I will admit it, the Lifestyle part of the newspaper has always been my favorite. I always looked forward to Nancy’s column, and enjoyed reading about her life and adventures. My condolences to her family, co-workers and friends on their loss.

I too always looked forward to Nancy’s columns. They were like letters from a good friend. My deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

Nancy was a lovely and gentle person. Every one who knew her liked her and looked forward to her Southern accent and her stories of daily life. She talked just like she wrote. I choose to remember all the good times we all shared. She will be greatly missed.

Nancy Miller was both my editor and my friend. I will always cherish our friendship and the times that we spent together. After I moved to Tucson last spring, we remained in close contact with each other. Her gentle wit and her genuine warmth will be missed by everyone who knew her. What a tragedy.

Nancy loved books and writing. She was a careful editor. She treasured those visits with her Arkansas family. She made time to meet with friends. Although she had hobbies such as gardening and books to occupy her retirement, she wanted also to give back to the community through teaching. I enjoyed knowing her as a colleague and a friend. I will miss her.

Though I never met Nancy, reading her columns made me feel as though I knew her. I was selfishly saddened by her retirement as I too always looked forward to what she was going to write about. I could always be sure it would bring me an early morning laugh. My sympathy to her family and friends. We who enjoyed her column have lost a friend, too.

I attend Saint Louis Community College at Forest Park where Nancy was our school newspaper’s editor, so to speak. She always was smiling and you could tell her life was all about journalism. I can’t imagine how our paper’s staff is going to cope with this. We’ve lost our friend.

Nancy had a wicked sense of humor — the zingers that would come out of her mouth were even more funny because they were said in that sweet Arkansas accent. She was always an understanding and fun editor and I enjoyed talking with her or e-mailing back and forth about stories. She was one of my favorite people at the paper. This is such a loss.

Nancy was a dedicated journalist who worked long hours to enrich the lives of our readers. Even after she retired she was called back to fill in, and did so with grace and diligence. I am so saddened by the news of her death. She will be missed.

Nancy’s column always brightened my weekend–sweet words about her mother, her travel, the little pleasures of life. How darned unfair (and frightening!) that she be deprived of a fulfilling, well-deserved retirement life and how devastating for close friends and family. We’ve lost one of the good ones. . .

I met Nancy through my uncle and she became one of my favorite people. Over time she was a part of our family and we all loved her very much. She was bright, always cheerful and there for everyone she knew. I loved reading the columns that she wrote - everything was so very personal. The world will be a little lonelier without her in it.

Nancy was a joy to know. It’s difficult to think of her brightness and laughter in the past tense. I am forever grateful to Nancy and Peter for all of the kindness they showed me, and am holding Nancy in my thoughts today. I am certain she will live on and shine brightly in the hearts and minds of all who had the pleasure of knowing her. May she rest in peace and happiness.

Needless to say, I was in total shock to hear of Nancy Miller’s death. I always saved the Lifestyle section to read last so I could savor Nancy’s column, I enjoyed it so. Her column was one of the bright spots in the paper. I was very surprised last June when she retired, but I hoped that she would have a happy “retirement”. My sympathy goes out to her family and friends, most of which we got to know in her columns over the years.

I am heartsick to hear of Nancy’s passing. While working at the Post-Dispatch, Nancy and I found ourselves in conversation many times, though we worked in a different parts of the organization. Each time we connected, I would share how much I enjoyed her conversational, interesting way of writing — and she would respond with such genuine humility and pleasure, as though hearing it for the first time. She reflected such grace and warmth. May her family and friends eventually find some sense of peace in the midst of this shock.

It was with shock & disbelief that I read todays headline on Nancy’s death. I immediately phoned my mom. Together, we read the article slowly, then again. We remembered Nancy’s wonderful columns about “friend Peter,” her dear mother, her sisters & other family members & of course, her cats. Her columns were the perfect way to start a Saturday morning. When her columns quit appearing in the revised format of the Lifestyle section, I emailed Nancy. I told her I missed her columns, missed hearing about her friends & family & I couldn’t help but wonder how they all were! These people I had never met but loved reading about! I told her I knew changes were inevitable, but the disappearance of her column was a difficult change for me. She IMMEDIATELY responsed with an upbeat, friendly email. She said how glad she was that she had stayed at work late that night so she could receive my email & hear my compliments. She was hopeful that her column would soon return & thanked me graciously. Soon after, I read of her retirement. My thoughts go out to her friends & family. I imagine she was warmly welcomed into Heaven by her dear mother. St. Louis has lost a wonderful lady.

