A memorial has been set for longtime Fair Havenite Nancy Badt Drake on what would have been her 89th birthday, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A service will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Nancy passed away on Nov. 7 at Brandywine Assisted Living in Shrewsbury.

Nancy loved photography, bowling, writing letters to her many friends, and music. She loved not only classical music but also country western, and the music of the Grateful Dead.  

“My greatest joy is my family – my cozy home, my wonderful son and daughter, my precious grandchildren.”

Nancy Drake

Born in Elko, NV, she resided there, in Carson City, NV, and Palo Alto, CA, before moving to Fair Haven in 1954 following her marriage to Robert E. Drake of Monmouth Hills. 

She graduated from Carson City High School and was a 1952 graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio with a degree in psychology.  Before retiring in 1985, Nancy was on the staff of Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts as a Field Advisor and First Aid Instructor for 14 years. 

In Fair Haven, she was member of the Fair Haven Fields Advisory Committee and contributor to its column in the Fair Haven FOCUS; a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts USA, and former Brownie and Junior Troop leader. She was also a First Aid Badge Counselor for Boy Scout Troop 125.

Nancy was also a member and secretary of the Fair Haven Taxpayers Association.

She is remembered for her nearly 30 years of volunteer work at Riverview Medical Center and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 1996. At Riverview, Nancy served more than 13,750 hours, mostly in the Emergency Department. She was honored with the hospital’s Galaxy Award.

She was also a member of the Community Advisory Committee of Riverview Campus, Meridian Health System and a member of Ship Ahoy Beach Club.

A member of Writers Ink and of the NJ Poetry Society, many of her poems were published and won prizes, including 2nd place in the Annual Senior Poet Laureate Contest in 2002.  Her own book of poetry, Perilous Poetry, was published in 2002.

In her earlier professional career, she was an executive secretary for the Tuller Foundation, and the Cottrell Oil Company in Red Bank. She also worked for the Stanford University Research Coordination Department in Palo Alto, CA. 

She was a cellist with the Monmouth Symphony, and formerly with the New Jersey State Orchestra; a 69-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, past president of Chapter AH, Colts Neck, and formerly of Chapter H, Carson City, NV; a First Aid and CPR Instructor for the American Red Cross, with over 2000 hours; charter member and secretary of the Fair Haven Historical Society; Pioneer Descendent  Life Member of the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society;

Nancy was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Robert E. Drake, who also died of Alzheimer’s Disease in 1998.

Surviving are: her daughter and son-in-law, Robin Drake Fitch and Ken Fitch, of Allentown, PA; son and daughter-in-law, John (J.R.) Drake and Kim Drake, of Fair Haven; three grandsons, Kevin Fitch, Golden, CO, his twin, Brian Fitch, North Conway, NH, and Tyler Fitch, Steamboat Springs, CO; five nieces, Katy Badt Frissora and her husband Tony, of Fair Haven, Karin Badt, of Paris, Cheryl Weliver (John), of Ft. Myers, FL, Terri Jaench (Guenter), of St. Simons Is., GA, Cindy Brandon, Sanford, FL;  two nephews, Steven Badt and his wife Alice Weiss, of Tacoma Park, MD, Gary Drake (Vicki), Winchester, VA; great-nephews, Paul and Michael Frissora, Henry Badt, Matthew Galbraith (Kelly) and Douglass Brandon; great-niece, Dahlia Badt; great-great-nephew Drake Galbraith and great-great-niece MacKenna Galbraith.

Nancy was also predeceased by her parents, the Honorable Milton B. Badt, Chief Justice of the Nevada State Supreme Court and Gertrude Nizze Badt, Carson City, NV and Shadow Lake Village, Red Bank; brother, Milton B. Badt, Jr. and wife Lucia; brothers-in-law and wives Elmer and Grace Drake, George and Jane Drake, and sister-in-law Lois Drake.

Contributions may be made in Nancy’s memory to the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra (PO Box 8218, Red Bank, NJ or website), Northeastern Nevada Historical Society (1515 Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801 or website), or Riverview Medical Center Foundation.