Smiles we remember: Nancy Anthony
Former employee Nancy Anthony, 78, passed away Jan. 2, 2025.
Nancy joined the dental school in 1991 as an administrative associate in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Before her tenure at the dental school, she worked as a substitute teacher and administrative assistant for the Forney Independent School District. She retired from the dental school after 28 years of dedicated service.
During her time at the college, Nancy made a lasting impact on her colleagues and students.
Dr. Lynne Opperman, professor in biomedical sciences, shared her thoughts:
“Nancy was a longtime administrative assistant in the biomedical sciences department,” she said. “She served under at least four department heads — Drs. Carlson, D’Spuza, Dechow and myself — until her retirement. She was best known as the departmental ‘den mother’ who took care of all the faculty, staff and students she came in contact with. She will be fondly remembered for ensuring birthdays were celebrated (with cake and a card), and she always had a kind word when people were going through a rough patch.
“Nancy was a jack-of-all-trades, dealing with graduate student applications, onboarding, course registrations, travel reimbursements for faculty and exit interviews,” Opperman continued. “Nancy’s Rolodex was indeed the old-fashioned desktop original, with names and contact information of just about everyone who spent time in BMS handwritten onto cards, often dog-eared, taped and yellowed with age, but always up-to-date.”
Dr. Bruno Ruest, interim department head of biomedical sciences, also reflected on her legacy:
“Nancy was not just an administrative assistant. She was for many of us, and particularly for the students, a second mother. She was always ready to help, the one remembering birthdays, or able to raise somebody’s mood. She occasionally commuted with me, and I sure miss those conversations while riding. She has been greatly missed since she retired in 2019.”
Nancy’s kindness, dedication and warmth will always be remembered.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jim; sons Jay Anthony and wife Elizabeth of Colleyville, Gary Anthony and wife Kori of Godley and Scott Anthony and wife Sarah of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and four grandchildren.
Funeral for Nancy was Jan. 25 at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Home in Grapevine.