By Tamarah Rockwood

Some little girls dream of becoming a princess. Some dream of being swept away to a faraway land where all their dreams come true. In reality, seldom do these dreams ever come to fruition. And then, there’s Nancy.

Who, for the record, would balk at the idea that she ever dreamed of becoming a princess. In 2018, she did, however, graciously accept the award of “Bainbridge Island Treasure,” to everyone’s delight.

A long, long time ago, in the quiet, unincorporated countryside of Martinsville, New Jersey, Nancy Rekow lived in a small country home with her parents and siblings. In her youth, she could be found sitting in the apple trees near her home turning the pages of one of her father’s books she had run off with while no one was looking. During her childhood, she would run through the fields of wildflowers unleashing her imagination in the wild nature that surrounded her. As the world wrote, Nancy, the little girl from the country, read. 

As Nancy grew older, she was convinced of one thing: she needed to see this world of which she had been reading. Although her parents had enjoyed taking her and her siblings into the city for plays, music, and other cultural explorations, Nancy wanted more. 

After high school, Nancy moved to Ohio where she graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in English later, also receiving a MA in Education from Bank Street College. Immediately, she plunged straight into teaching. After a few years, and to her great literary delight, she moved to England, home of her favorite books, to teach for USAF. First, she fell in love with England. Then, she moved and fell in love again: This time, with Bainbridge Island.

It was on her small, vibrant farm on Bainbridge Island when her journey into writing really began. Nancy unleashed her imagination upon the Island like a boundless field of wildflowers: growing everywhere, and delighting everyone.

Not only did Nancy continue to teach Creative Writing to all ages, but she also expanded her love of the written word by hosting poetry readings all across Kitsap, culminating in the decades-long Bainbridge Island celebration of local poets in the annual publishing event, Poetry Corners. Along with these already stunning accomplishments, she also led writing workshops, self-published 14 books and calendars, is an award-winning poet, served as the first director of the Bainbridge Island Arts Council. She has also helped write or publish a variety of books – including Island of Geese & Stars, 80 Candles, No Single Story, and Ferry Tales from Puget Sound, as well as co-authoring and editing Minnie Rose Lovgreen’s Recipe for Raising Chickens (1975) and As Far As I can Remember: Minnie Rose Lovgreen’s Life Story (2010). 

Nancy Rekow, the award-winning poet and book publisher, has touched the lives of all around her. These were all people who were Nancy’s students, or who worked with her, were mentored by her, and who participated in her workshops over the years. She taught, guided, edited their work, and was their friend. 

In honor of Nancy Rekow, on Saturday, June 11th at the Bainbridge Library, these friends will show the world what she created through them with a live reading of their self-published book, “Ode to Nancy Rekow”:

Adelia Ritchie, Sue Hylen, Beverley West, John Davis, Nancy Taylor, Neil Baker, Diane Moser, John Wilson II, Robert Vandersluis, Ali Edvardsen, Carl Jensen, Ruth Marcus, Al Gunby, Anne Kundtz, Marsha Cutting, Leigh Kennel, Lisa Giles, Marianna Mears, David Stallings, Dawn Jarvela Henthorn, Barb Clark, Kathryn R. Kent, Kris Hotchkiss, Kay Jensen, Diane Walker. 

Nancy Rekow’s wisdom and generosity are fondly remembered by these contributors, as well as in the community, for her work spanning over 43 years. She is remembered for such milestones as organizing poetry at the Poulsbohemian, her inspiration in Ars Poetica, or her own publishing through NW Trillium Press, these hardly scratch the surface of the impact she had on the creativity and the lives around her.

So, it was no surprise to anyone who knew her when she was a little girl, perched in an apple tree, how she would live her inspiring life: That she would one day move far, far away to a land where she would express her boundless imagination and energy through her own books, and be honored as our Bainbridge Island Treasure. Some dreams do come true.

You Are Invited!

A Tribute to Nancy Rekow 

Open to the public

Bainbridge Island Library

Saturday, June 11 from 1 – 4PM

A poetry reading featuring friends of Nancy will take place in the Main Room

In honor of Nancy Rekow, the poems collected have been published into a memorial book and will be available for purchase both at the event as well as at Eagle Harbor Bookstore.

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