Obituary of Nancy Storrs

Nancy Hitchcock Storrs passed away peacefully in her sleep after a courageous battle with cancer on September 8, 2023. She was born on March 24, 1950 in Huntington, New York. Nancy found her lifelong passion for rowing while a student at Williams College. She was a trailblazer in the sport, a member of the first American Women’s Rowing Team to compete at the World Championships in 1975. Nancy competed in 3 more World Championships, earning a total of 4 World Championship medals. She was also an Olympian, racing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the first Olympics to include women’s rowing, as well as being named to the boycotted 1980 Olympic Team. In 1985, she moved north of the border to St Catharines where she spent the next 4 decades sharing her love of rowing out of the Ridley Graduate Boat Club. Whether you rowed for a few years or a lifetime, Nancy made sure your memories of the sport were fond ones. Nancy was the consummate volunteer around Henley Island. In addition to coaching, she helped run local regattas including the Royal Canadian Henley and Canadian Secondary School Championships

Nancy is predeceased by her partner, Jack Nicholson, parents Frances and Richard Storrs, brothers David Storrs (Landon, Lando & Ty, David Jr.) and Nick Storrs (Jeanie, Leslie & Bruce, Rich & Jessica). She is survived by her sisters Ginny Akabane and Ayer Bellermann (Mark & Vesper, Wendy & Josh, Jamie & Stephanie) and  brother Cleveland Storrs. She will be remembered fondly by her many Rousmaniere and Gordon cousins. Nancy will be missed by her many friends in the rowing community both in Niagara and around the world. 

Visitation will be held at George Darte Funeral Chapel on Sunday September 17 at 1:00-5:00pm, with a Celebration of Life on Sunday September 24 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Neil Campbell Training Centre on Henley Island. In lieu of flowers, please honour Nancy’s memory with donations to the Canadian Henley Rowing Corporation.