Oakland, CA - Nancy Beach, 83, died on July 10 at her home in Oakland, CA. She was a cherished and devoted family member and friend, was deeply involved in civic life, and loved art, literature, movies, and theater.

Nancy was born August 30, 1942, to Betty and Steed Hockensmith in Johnstown, PA. She attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where she earned a BA in English and served as President of her sorority. She completed a master's degree in education at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

Nancy worked as an English teacher at Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, CT, where she met fellow English teacher Richard Beach. She married Richard on April 19, 1969, and, after a stint in Champaign, IL, they settled in Minneapolis, MN.

They have one child, Ben Beach, born in 1974, who lives in Berkeley, CA, and is married to Laura Faer.

Nancy enjoyed a long and productive career in human resources with Minnesota companies including Control Data, Northwest Airlines (now Delta Air Lines), and First Bank (now U.S. Bank), as well as in her own consultancy.

From her earliest days in Minnesota, she assumed an active role in political life, working with the League of Women Voters and FairVote MN, serving as a Democratic precinct captain, and championing progressive candidates, including her friends, Sen. Jane Ranum and Rep. Jean Wagenius.

An avid reader, she belonged to multiple women's book clubs. She also served as a docent at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, regularly attended plays at Twin Cities theaters, and enjoyed a weekly movie night with Richard over many years. She and Richard took trips to Europe and Asia.

Nancy maintained close relationships with many friends and family members, including through a group that exercised together at the Minneapolis YWCA and met for coffee. She was a loving and nurturing parent to Ben throughout his life and a grandmother (known as "Nanna") to granddaughter Elia Faer-Beach.

In 2022, Nancy and Richard moved to Oakland, CA, to be closer to Ben, Laura, and Elia.

Donations may be made in Nancy's honor to Fair Vote Minnesota, the League of Women Voters, or the Walker Art Center.