Dedicated, smart, kind, disciplined, quiet patience, a mentor, generous, fun. The words barely capture the remarkable life and legacy of Nancy Shiffler, whose four decades of environmental leadership have left the Sierra Club and the Great Lakes state immeasurably better. Nancy passed away over Memorial Day weekend, and has left her many friends and family in mourning.
Read about her Sierra Club work and tributes from those who admired and worked with her through the years below.
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Nancy Shiffler was one of the stalwart rocks of the Sierra Club in Michigan. She always knew what she was talking about because she always did her homework, and a lot of it. She was always a calm voice backed by an abundance of knowledge of any topic she took on which came from her tenacious research. She always knew well what she was talking about and Nancy could always be counted on to get a job done.
This was exemplified at a Chapter Excom meeting when Marvin Roberson asked about a particular passage in his report to Excom. Everyone was supposed to read all the reports before the Excom meeting. Marvin would often ask a question about the test passage to see who had read the report. Nancy won the smoked fish Marvin had as a prize this particular meeting. She would have won in any of the meetings.
Because she was quiet and studious some of her interests and humor were a surprise when first heard. We were driving back from a Chapter Excom meeting when she suddenly asked what time it was. When I told her she said "Quick, turn on the radio--the baseball game is starting in 15 minutes." Both her exuberance and her strong interest in baseball were a big surprise! Nancy was aware of her demeanor: she showed a group of us a photo of her family once. Everyone had a slight smile. She said that was her family in a wildly exuberant state.
She never signed her name “Nancy Shiffler, PhD” or mentioned her degree except for one time that I know. She was dressed in a blue suit while working at a Catholic school– in Livonia I think. Someone thought she was a Sister at the school because of her suit so the person asked “Should I call you Sister?” to which Nancy replied “No, you should call me doctor.”
That’s Nancy, a quiet but very diligent researcher with a strong passion for environmental work (and play) who wasn’t only her work but also with a strong interest in what’s fun and with a good sense of humor.
Ed Steinman
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Nancy personified everything good about the Sierra Club. She and I were friends for decades after we played on the same softball team. She graciously mentored me when I was Chair of the HVG ExComm. I will always treasure her patience, balanced thinking, and wise counsel.
Dan Ezekiel
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This is a shock and when I saw her name on the email- I was stunned. This lady made the best of her life! Her ability to analyze data and information in her public school job was perfect when looking at environmental issues as they arose. She often reflected on aspects of a problem that others hadn’t thought of. I liked looking at her in her home setting during ZOOM meetings knowing she was the most recognized Michigan Chapter volunteer, ever.
Never a harsh word, always kindness and a smile. So glad to have known Nancy Shiffler in this life. She has left quite a legacy.
Carol Graham-Banes
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This is a big loss, as we all know. We shared years on the ex-com and conversations in various meetings and activities over the years. There is no one like her and yet she gave us a disciplined, smart way to approach activism, and that template will continue.
With a quiet sensible approach she could blow things up. I respected her so much and will miss her voice.
Pat Egan
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I had the honor of working with Nancy for almost 40 years as we both became active with the Sierra Club in the 1980s. She took on the most important roles in the chapter, including conservation committee chair, regional conservation committee representative and chapter chair, and continued as an active emeritus member of the Chapter ExCom until her passing. Two of my favorite stories about Nancy have less to do with her tremendous contributions to protecting the environment and our natural resources, but to her fun side. For many years Nancy regularly led outings to Isle Royale. She observed she joined Sierra Club to go on outings, but ended up in meetings instead, however she was determined to lead these outings for herself and others. The other thing I learned at a meeting in the 1990s was that Nancy was a very skilled harmonica player, playing Bach or Beethoven on the mouth harp to our amazement. I will deeply miss this wonderful person.
Anne Woiwode
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I had the honor and privilege of working with Nancy in a variety of capacities over the years. Some people are generous with their time, others with financial support; Nancy was incredibly generous with both. She exemplified radical patience at the forefront leading on nearly every environmental issue in Michigan with her quiet, dignified demeanor, impressive depth of knowledge and calming presence. She had a huge heart and worked tirelessly to boost morale during trying times with her sharp wit, humor, and an intriguing array of talents. While Nancy will be sorely missed, her legacy will inspire future generations for decades to come.
Cecilia Garcia-Linz
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I was so much looking forward to seeing Nancy up and about again. It was always worth the wait to hear her considered comments after a group discussion. A number of years ago, we shared an effort to convince several Ann Arbor City Council members to fund the OSI office, and her quiet patience was powerful. She was a great mentor to me.
Stephen C Brown
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I was given the opportunity to carpool with Nancy for lobby day many years ago. Previously, we were not well acquainted but that gave us the time and space to change that. The comments about her quiet demeanor are spot on but she would take the time to consider the issue being debated and you would then hear a very well thought out response. So sorry to know that we will not have that perspective from her.
Ronald M. Kardos
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If you go to the Sierra Club Leader Directory in Campfire you will see that beginning in 1994 Nancy served in more than 20 volunteer leadership roles at every level of Sierra Club, although Nancy’s four-decade love affair with Sierra Club began before we had a leader database for volunteers. She was one of the first Sierra Club leaders I met when I was hired as a staffer and she was the chapter’s legal committee chair. Through all the club’s iterations, generations, challenges and celebrations Nancy’s quiet, wise, thoughtful activism and leadership steered a steady course no matter the conflicts and demands inside and outside her Sierra Club. I will miss her and celebrate Nancy as a Michigan treasure who gave passionately and deeply for our planet and its people. Enjoy, explore and protect is her legacy.
David Holtz
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I’ve known and worked with Nancy for over 40 years and she has been my go-to on various issues from gas/fracking, forests, pipelines, mining and the list goes on. I also roomed with Nancy on a few occasions when she was a Council Delegate representing the Michigan Chapter at the Annual Meetings in San Francisco.
Nancy was a long-time very generous donor to the Michigan Chapter and for three decades she’s been a Michigan Legacy Council Major donor. She was often my contact getting information regarding various donors in the Ann Arbor area and she got involved in bringing some of them to events and meetings as well as picking up and bringing their donated items across the state for the Michigan Chapters Silent Auction at our Annual Retreats. I also worked w/Nancy along with Rita Mitchell, Ed Steinman & Ginny Maturen putting together a couple very successful fundraising events with the Huron Valley Group
It’s a bit coincidental that Nancy joined the Sierra Club on June 1st 1981 which would be 43 years ago tomorrow. Nancy was very dedicated and committed to protecting and preserving Michigan and was also a Life member of the Sierra Club. I was very surprised and saddened to hear about her passing and I will dearly miss Nancy.
Jan O’Connell
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Nancy was more than a volunteer; she was a beacon of kindness and quite yet powerful force. Nancy made a significant impact on our community as a leader in Huron Valley Group, the Michigan Chapter and the environmental movement. Her efforts have left a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit Michiganders for years to come.
Elayne Coleman
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