Rochester, NY: Nancy D. Gravitz, 87, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, during a snowstorm. She loved the snow and cold — so being carried out in the wind of a snowstorm was fitting and beautiful.
She is predeceased by her parents, Thomas and Mildred Thomasson, and her brother, Harold Thomasson.
Mom lived her life on her own terms. She was a confident, engaged, and well-read woman who was ahead of her time. Mom began her nursing career in Stamford, CT, as a psychiatric nurse and resumed her nursing career in Rochester, NY working with inmates at the Monroe County Jail and patients at the John L. Norris Addiction Treatment Center. She received numerous accommodations for her lifesaving nursing skills as well as the respect, dignity and compassion she showed to those entrusted to her care.
Mom fervently believed in our democracy and our government’s accountability to its citizens. For decades, she fought against racism and sexism, and advocated for women’s rights, at the local, state and federal levels. Her correspondence with numerous presidents, senators and congressional representations, reflected her commitment to equality, inclusion and respect for all people.
Mom also believed in making the world a better place. Mom acted on her beliefs by serving as a volunteer rape crisis counselor for more than a decade. For nearly thirty years, Mom was a proud supporter and regular volunteer at Writers and Books and at Geva Theater.
As a child of the Great Depression, the importance of frugality and the wise use of resources economically and environmentally was part of what she taught all of us. She lived with grace and simplicity. She took pride in being, as she called it, “a woman of independent means on a fixed income.”
She also took pleasure in being a Virgo and, as is the way of Virgos, in keeping everything in order. This included all of her final wishes and preparation for her family, for which we are grateful. It is just one example of how she always put others first, taking care of everyone.
Above her accomplishments, contributions and great joys, Mom’s greatest and most cherished passion was her role as a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her unconditional love is the foundation upon which her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have built our lives. Interspersed with lively opinions and advice, Mom instilled in us the obligation to always do and be our best, to live in integrity, to treat others with respect and dignity, and to make the world a better place. Her children: Alisa (Joe), Jennifer (Donna), Amy, and Craig (Sharon); her grandchildren: John, Corey (Valerie), Alex (Ryan), Stephanie, Kyle, Bahar and Deniz; and her great grandchildren: Zachary, Rainah, Noah, Hannah, Daniella, Anna, Tessa, Brooks, Juliet and Mila, all love her and miss her. We will forever hold her ideals in our hearts and stand on her loving shoulders as we honor her by living our lives guided by her legacy.
Our eternal gratitude to Jennifer Gravitz and Donna Lemcke for opening their home to Mom during the past six months; to Deborah DeMott, Heather Menchel and Joel Menchel for their loving care and support, especially during her final weeks; and the Highland Hospital Palliative Care team for their compassionate care during her final days.
Mom’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 11, 2019 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm in the Vintage room at the Monroe’s restaurant at 3001 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618. Memorial donations may be contributed to the Friends of Tinker Park at 1525 Calkins Road, Pittsford, NY 14534, for the beekeeping project.