Nancy Swanson, PhD
August 2, 1957 – February 5, 2023
Nancy went on to her next great adventure Sunday the 5th of February 2023.
She was among close friends and family and will be dearly missed.
As would be expected, she did it her way.
Patients. Publications. Books. Nancy strived to raise the awareness of us all. She truly believed that a world of peace and love was attainable if only enough of us would use a few minutes of each day visualizing it.
I invite each of you to share memories of how Nancy interacted with your life.
Thank you,
Alan
The Great Adventures of Alan and Nancy 
I love you. I miss you. You created amazing memories for me in my childhood and exposed me to the beauty of Lummi Island whenever we were given the priceless opportunity to visit. I will always remember and love you, Halmoni. I love you so much.
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Nancy took and stalwart and obstinate stand against some of the worst things about our modern world. She chose to learn, fight and speak out to make the world a better place when it would have been easier to just go with the flow and not make waves. When I think of Nancy, I think of these things I learned from her: “It’s the glyphosate, not the gluten”, our spirituality is in connection to nature and the animism of the forest and all the beings there, science is a religion, if it is not organic it has poison, find joy in following your heart and your dreams, a “butter vehicle” is the item you put butter on to eat it, flowers are just as important as food, and so much more. I learned to be honest about it, even when it was not popular or accepted. She always had a foundation of joy about the natural world around her and it was her intention to stay connected to it for solace. But the one thing that really shook my worldview, and caused me to consider that there was a whole different plane of existence that I was not aware of, was when Heather told me she talked to and listened to trees for wisdom. That level of spirituality is unfathomable and unobtainable to most modern humans, but it was standard for our ancestors. Nancy found it, and she is there now.
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Nancy, to me she was my grandma, a beautiful and amazing and kind woman who knew the right thing to say. She made me laugh and loved harder than I even can comprehend now. Her love for nature and animals was amazing to grow up with. Never did I think I would be able to catch a chicken until I was with her. I will forever enjoy all the fun memories I have of her and hope to continually gain some insight into how she loved her life to the fullest. Love you grandma, enjoy your next adventure.
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I met Nancy in a physics class in the early 80s; there were only 2 women in the class and she befriended me. She had orange hair and bare feet which she would prop on the chair in front of her making the guys nervous. She was fun and smart and our late-evening study sessions, along with another outcast woman, created many happy memories. We would start with the studying and, when our brains started to protest, we would move on to cheap beer and m&m’s and end the night laughing about something-or-other. I introduced her and Alan, which I like to think gets me a checkmark on the positive karmic side of life’s reckonings. Nancy, wherever, whoever, whatever, if-ever you are I hope it’s interesting…. you certainly were.
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As I tearfully reflected on all my memories of Nancy, I realized one thing above all: she was undefinable. Which in a world of followers, people pleasing and attachment to the status quo, was incredibly refreshing and brave. Nancy was fierce and yet highly sensitive; she was a math and science genius yet brilliantly creative; she was old-soul wise one moment and childlike in her wonder the next.
I loved her style so much, she was ever impressing me with her creative endeavors; in fact that was my very first impression of Nancy… just being in awe of her garden, flower arrangements, and home design and decoration. It was only later I learned what a stellar scientist she was to boot!
She is the kind of human that the ancient Greeks would have honored and wrote about. She is the kind of human we need more of. When people talk about “speaking truth to power” they are talking about her approach to life. No bullshit, no pandering, just honesty and courage.
I am so grateful I had the time I had with her.
See you on the other side.
Christian
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I met Nancy about forty years ago. She stood out as a person who enthusiastically took on the quest to understand the mysteries of the universe, and generously shared her knowledge and curiosity with others on the path. Later on, I knew Nancy as a person with deep understanding of nature and of people, always ready to help others, adventure-loving, caring for children, honest, trustworthy, and committed to living a life of integrity. I am honored to have shared time and space with Nancy, and to realize what good fortune it has been for me to be friends with her. She was a true human.
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Nancy Swanson. A unique and enigmatic creation of God. Sometimes puzzling, sometimes funny, always inquisitive, always enjoyable to be around, ever giving of herself and her talents and knowledge, often challenging traditional thoughts and interpretations.
I knew very little of Nancy until she and Alan started coming to visit us regularly in recent years. It was good to see how she and Alan interacted in work, in play, and in conversation. They complemented each other well in most every way.
Although we missed cross-country skiing with them in the wintry months (due to our unrelenting work schedule), we were able to at least go on many enjoyable walks together. And although she did not care for our summer heat, she did seem to enjoy our many deer, salmon in the river, dark nights, and star-studded skies. She was a wonderful cook, and often sacrificed her going-to-bed time in order to serve us delicious meals at the times our schedule permitted.
It was inspiring to see Nancy buy her own Korg keyboard and have Alan install it in their camper for her. Though no Liberace, she took pleasure in pursuing the music she could make, and it warmed my heart to see it.
Her knowledge in the realm of physics was mind-boggling to me. I read her book, The Religion of Science, three times, each time understanding a little more of it. Not only does it give a great history of the world of physics, but it also introduces some of the current thoughts and directions and includes mathematical formulas showing equations that back up these ideas.
The most recent years have been so fulfilling for both Nancy and Alan. How many people really follow their dreams like they have? Great adventures in camper and boat voyages, as well as sharing it so well with all of us! And how simple but lovely a home and garden they have developed on Waldron Island. I love all the flowers! So does Nancy. I will always picture one of her beautiful bouquets every time I think of her. I picture her now as ecstatically enjoying God’s garden In Heaven!
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I love you so much Nancy.
Anyone who has met you, and spent time with you, is fortunate indeed.
Growing up with you has been a challenge. You have bested me in every endeavor “including fishing “, but not in wrestling. Well, you may have thrown me a few times.
We have always shared a close connection; haphazardly meeting under bizarre circumstances.
(I was working in the remote valley of Stehekin, when one day I decided to go fishing near the base of the cascades. There was no one within 100 miles, when down the trail comes a crazy woman with a toddler in tow. That toddler was Heather, and you guessed who the crazy woman was. We come from crazy. When I asked why she would do such a thing in a land of grizzlies and mountain lions. She said, “I have a knife”.
Frankly, I pitied anything that stood in her way.)
We have had many great times together.
I will miss you sister.
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A sister by marriage, Nancy will always be remembered for her humor, wisdom, generosity, and bravery. Our lives were truly enriched by her presence. We will always cherish the many happy memories that we made together. As we know, among millions of other things, she studied light. And the light in our world surely changed when we learned of her passing. She will be missed.
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