked indefatigably to attract new businesses and diversify the local retail mix for immigrants and underserved communities. Over a 30-year span, she became an expert at creating dynamic relationships with the local community. Nance was committed to helping small retailers become successful and was integral in their path to growth and sustainability.
“I had just lost my lease in the dot-com era when I met Nancy at a sandwich shop in the Mission,” said Hani Hakim owner of Chico’s Pizza in San Francisco. “Nancy helped me find a new location and now I have two. If we ever had a problem, we called Nancy and she fixed it. This is such a loss to our community.”
Prior to joining Mercy Housing, Nance worked with social justice nonprofits including the Local Initiative Support Corporation, Santa Cruz Community Housing Corporation, El Pajaro Community Development Corporation and Greenpeace, USA. In the late 1980s, she spent two years as Program Director for TECNICA Nicaragua providing technical and material aid for development efforts, and went on to develop start up food manufacturing businesses with Asian Immigrant Women Advocates in Oakland. She also found time to serve on numerous nonprofit boards including the Horizons Foundation and Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment and was a founder of the Northern California Community Loan Fund which continues to thrive today. She was an engaged member of the Lake Merritt United Methodist Church.
Nancy Louise Conover was born on March 5, 1958 in Wilmington, Delaware to Charles Ryle Conover and Elinor Jones Conover and graduated from Brandywine High School in 1976. The family moved to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1978. While in college, she spent a semester studying religion in Mysore, India where she developed a lifelong love of travel.
She graduated from the University of Virginia Phi Beta Kappa in 1980 and while she was accepted at both U.C. Berkeley and Stanford Law Schools, she decided not to pursue the study of law and opted instead to earn a Masters in City Planning from the University of California Berkeley in 1985.
Nance was an active member of the La Peña Community Chorus with whom she traveled widely singing for peace and social justice in Latin America and around the world.
Her most important role, however, was that of mother. Nance’s greatest joy was helping to raise her son Jonathan Conover, who was her pride and joy. Nothing gave Nance more pleasure than to be on an adventure with Jonathan from biking in New Mexico to skiing at Lake Tahoe or late-night bowling in Oakland. His recent graduation from high school was her proudest moment.
Always up for an adventure, Nance managed to pack 30 hours of activities into a 24 hour day. She loved traveling, hiking, camping, games, music, and the great outdoors. She was a dear friend and her compassion and love of life will be greatly missed.
A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Nance’s passion for inclusiveness encompassed all. In addition to her son Jonathan and a wide circle of friends, Nance is survived by two brothers Andrew and Robert Conover, her sister Beverly Davis, sister-in-law Deanna Conover, nieces Morgan Conover, Sydney Conover and Brooke Pollard and grandnieces Avery Pollard and Kinsley McBride. She is also survived by her former partner and Jonathan’s co-parent, Tamara Teichgraeber.
In memoriam, Nance’s family and friends invite any small or large action in the name of social justice. Such action could include contributions to support causes dear to Nance such as the rights of refugees and immigrants, foster youth programs, or community arts centers.
A Celebration of Nance’s amazing life will be held on Saturday, August 3rd at 1pm at Mercy Housing’s Mission Creek Senior Community, 225 Berry Street, San Francisco.
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