Nancy Jane Robinson

Nancy attended a private Swedish High School in Chicago, then continued her studies at Butler University in Indianapolis as an Interior Design Major and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

At 19 years, she put graduation on hold to marry Charles Oliver Fortney and together they had 4 children.

Her academic journey resumed in 1959 when an opportunity arose to teach French to primary school age students at the Awty School in Houston (formally “Mrs. Awty’s Day School). This provided the opportunity to work toward a teaching certificate.

Her husband’s job promotion had been the impetus to relocate from South Bend, IN to Houston TX, and an additional promotion moved the family to Lincoln NE. There she obtained a fellowship to complete her undergraduate work and obtain a master’s degree in Education.

Seven years later, they moved back to Houston where she was able to secure a Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Houston while teaching at the University of St Thomas and eventually earned her Doctorate in Education.

Her next career move was to accept a position at Texas A&M and in very little time achieved tenure. (She also received tenure from University of Houston and University of St Thomas). Because the commute from Houston to College Station proved taxing for her, she entertained and then executed the process procuring a pilots’ license. She reasoned that renting an airplane and flying herself to College Station would be an easier commute. After meeting all the license requirements short of the written test (and with her family’s blessing) she opted to not pursue it further. Instead, she took a job as Director of Staff Development at the Spring Branch School District, a very short commute. Though she was able to make what would become lifelong friends, the job failed to inspire her. After 31 years of marriage, she and her husband, Chuck sought counseling and as a result separated and eventually divorced.

Throughout her life, Nancy made church-life the central tenant of her family life. With her children away coupled with her single status, she suffered a type of loneliness that she had never experienced before. She leaned on her church-life as much as ever to guide her through the unknown waters. At a particular church function, she found herself sitting in a pew next to a man that was to become her beloved husband. A man who would shepherd, support and encourage her for the second part of her life. She became the wife of Carter Robinson for the next 41 years.

At this time of new beginnings, she chose to persevere a life-long passion of Interior Design. Though process proved to be surprisingly daunting, she successfully completed all requirements to become an ASID certified Interior Designer.

Connections she made through life, love and faith provided plenty of opportunities for her to manifest her creativity into many significant and diverse projects. A great example was the Sanctuary makeover at her own place of worship, Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston.

Her lifetime of faith, compassion, and her sense of duty to national, civic, and fellow man led a journey that took her to many corners of the human experience. A journey evidenced by her participation in her church mission that took Carter and Nancy to Guatemala to help families rebuild their lives and homes post disaster.

Well-read, well-dressed, well…just about anything she set her mind to, were a result of her insatiable appetite for life and discovery. A dear friend, Paul James, once remarked that she belonged to “The Church of What’s Happening Now?”. He was spot on.

Curious, analytical, profoundly insightful, and a palpable wit, she was also the epitome of beauty and brains.

Although not one for sentiment, in her final days she often reflected that “her children and grandchildren were the joy of her existence.”

A mother, a teacher, a friend, her unique blend of charm, grace, care for others and a good joke for every occasion, blessed all who were touched by her presence on this earth.