I read Nancy’s column in Lifestyle and was sorry when she announced her retirement. I loved hearing about her escapades with Peter and her sisters!! She brought joy and new perspective to the lives of others — I am sad, but my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. If I miss her — how much must they miss her?
Fay

I always looked forward to Nancy’s columns. I didn’t know her personally, but her writing made me realize what a delightful person she was, and I knew that I would have enjoyed being her friend. Her columns were always such a delight, and I have missed them in the Lifestyle section. I was shocked and very saddened to learn of her tragic death. I offer my condolences to her family and friends, and hope that they are able to take some comfort in that they knew Nancy, and were able to enjoy her warmth and spirit.

When Nancy took over the Lifestyle section, she not only became my editor, she also became my friend. She was so southern-sweet and caring, so warm and generous, with such a sly sense of humor, it was impossible not to like her. She also was a fantastic editor, whose eagle eye caught many of my typos. I’m so blessed that our friendship continued after we retred. But then, that was Nancy:. She may have edited a section that dealt mostly with furniture and clothes and other “stuff,” but as her writings reflected, she knew what the most important things are. We’ve lost someone very special.

I was sad the day that Nancy wrote her last column in the paper and I am sadder today. I so looked forward to hearing about her fun escapades with friend Peter and her relatives in Arkansas.

My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved her.

Bette Willis

Brilliant user of self-effacing humor. Chronically cheerful. Top-notch Arkansas drawl. Tireless worker. Skilled editor. Gifted writer. Wonderful friend, colleague, human being. — Thoughts that come to mind from having known Nancy 25-plus years.

I am a yankee who loves southerners. and Nancy Miller in particular. I was once told that when a southerner says, “Bless Your Heart,” he or she doesn’t always mean it. This would not be true of Nancy who I worked with for 30 years, and for several years on a daily basis. She was as sincere as they come and when I saw her coming she always had a smile on her face. Nancy blessed my heart. Bless hers.

Dick Weiss

I met Nancy through a mutual friend, Joy, and have to say that I was delighted to realize that she was as charming and delightful in person as she was in her columns. Her warm Southern smile and stories were absolutely unbeatable for keeping parties hopping. She had a fantastic zest for good wine and great food and was just one of the loveliest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My sincerest sympathies to all of her family and colleagues and especially to Peter. She WILL be missed.

I always loved Ms. Nancy’s pleasant comfortable way. She was from Ft. Smith Ar., and she had such a lovely soft southern accent that could take the tension out of any situation.

I met Nancy Miller when I was an intern at the Post-Dispatch right out of college. She was an editor on the city desk, and I was an eager young reporter. She made me pull up a chair and sit next to her while she edited my raw copy. She was patient, funny and charming. I had grown up in the South and her drawling accent was a comfort. Nancy had a light touch with words, and she taught me how to say more with less.

She was old school refined. Her columns were a true window to the type of person she was, and I aspired to be that sort of writer and person. We went out to lunch soon after she retired. While she waited outside the restaurant, a strange man approached her and wanted to read her aura or some other mumbo jumbo. She was trying to politely back away, but he wasn’t getting the hint. I took her inside and said, “Nancy, you are too nice.”

That was her way – graceful, kind and incapable of rudeness.

Last week, she sent me an encouraging email after reading my first column. I wrote her back saying that I hoped I would make her proud. She responded, “I have no doubt you will.”

She was the classiest editor I’ve ever had.

Shock and disbelief - that’s all I feel today.
I’m a a freelance writer, and Nancy gave me my first chance in Lifestyle back in 2004 , when I hosted and wrote about a 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Tea Party. Nancy even came to the event! I have a wonderful photo of her from that day which I treasure.
She carefully guided me through my Entertaining articles, making them …and me… look much better .
My sincerest sympathy to her her family and friends.
Sheila Frayne Rhoades.

I didn’t know Nancy Miller, but was touched to read that she had served as a journalism adviser at Forest Park Community College, where I took my first 101 class more than 20 years ago.

