The Del Shakes family was saddened to learn of the passing of Nancy B. Lynch, longtime Wilmington artist, educator and advocate – and the first and longest serving board president in Del Shakes history.
When co-founders Molly Cahill Govern and Greg Robleto were looking to create a board in order to formally establish Del Shakes as a non-profit, they met with Nancy and she graciously agreed to become the board president.
For many years, board meetings were held in Nancy’s home as she warmly welcomed board members to gather around her dining room table for formative conversations about Del Shakes. I served on the board for a handful of years before Molly stepped down and Nancy invited me to consider serving as artistic director. We had a wonderful partnership for more than a decade.
She managed a board that worked hard to come to consensus on key issues, tirelessly supported me as the company’s artistic and management operations matured, and was Del Shakes biggest cheerleader in the community.
Whether relaxing with her husband Matt at Rockwood for a Summer Festival performance or attending the first performance of the Community Tour at the Achievement Center, Nancy loved seeing how people of all kinds could gather and enjoy these centuries-old stories.
Without Nancy’s leadership, it is doubtful that Del Shakes would have been able to tell these stories in Wilmington and beyond for going on twenty-plus years.
When Nancy stepped down as board president after almost two decades, Del Shakes acknowledged her service and her passion for arts education by naming our summer apprenticeship the Nancy B. Lynch College Apprentice Program.
We send our love and remembrances to Matt, Mamie, Regina and their families. Nancy will be missed, but never forgotten.
In Shakespeare’s sonnets, he was fond of crediting the power of his love and his writing abilities with granting immortality to the subjects of his affections. In Sonnet 18, he writes, “So long lives this and this gives life to thee.” Nancy’s love for Del Shakes is written into its history, and her love lives on every time a company artist speaks a line of poetry or teaches a student.
At the end of every board meeting, Nancy would ask, “Anything else for the good of the cause?” Nancy gave so much for the good of the cause of Del Shakes. We are forever thankful.
With love,
David Stradley
Former Producing Artisic Director
