Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/1187302
Nancy Elmer with the Class of 1974 Never married and with no children of her own, Elmer found her family and community with Latin. She took great pride in getting to know her students. "She knew you as a person. She knew the names of your brothers and sisters, your parents and even your dog," said Judy Bross, a senior trustee, former Latin board chair and mother to George, '91, Charlotte '93 and Alice '01, all of whom had Elmer as their fifth grade teacher. "Latin was her real love, and she gave it her all in the classroom." Hennelly agrees. "She loved attending students' dance recitals, hockey games, and bar and bat mitzvahs. She would never refuse an invitation." A lover of travel and a long-time Cubs fan, Elmer gave her students a sense of adventure and wonder. Said Alexis Almeida '02, now a writer, poet and teacher, "She asked us to imagine things and taught us to want, in a way, what we hadn't already experienced. This was important and maybe even life-changing." Hennelly echoed this sentiment. She recalled a fifth grade overnight retreat where the students did a high ropes course. "Nancy did every part of that course, and she was well into her 60s," she said. "The students got a real kick out of it and cheered her on. If the kids had to do it, then so did she." Elmer also instilled a sense of values—especially civility and respect—in her classroom. Jill Almeida worked in Latin's admissions office for a time, and she made it a habit to stop in Elmer's room as she toured prospective parents around the school. "Nancy would always stop what they were doing in the classroom for everyone to say hello. One student would be asked to stand and explain the current day's work to the visitors, making them feel very welcome," she said. Elmer's dedicated passion for Latin will live on with her generous gift. "Nancy's bequest says that Latin changes people and does incredible things for its students," said Bross. "We are fortunate to have the loyalty and support of great teachers. Nancy is championing the Latin she knew and the Latin of the future." "She asked us to imagine things and taught us to want, in a way, what we hadn't already experienced. This was important and maybe even life-changing." "She knew you as a person. She knew the names of your brothers and sisters, your parents and even your dog." Annual Report 2018–19 13