I was so sad to hear of the untimely death of Nancy Miller. Every Saturday morning, I went to the Lifestyle section first to read her column. I felt like I knew her after reading her column every week. She was such a delight and she will be missed, I’m sure, by all her family and friends, and my sympathy goes out to them.

When I began working at the Post-Dispatch nearly 11 years ago, Nancy was one of my colleagues on the Metro Desk. Her cool head and sharp wit served our readers and our newsroom well. When Nancy spoke, we all listened — in part to hear what she had to say and in part to revel in the Arkansas accent that decades in St. Louis could not dent.

Nancy made reporters better by making their stories better, and she made the newsroom better by being herself.

One of the best newsroom stories I tell is a Nancyism. In the late 1990s, facial piercings were not as common as they are today. Yet we had a young intern sporting a nose ring. Nancy sized him up one summer morning when she wanted to send him on an important interview. “The nose ring will have to go,” she told him. But, he protested, it only comes out with pliers.

And in her sweet Southern drawl she replied: “Well you better find your toolbox.”

Godspeed Nancy. May the angels take you into paradise.

There are woman in this world that have touched lives of people that they have never met. That would be Nancy Miller. Within her columns we were invited into her living room and got to share the stories that are usually saved for best of friends. Her loss will be felt by more than the people she has known in her life, but also by her faithful readers who unknowingly to her also became her best of friends.
My deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

One of my favorite Saturday morning rituals has been to read the Saturday Post-Dispatch while drinking my coffee. Before she retired in June, I always save the Lifestyle section for last, mostly because ending that morning routine with Nancy’s columns always brought a smile to my face - no matter what news the rest of the paper may have brought. I was sad to see her retire this past year and - I must admit - she came to my mind the other day as I read another one of my favorite columnist. I still follow that same routine, but I know now I won’t ever read that section without thinking of Nancy. I pray for God’s comfort to those who knew and loved her on a personal level - and to those of us who felt like one of her dear friends through the stories she shared.

It was with shock and great sadness that I learned about Nancy’s death. Nancy had just come on board as adviser for the student newspaper at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. In my job as the newspaper’s managing editor, I had just started working closely with Nancy and was delighted with our new working relationship. Nancy was already a highly effective teacher and compassionate mentor to her young charges. Transferring her experience over from the Post-Dispatch, for the benefit of students, gave a new generation of aspiring journalists an opportunity to learn from the best. She was charming, diplomatic, insightful, and witty. Such a tragedy that her teaching career came to an abrupt end.
The staff and students of The Scene offer our sincere condolences to Nancy’s family.

I still get up at 6:00 a.m. and walk the 250′ to the end of my driveway for the Saturday paper. It has always been my favorite — every Saturday I thought of her smiling face and how I miss her column. Cannot believe she is gone because I always thought maybe someday she could be a “guest” on Saturday again. We all will miss her very much — My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

This is just awful, horrible news. I met Nancy when I worked at the Post-Dispatch about 7 years ago. She always extended a warm greeting to me and I remember distinctly her sweet southern drawl. While I didn’t work with her directly, I bumped into her frequently because our departments were in close proximity. My deepest sympathies to her family and all of her Post-Dispatch coworkers and friends.

Nancy always had a smile and was such a sweet and lovely person. She was funny, smart and loyal. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt her. I’m shocked and saddened by the news. My sympathies are with her family and friends. Nancy will be keenly missed.

I felt so close to Nancy even though I’d never met her. Reading her column always made me happy—I always figured because we were both in our 50’s and had some of the same 50-ish thoughts. Once I emailed her to let her know how much I enjoyed her writing and she emailed a thank you right back. It made me feel so special.
I am very sad for the loss of her and my prayers go out to her family.

I was so shocked and saddened to hear this tragic news about Nancy. I was a young, green reporter the summer of 1995, an intern for the P-D metro desk, a small town girl insecure about my ability to meet the demands of a large daily. Nancy always greeted me with kindness, shared her knowledge and experiences, lightened the mood with quick wit and a smile — and always seemed to believe in me. Working with her that summer continues to be one of the highlights of my career. I wish I had one more opportunity to tell her thank you.

My heart and prayers go out to Nancy’s family. I really enjoyed working with Nancy. She was a gracious lady.

