Nancy F. Dow

BRISTOL — Nancy Freeman Dow, 75, known to many as a champion of the arts and education, died Friday after a brief illness. A Maine native and 33-year resident of Bristol, she was a former executive director of Plymouth Friends of the Arts and served on school committees in the Newfound Area School District and on the Board of Directors of Sant Bani School in Sanbornton. Born in Portland, Maine, and raised in the Stroudwater section of town, she attended the Waynflete School, Class of 1948, before matriculating at Smith College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in art. She was also an active participant in local and national politics, particularly as a member of the League of Women Voters. Her family wrote, "A loving mother and devoted wife, she quickly embraced a joy for travel after marrying Brunswick, Maine, native Maynard Weston Dow. The couple first settled in Western Massachusetts, moving on to Alaska, New Jersey, upstate New York and Colorado, before returning to their native New England and making their home on the Pemigewasset River in Bristol." She played a key role in her husband's career, according to her family, assisting him in graduate school as he progressed in his career as a professor of geography, culminating with his 25-year tenure at Plymouth State University. She aided his development of the "Geographers on Film" archival series, and served as chief videographer, technician and clerk in the filming of interviews with distinguished geographers from throughout the world. For her meritorious service, she earned a special citation from the Task Force on Women in Geographic Education in 1996. She also earned numerous citations for her work in the Plymouth Friends of the Arts, including her selection as the 1992 Woman of the Year by the Plymouth Area Branch of the Association of University Women. Beginning as an unpaid volunteer for the rural arts organization, she served in numerous positions for 20-plus years to bring arts to underserved communities with exhibits, music, dance and performance art programs. She was particularly dedicated to increasing arts exposure in Central New Hampshire schools by providing free in-school programs. She also was a Girl Scout troop leader in New Hampton. Her family wrote, "Her love for the arts was reflected in her hobbies as she was a voracious reader, an avid gardener, talented writer, a creative cook and a spirited singer whose joyous voice was heard in church choirs and regional choral groups throughout her adult life. Her compassion was perhaps best reflected in her undying love for animals, as she cared for numerous family dogs and cats and aided strays and abandoned wild animals, nursing them back to health." She was predeceased by her oldest son, Tadd, of Damariscotta, Maine. Survivors include her husband; a son, Nathan of Boston; a daughter, Jenny of Camden, Maine; a brother, Eben Freeman of Bethel, Maine; a sister, Audrey Gough of Portland, Maine; several nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sant Bani School, 19 Ashram Road, Sanbornton, NH 03269. Funeral services have not been finalized.