Recently, a very dear woman left this Earth.
Nancy Wheeler, a former speech and theatre instructor at South Dakota State University, led many students to the stage and, in doing so, brought reassurance, love and generosity to every soul she fostered. The kind of generosity and unwavering dedication with which Nancy led her life is a quality not commonly found in this world. After a lifetime of imparting lessons and shaping the minds of future generations, Nancy has amassed an incredible number of artistic minds that look to her as not only a mentor, but also a mother.
I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy right after I graduate from Roosevelt High School and moved on to Prairie Repertory Theater in 2005. While I struggled to learn my way around SDSU and the Theatre Department, Nancy offered bright smiles and helpful suggestions to guide my way. When the fall semester came, I was delighted to be enrolled in three of Nancy’s classes. Nine times a week, I had the pleasure of listening to Nancy teach without glancing at her notes.
Through my years at SDSU, Nancy always kept a watchful eye on my progress. That first semester wasn’t a breeze, and Nancy’s guidance kept me focused on school and classes instead of getting swept up in the chaos of my freshman year. Though we were a part of a loving theatre family, that didn’t mean Nancy let me get away with anything. Those three classes with her were not only vital but also challenging, and Nancy didn’t have any room for slacking off — I earned a C in one class. However, her determination to see me succeed shaped me into a motivated young artist. With Nancy’s reassurances, I continued my work both on and off stage and was an unrelenting theatre maniac. Then the cancer hit.
That word had been in my life for years. It was casually tossed about in the media and a frequent topic of conversation, but never had that word caused a physical reaction. I can feel the pit in my stomach now as I recall the day when the announcement first came — a feeling that all of the theatre community shares again as we mourn Nancy’s passing. Yet, nothing kept Nancy from doing what she loved. With resilience and determination, Nancy continued her treatment while still making time to go to the office, meet with students and take on light course loads.
During my junior year, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to take another class with Nancy. It was so exciting being back in the classroom with her, and everyone could tell that she was thrilled to be back behind the podium — a place she thrived and loved. As she cracked open her notebook without glancing down, she began to tell us about her experiences in the theatre. Instead of lecturing endlessly, Nancy engaged her students — her audience — and drew us in with every word. After two weeks of gratifying learning, another pit filled my stomach. More cancer.
Although Nancy left the classroom, her dedication to the department never waned and she attended every single show throughout the rest of my time at SDSU.
By the time my final semester came, my time was stretched thin between classes, shows, organizations, homework and graduation. Still, I had a yearning to reconnect with Nancy, so in March we agreed to meet for lunch the following week. I managed to balance work, school and theatre and Nancy was always more willing than ever to make the time to grab a bite and spend the afternoon chatting. Even though I was no longer her student, Nancy continued her life lessons where we would spend entire meals chatting about what I should do in New York while our food grew cold. She was always eager to give advice and help guide me in life. I never stopped being her student and she never stopped teaching. It was her passion—her being. Teaching wasn’t a profession for Nancy — it was who she was.
Nancy always taught her speech students to utilize quotations. She said, “If you can’t come up with what to say, don’t worry. Someone has already said it better.” Leonardo Da Vinci was attributed as saying, “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death.” It is with that thought that I say a reluctant farewell to a wonderful and beautiful person. Through her work and her love, Nancy always strove to make life better for everyone she met. She fostered the creativity and passion in each student and brought out the best quality in all of us. Though I long for the embrace of her loving arms and that gentle back tickle, I know that Nancy is loving her new life even more, for as J.K. Rowling tells us, “…to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
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Saying Goodbye by Geoffrey Nixon http://bit.ly/aGMbPB http://bit.ly/bHufEr
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RT @ThePostSD: Saying Goodbye by Geoffrey Nixon http://bit.ly/aGMbPB http://bit.ly/bHufEr
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Great story and very well written.
Thanks for that great tribute for an amazing woman.