Nancy was among the first editors to accept my freelance articles in the Post. She was always encouraging me; answering my endless emails, and treated me with great respect and tenderness. I was honored to finally meet her at a writers’ conference and she made me feel as if we were old friends.
I will never forget the email she sent me after my first article was published in her Lifestyle section. She wrote: “You did it, Robin. You got it right. I knew you could!” What a sweet and caring woman she was. I’ll miss her.

Robin Garrison Leach

Nancy was, in a word, adorable. I have fond memories of drinking Pink Puppy Punch and gossiping with her, usually about people we didn’t know, like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

It is horrifying to think of such a gentle, kind person meeting such a violent end.

I will forever remember Nancy as a diligent, thoughtful editor who helped me to keep my sanity while I was in NY during 9/11. I am deeply grieved by this news and will keep her family, colleagues and friends in my prayers.

Add me to the list of people who wrote for Nancy and got a double bonus out of it — an excellent editor and a personal friend. In a time crunch the rest of the world might become terse on the phone — but not Nancy. No matter how tight the deadline she was always charming, friendly, funny and kind. In this and a million other ways — not the least of which were her wonderful Saturday morning essays — she enriched our lives. It’s impossible to think that she’s gone.

I had never met Nancy Miller but am sickened to hear of her needless, untimely death. I so looked forward every weekend to reading her column in the Lifestyles section of the Post and sure was sad to learn she was retiring when she did last May/June. What a sincere, funny, upbeat writer!! It is so unbelievably sad that her retirement (at least from the Post) lasted such a short time. May God comfort her family and companion Peter.

Nancy Miller was my instructor in Mass Communications last semester at Forest Park Community College. She was funny and so easy to talk to and she especially loved talking about working for a newspaper this gave us all a chance to find out what that was like. Even though i had only met her for one semester she certainly left in endelible impact with me and for that alone i will miss her. eva olson

Dale — Thank you so much for doing this.

At first, I almost resented the sunshine this morning, as if a day that starts with such awful news should be gray and dismal. It was a horrid twist that the Saturday paper — for so many years, the home of Nancy’s column in the section she made come alive — would be the way so many of us would find out. I haven’t picked up a Saturday paper since Nancy’s retirement without missing her and her way with words, with an anecdote, with sharing life. I realize now that I always heard her columns in her Southern drawl. Among her legacies, she leaves a number of editors and reporters who are better at both because they worked with and learned from her.

Nancy Miller was my direct editor on the Metro desk when I was a young reporter hired at the Post-Dispatch during the mid-1990s. She was a skilled editor, an encouraging mentor and a friendly face in a sometimes intense newsroom. She was the kind of editor who recommended restaurants and books while also making (excellent) suggestions on how to improve a story. She encouraged creativity and good writing. You could discuss story ideas with her and not worry about ridicule.

Because of the nature of the job, a lot of journalists develop thick skins and distant emtions regarding the people being written about in the news. But not Nancy. She was a sensitive soul who cared deeply about the people behind the headlines: The children struggling in St. Louis schools, the families living in impoverished conditions and the victims of violent crimes. How heartbreaking and devastating that she, too, became a victim of a horrible, tragic crime.

Nancy also showed her compassion to the people in the newsroom. When I moved to St. Louis from the West Coast, she constantly asked how I was doing, how I liked where I was living, how I was coping with the weather. As my boss, she was so caring when she learned that my mother had cancer, and she was understanding if I needed to take time off to visit my mother. She continued to ask about my mom for years after.

When I got engaged, we giggled over wedding-planning details. It was just a year or two ago that she asked me how I was enjoying the Mikasa French Countryside plates that I had registered for and received as wedding gifts almost 10 years ago. I didn’t even recall the name of my dishes. But after speaking with her, I went home and checked and, yep, she was right on. That’s just how classy she was.

We stayed in touch after I left the paper. She always had kind words to say about me and my writing, about my husband and his funny sense of humor, about my daughter and her big, brown eyes. Speaking of my child, I moved back to St. Louis in 2004, a few months before I gave birth for the first time. I hadn’t seen Nancy in five years, and she gives me a $50 gift card to Target to buy my baby girl “some pretty clothes.” That’s just how generous and kind she was.

I will miss Nancy very much. My heart goes out to Peter and her family.

