People Type: Board of Trustees

Nancy currently serves as Manomet’s board chair.

As a partner at Hemenway & Barnes LLP,  Nancy Dempze serves as a professional trustee, executor and estate planner for individuals and families. Nancy also represents nonprofits in connection with planned giving and development. Her training and experience as an oncology nurse, leadership in land conservation work, and service on nonprofit boards has made Nancy more sensitive to the needs and perspectives of her clients.

Nancy is active in her community, Westwood, and in organizations across Massachusetts. Besides Manomet, organizations Nancy has recently been involved with include:

• Trustee, Boston Museum of Science, Chair of its Planned Giving Committee, Chair Washburn Society, Finance Committee, Advancement Committee
• Trustee, Old Sturbridge Village, Chair of its Investment Committee
• Past President and current Vice President, Westwood Land Trust

Officially, I’m retired from fifteen years of parish ministry. Before that, my careers included high school English teacher, poet-in-the-schools, and homemaker/parent—and now active grandparent. I’ll talk about Manomet to anybody.

My father-in-law, one of Manomet’s earliest supporters, made an avid birder of me. I’ve also become a relentless photographer of my grandchildren, and as the family’s matriarch, I’ve turned bales of archives into sleek photo books.

Why Manomet?

In a time of cynicism and sometimes despair for our planet, Manomet shows me over and over again that a few committed, trustworthy people can make big changes. Manomet draws folks in through hope and respect and imagination and accomplishment.

I currently serve in a volunteer position as Senior Advisor to the President at the Conservation Law Foundation. Previously, I served as CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club for 23 years with a focus on integrating conservation, education and recreation. Strong management has always been a priority.

I grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and did not see my first mountain until I was 18 years old. Now, I continue to love hiking and cross country skiing adventures in the mountains and hope I can do so for many years to come.

Why Manomet?

I believe environmental challenges which our world faces deserve the highest priority. Manomet works to bridge the “cultural divide” in our country on environmental issues by focusing on market based strategies, projects involving the younger generation and leaving important advocacy activities to others. This successfully complements rather than overlaps with my other activities.

My professional area of expertise is providing investment and financial advice to individuals and families.

I enjoy the outdoors and nature and engage with it through activities like birding, sailing and beekeeping.

Why Manomet?

Manomet has the unique ability to use their science to engage people in constructive dialogue to address sustainability issues.

My initial contact with Manomet was through the banding program. I had experience as a bander of migratory songbirds in Maryland before relocating to Woods Hole in 1988. I made a bee-line to join up with Manomet to continue, what for me, was the sheer pleasure of being involved with banding birds. Beyond banding, however, one event that really drew me into the organization was the Neo-Tropical Migratory Bird Symposium which Manomet put together and hosted in the Fall of 1989. I was impressed by the scope of influence that a seemingly small organization could have when it planned and partnered strategically with other organizations and individuals. Manomet’s programs have evolved and changed many times over the decades of my involvement with the organization, but the core remains the same: to work with partners and to apply science to develop and maintain a sustainable world.

Areas of Expertise

I am a retired science teacher. My career involved teaching in informal settings (Audubon centers, the National Zoo, summer classes at the Woods Hole Children’s School of Science, to name a few) as well as formal classroom science teaching in a K-6 public school in Washington DC. In Falmouth, I worked to develop science curricula and Family Science programs.

After retirement I took up volunteering with our local land trust in its efforts to preserve open space, and to get people of all ages outdoors onto conservation land.

Personal Statement

For many years after retirement I travelled extensively to far-flung places, mostly for birding. My “travel bug” is somewhat tempered now, but I still enjoy a good birding outing such as a Christmas Bird Count or a trip to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Another life-long hobby is sailing: big boats or little ones, it doesn’t matter.