Nancy Small

Nancy Small, 96, lifelong Shapleigh resident, EMT, sailor, knitter, and Bridge Grand Master

Nancy Small, 96, passed away peacefully early in the morning on July 13th while residing at Avita of Wells.

Nancy was born in Brooklyn, NY, on April 19, 1930, to Dorothy (“Dot”) and Morris (“Dutch”) Rechtweg at the beginning of the Great Depression. In 1936, Dutch was killed in an auto accident in New York City, and Nancy, along with her twin sister Sue and younger sister Jane, was raised by Dot. As soon as they were old enough, the girls took on housekeeping responsibilities—cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and caring for their horse, Wonder. As the family often recalled, Nancy became an excellent horse woman as a result.

She married Ronald J. Small on New Year’s Eve, 1949, at St. Patrick’s Church in Huntington at the age of 19. They began their family in the spring of 1951 in Centerport, Long Island, with the arrival of Stephen, followed just over a year later by their daughter Cynthia. In the fall of 1955, Ron’s job took the family from the town where Nancy had spent most of her childhood to Springvale, Maine. There she met Jean Thayer, who became her closest lifelong friend and introduced the family to alpine skiing. Nancy embraced the sport with enthusiasm at Bond Mountain in Shapleigh, where the Smalls spent every weekend and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime.

In the spring of 1956, the family moved to Mistletoe Farm in Alfred, Maine, where Nancy hoped to settle permanently. Their third child, Thomas, was born there. In December 1963, another job

change returned the family to Huntington, NY. Andrew arrived in 1965 and Amy Jean in 1967, completing the family.

Upon Ron’s early retirement from Grumman Aircraft in 1977, the family moved to their final residence on Square Pond, a property purchased in 1958. Originally a summer getaway, the camp was gradually improved and became one of the very first year-round homes on Square Pond. Nancy and the family enjoyed countless adventures there with their two youngest children, and frequent visits from the older three continued throughout their lives.

After Ron passed in 2008, Nancy lived there with her two golden retrievers, running the household with her characteristic independence. She became a Bridge Grand Master and continued her golf career—begun later in life—winning a state tournament title and several club championships at Sanford Country Club. She served the Shapleigh Rescue Squad as a certified EMT for an extraordinary 37 years, earning formal commendation for her service. In 2019, she was honored as Grand Marshal of the annual Shapleigh Days parade and was also nominated for the Jefferson Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for public service,” recognizing both national figures and everyday grassroots heroes.

Nancy was a lifelong knitter, and every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild treasures at least one of her handmade creations. At the family Christmas swap, everyone hoped Nancy would be their “Santa,” knowing it meant receiving a new knitted gem. She and Ron also embraced square-dancing, traveling widely to events and wearing dresses Nancy crafted by hand—outfits that turned heads wherever they danced.

Nancy was Ron’s first mate not only in life but also on their sailboat, which they raced together for more than 50 years. Their sailing career included National championship, Atlantic Coast regattas up and down the East Coast, and many victories with the Square Pond Yacht Club—more often than not crossing the finish line first.

Nancy is predeceased by her parents and sisters. She is survived by her five children:

· Stephen and his wife Paula of Lyme, NH

· Cynthia and her partner George A Boone of Springvale, ME

· Thomas and his wife Pamela of Shapleigh, ME

· Andrew and his wife Jillian of North Granby, CT

· Amy Jean and her husband Grant of York, ME

She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Nancy will be interred alongside Ron at their Square Pond home during a family ceremony on or around the first anniversary of her passing, with notifications to be shared next spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Shapleigh Rescue Squad, honoring her decades of dedicated service.