Readers will never know how much of Nancy Miller went into their Saturday Lifestyle section. I sat on the Features copy desk, diagonally across the aisle from Nancy, before she retired, and I can tell you all that in addition to writing her column, she read every word in every Lifestyle, usually twice. She was a pro, gracious and caring and careful. My day started with “good mornings” with Nancy as I arrived and “good nights” when I left. Yes, she was there early and stayed late.
Most of our conversations, however were about music. She was a big fan of folkie/alt-country/singer-songwriter types, and we often traded stories about and reactions to shows at Off Broadway or the Focal Point or the Sheldon. We shared a mutual respect and admiration for the music of Tom Russell. For the past several years, Virginia and I met Nancy and Peter at Off Broadway for Tom’s then-annual appearances there. In a few weeks, TR will be back in the area, in Mount Olive, and it will be strange to be there without her. Russell’s “Blue Wing” will be even more powerful: “And I fly away beyond these walls/
Up above the clouds where the rain don’t fall/
On a poor man’s dream.”
We are poorer now, Nancy; you are missed.

I worked with Nancy for many years at the Post-Dispatch. She was always kind … even during difficult times. I am sickened with grief.

The world is a colder place without Nancy.

I so enjoyed reading her colums in lifestyle. It was like we were chatting in person. I’m just sicken to hear of her death. Please extend my sympathy to her family & friends.

Nancy has been my close friend for nearly 20 years. There is no one word to describe her, but if I had to, gracious would be that word. Nancy was stunningly kind, regally charming yet completely unpretentious. It is so comforting to see how much she meant to so many people.
I respected her, admired her, enjoyed each moment spent with her and loved her. I will miss her so much.

Nancy Miller was one of my best friends for more than 20 years. She was my second boss at the Post-Dispatch and one of the kindest, brightest and most thoughtful people I know. As a boss, she was fair and encouraging and always led with our strengths. As a friend, she was loyal, dependable, and always ready with good advice. I think the last tidbit she shared with me was the benefits of Kenmore vacuum cleaners — they’re the best! She emailed me twice this week just to find out how I was doing. My voice was probably on her answering machine the night she died.

I am numb with saddness and grief over her loss. She will be deeply missed by all she touched, especially those of us who loved her and had the great privilege of knowing her well. Rest well, my friend. Love, Lia

STOP THE VIOLENCE. I am mourning several good women gunned down already this year. There’s a great war going on if you feel you need to use weapons. Why do they silence the good ones and leave the bad here? RIP Nancy. You are in a better place.

Nancy was a steel magnolia. She was warm, smart & very funny and very thoughtful. She was generous with her time and yet very hard working. I’ve been reflecting on the funny stories one gathers from 25+ years of knowing her. In the winter of 1982 with the ‘big storm’ that shut down the city, Nancy was out shoveling the driveway of our apartment building in the dark in her bathrobe so that she could make it to the Post that night! Well of course I had to help her! She rescued me more than once when I locked myself out of my apartment in those days and always treated me like an old family friend. She was an excellent cook, stylish, well traveled with many friends of all types. I loved her stories and her column. And she was a steel magnolia. Once I witnessed someone make insulting comments about something with which Nancy was affiliated, and lovely Nancy, with great aplomp & politeness, delivered a zinger that was so perfect I’m not even sure the intended ‘caught’ it! It was an absolute perfect moment!. Nancy’s laughter & warmth come to mind. Being around Nancy was always good. She was an original and I’ll miss her very much.

I never met Ms. Miller but always looked forward to her column. It always seemed like a update from a friend, just a few lines to let us know what she had been doing. I contacted her once to comment on a column, and she replied almost instantly. I was impressed by her graciousness. I was saddened when she retired, but happy she was able to move into another chapter in her life. How sad that it was cut short in this way. My heart goes out to her family and friends.

I had been reading Nancy’s column for some time, I looked forward to reading it on Saturday mornings. A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy through my cousin Joy. What a lovely lady, gracious, kind and warming. We met at a Super Bowl party and there was a little girl there, Nancy ended up spending a lot of time with her, whether by choice or not, she never let on. Nancy will be missed by many, my deepest sympathy to her family and friends, especially Peter and my dear cousin Joy.

As a City Desk intern in the late 1980’s, I remember Ms. Miller’s smile. I am shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Her family is in my prayers.

