Elizabeth Edney Nanovic

Elizabeth Edney Nanovic, of North Yarmouth, Maine, passed away peacefully in her home on March 30, 2025, surrounded by family.

Liz was born on July 6th, 1934 in Queens, New York. She was the oldest of 4 siblings (Robert, Isabel and Cynthia) born to Arthur and Joyce (Olmstead) Edney. Raised on Long Island, she graduated from Baldwin High School and Hofstra. After graduation, she worked as an editor of textbooks at McGraw-Hill.

Liz is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert S. Nanovic, and by her 3 children: Rebecca Lin, of Wilton, CT; Kathryn Nanovic-Morlet (Emmanuel Morlet), of New York, NY; and Robert T. (Anne), of Falmouth. She adored and was intensely proud of her 7 grandchildren: Matthew, Kyra, Nicholas, Lily, Adrien, Kasey and Cora.

After living in New York, they moved their family to Rowayton, and later Darien, Connecticut. They retired to Maine – a longtime dream, after spending summers Down East over many years. The couple also enjoyed time at their residence on Captiva Island, Florida, where Liz particularly enjoyed the wildlife and birds, and shelling on the beach. Summers in Maine were spent hosting family and friends at Kezar Lake in Lovell.

Liz’s love of nature and the arts inspired her philanthropy in later life. From conservation efforts in Florida, to social and medical needs in Maine (Maine Med and LifeFlight were special interests), she supported many cultural, environmental and social programs. Her strong belief in education led to establishing several university scholarships. She shared her knowledge of history and culture by traveling with her children to Washington D.C. and New York City, and later enjoyed travel to Europe, where she and Bob particularly enjoyed their visits to France.

Over the years she grew to love the community she found through the University of Notre Dame, from which Bob graduated in 1954. Her ideas inspired Bob to found the Nanovic Institute of European Studies in 1993. Much to her family’s amazement, she became an avid supporter of Fighting Irish sports, and enthusiastically followed Women’s Basketball.

She kept her mind agile by reading voraciously and completing the New York Times crossword puzzle daily. A formidable Scrabble opponent, her children would turn to her instead of the dictionary because of her extensive vocabulary. She was an active genealogical historian, always eager to share her discoveries with relatives and relished her position as the “matriarch of the family.”

She never backed down on her strong convictions, often surprising those who saw her quiet, reserved side. She will be missed by all those who knew her.

Visiting Hours will be held on Sunday, April 6 from 3PM to 5PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of Portland, 172 State Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Monday, April 7 at St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland. Interment will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Liz’s name to Maine Medical Center or the University of Notre Dame