- Date Of Death: July 7, 2022
- State: Massachusetts
Colby, Nancy, passed peacefully on July 7, 2022, in Danvers, MA. Born in Lowell, MA. Nancy was raised in Central Maine and was a resident of Lynnfield and Medford, MA where she was co-principal of Colby Properties Residential Real Estate.
Nancy spent an idyllic childhood in Lewiston, ME with her parents, Donald and Ora Hunnewell (predeceased) and her sister, Shirley Scott (predeceased) with whom she maintained a lifelong close sibling relationship. Nancy was an intelligent, independent and naturally athletic child, teaching herself to figure skate during Maine’s harsh winter months, a skill she retained well into her 80’s. Summers were spent between the homes of her grandparents, the Hunnewell family of The Domini Manse in Bedford, MA and The Ayots of Maine, where Nancy’s first job at age seven was picking beans in their potager gardens, a job she found labor intensive and heat exhaustive. Throughout her life, Nancy preferred the cold New England winters, heavy sweaters and always kept a pair of ice skates someplace handy.
Nancy went on to marry Attorney Walter R. Colby and had her first of four children at age 21. She frequently recalled that during those times, “If you were not married by 21, everyone thought you were an old maid.
Nancy became an active member Lynnfield’s Couples’ Club, hosting events at her home with guests such as Red Sox legend Carl Yastremski. She enjoyed socializing and party planning for a good cause. She had a strong aversion to public speaking and performing and often sited that being in Lynnfield’s theatrical groups and productions made her a wreck. Nancy carried a rare type of human shyness throughout her life that she challenged frequently but never totally lost.
A major life change was born when Nancy became a licensed MA Real Estate Broker when her last born entered the first grade. Although most of her women friends did not work, Nancy soon became one of Lynnfield’s most prominent and sought after real estate brokers, highly adept at identifying the human nature behind every sale, understanding complicated transactions and was a keen negotiator. She bought out her boss’s real estate company and spent the next fifty years in the industry buying and selling real estate. Nancy Colby was one of the first female real estate icons of her era. Her work ethic was well known amongst her peers and she was a respected leader in the residential real estate market. She was also never too busy to take a call from one of her children.
Steadfast, loyal, hardworking and intelligent, Nancy Colby’s life was a lesson of servitude to God and compassion for all. Her remaining family humbly undertakes the continuation of Nancy’s core beliefs, code of conduct and inspiration until we all meet again.
Nancy Colby’s remaining family includes Karen Colby of Lynnfield, Ma (spouse John Nunziato and children, Logan and Sloan), Alison Colby – Campbell of Bradford, MA (spouse Jonathan Campbell), Hollis Colby of Wenham, MA and Drew Colby of Wellesley, MA (spouse Carol and children Meaghan, spouse John, and Hunter).
