Nancy (Burnholz) Rawson
Nancy (Burnholz) Rawson, voracious reader, lifelong learner and world traveler, died peacefully in her sleep at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA on Sunday, April 19. The daughter of Ruth and Henry Burnholz, Nancy was born in 1927 in New York City, and grew up on Central Park West, graduating from Ethical Culture Fieldston School. She left Manhattan to attend Swarthmore College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1948. It was at Swarthmore that she met her future husband, Ed Rawson, when he was assigned to tutor her in physics. Nancy and Ed married shortly after graduation, and settled eventually in Lincoln, MA. Nancy lived in Lincoln for almost 50 years before moving to Waltham, and then to Cambridge. She worked as a computer programmer for Lincoln Labs until the late 1960s, when her love of books led her to pursue a library science degree at Simmons College. After graduating with her masters degree in 1968, she spent the majority of her career at the Wellesley Free Library in Wellesley, MA, where she worked as a reference librarian until her retirement in 1996.
Nancy’s lifelong passion for reading and books followed her into retirement, when, after participating in a program that enabled senior citizens to audit courses at Brandeis University, she helped to found the Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning institute (BOLLI). In addition to serving as a member and Chair of the BOLLI Council, she taught courses at BOLLI well into her 80s. Her popular classes focused on mystery novels, with an emphasis on the historical mysteries that were her special interest.
Nancy’s interests extended beyond reading to encompass folk dancing and travel, both of which were passions she shared with her husband and continued to pursue after his death in 1986. The couple’s children introduced them to Scottish country dancing in the late 1960s, and the Boston branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, in which Nancy and Ed took on leadership roles, became a center of their social life and the source of many treasured friendships. Nancy’s travels with her husband and on her own took her around the globe, to destinations including Australia, Russia, Alaska, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom, with boat trips down the Danube and through the Panama Canal. Nancy’s wide-ranging interests and activities, as well as her great delight in the doings of her children and grandchildren, were reflected in the lively and detailed Christmas letters she sent each year to her extended network of family and friends.
Nancy is survived by her three children: Tom Rawson (Elena Stone) of Cambridge, MA, Dan Rawson (Joan) of Newtown, CT, and Peg Shealy (Malcolm) of Beaverdam, VA; her eight beloved grandchildren: Isabel and Maribel Rawson-Stone; Sean, Megan, and Diana Rawson; Rebecca Shealy Houghton, Anna Shealy and Jacob Shealy; her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Barry Galton of Wayne, NJ; and five nieces and nephews. To receive information about a memorial to be held at a later date, please email rawson.6348@gmail.com. Charitable donations in Nancy’s memory may be sent to the Heifer Project (1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202, www.heifer.org) or Rosie’s Place (889 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118, www.rosiesplace.org).
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To ANN and Barry, Tom, Peg, Dan and to both Nancy’s close and extended family, I offer my deepest condolences. Whenever I thought of my cousin Nancy, I thought SMART, CURIOUS, and INTELLECTUAL.She will be missed greatly . EX LIBRIS.
jamie adler
Peg
I want you to know I am thinking of you and your family. Although, I did not have the pleasure of knowing your Mom, I heard you speak of her many times. What an exciting life she lead and I know she still lives in your heart.
Carolyn Mills
So sorry for your loss.
Kathy and Pete Ortolani
Ann and Barry
So sorry to hear about the loss of your sister.
She sounds so amazing, and must have had a wonderful life.. Ken and I are thinking about you and Barry.
Ken and Linda
Our condolences. Sorry to hear it.
Stu and Barb
I will always remember Nancy as young – because she was young at heart. She hung around with young people , had a swift and forwarding thinking mind and was active- always doing and learning things.
I know the last few years were tuff, but she was a great, loving and caring person. Ron and I will miss her.
I’m so saddened by this news. Your mother was a great lady who was an eternal teacher with a curious mind and a feeling that she gave me that she supported my independent nature. Really enjoyed her even the short times we were together. Charming intelligent woman. Great loss. My prayers will be with your family during your grief. Love, Nanette
I will always remember Nancy as young – because she was young at heart. She hung around with young people , had a swift and forwarding thinking mind and was active- always doing and learning things.
I know the last few years were tuff, but she was a great, loving and caring person. Ron and I will miss her.
The first course I took at BOLLI was Nancy’s mystery course, and of course it was wonderful. She was so knowledgeable and brought to the class her love of the subject. My sympathies to you all.
Peg, I remember with delight your stories about your mom. I am sorry for your loss and hope you and the family will be able to have the memorial she deserves soon.
Dance & Quilting buddy, Debbie
I knew Nancy because of my participation in BOLLI. She was a wonderful teacher, an enthusiastic learner and an active member serving on so many different committees. She will be missed. My condolences to you and your family.
I was a Nancy Rawson “groupie”, taking many of her mysteries courses at BOLLI. I resonated to her smile and her good energy. I’m sad we’ve lost her. My sincere condolences to all who loved her.
I was a Nancy Rawson “groupie”, taking many of her mysteries courses at BOLLI. I resonated to her smile and her good energy. I’m sad we’ve lost her. My sincere condolences to all who loved her.
Bonnie Alpert
I share your sorrow in the loss of my dear cousin Nancy and your dear Mom. I knew Nancy all my life and she was important to me. We used to speak on the phone but that became more difficult in the past two years. I can’t help but feel that she is more comfortable now than she was these past two years which were real hard on her. I offer Tom, Peg, Dan and Ann my deepest sympathies.
Condolences to the family of Nancy Rawson. Her love of books and libraries was vibrant during her long term on the board of directors of the Friends of the Waltham Public Library.