Nancy Miller is a very genuine and special person that deserved a lot more life to live. I am very disgusted by the news of her death! She was very appreciated!! When I bought my home she was one of the first people to rsvp to my housewarming party. The night she was found dead her neighbor phoned me and mentioned I was one of the few people she could think of to call. That seemed strange because I hadn’t seen Nancy since her and Peter were dining at Acero a few months ago. Well her neighbor told me that Nancy was always saying nice things about me and that’s why she thought to call me. I am really MOVED by this! She will never be forgotten……I am listening to and dedicate the song “I will remember you” by Sarah McLachlan to Nancy.

I want to add my heartfelt sadness to the moving and loving expressions of grief at Nancy Miller’s death. I feel a true sense of personal loss although we didn’t know each other really.

Nancy was the first editor who gave me a chance to publish my byline in a non-local publication. She was consistently kind, encouraging and helped give me the courage to go on writing.

That so many people have taken the time to express their admiration for her strength of character paints a picture that’s worth a thousand words.

It didn’t feel real before - not really possible - And now today’s news makes it horribly real -
Nancy deserved far longer in life. Let’s work to remember her as she lived and not how she was taken from us. My prayers and sympathies to her family and close loved ones. Fondly, Jill

Nancy was a wise editor whose first concern was the reader. In her mind, the reader was our real boss. She wanted to serve readers stories that showed heart and human motivation behind the who, when, where and why. She hoped even the most tragic story (yes, the ones similar to this one about her death) would make readers think deeply and maybe take action.
In the late 1990s as Assistant Metro Editor she had wide responsiblities assisting a fine man whose illness presented memory challenges years before his death. Nancy was quiet and quick about taking a stitch there, cleaning up a tiny fire over there so that his earnest efforts and his self-esteem could remain whole for as long as possible. Few knew of her efforts and that is how she wanted it. She’d wave her hands and laugh off any thanks. For years she worked weekends so he could be with his children.
When Nancy’s nieces and nephews came to town, we, her Post-Dispatch colleagues, didn’t need to be told. Her usual smile widened.The Southern lilt in her voice swooned with joy and she was even wittier than usual. She loved her family and her beau Peter.

There are no words to describe Nancy.
As a very close friend of my mom and family, I’ve known her as long as I can remember, and ever since I was a little girl I have thought of her as one of the coolest ladies that I know. Her always genuine “How are you?”s and her sincerely charming disposition set Nancy apart from any other adult that I know. I was always impressed by her ability to relate to me, especially when I was very young, just as she would relate to one of her own friends. Whenever Nancy called to talk to my mom and I answered the phone instead she would always, without hesitation, start talking to me as if I was the one that she called to speak to. She made me feel just as loved and special as I know that she made my mom (and many others) feel. Nancy has always been the kind of genuine, honest woman that I always hoped that I could grow into, and I hope that I can honor her memory by continuing to strive to be the effortlessly wonderful lady that she was. I am still so horrified that this could happen to her, but all I can say is that I hope that she knows how much we truly love her and miss her.

Nancy Miller had a gentle way. She liked to smile and laugh. She was kind. She was friendly. She also and in equal measure was newspaper woman with whom to be reckoned .. As an editor she expected as routine stories that contained the extra fact, the extra quote, the extra observation that would give the reader information and insight no other media was giving them. Excellence, she belived, sold papers.. She was my editor during one of the happiest and most productive periods of my career - a period in which I grew as a reporter and a writer. I didn’t argue with her much over changes in my copy because, hard as this is to admit, she was usually right.

I WAS, SO SHOCKED TO HEAR, ABOUT THE MURDER OF NANCY MILLER.
I ENJOYED, HER COLUMNS SO MUCH.
NANCY WAS A GREAT WRITER.
I LOOKED FORWARD ,EVERY WEEK, TO READING HER EVENTS FOR THAT WEEK.
I AM SO SORRY, SHE NEVER GOT TO ENJOY HER RETIREMENT.
I KNOW HER FAMILY, WILL MISS HER SO MUCH.
WHAT A TRAGEDY TO SUCH A WONDERFUL, CARING PERSON.

Once again, our fine justice system @ work. This criminal was sentenced in 2003 for 10 years? It’s 2008; by my calculations, he only served half his time. What a crime there is in that alone, never mind the needless death of someone who was by all the posts seen here, a positive force in this world.

This is such a tragedy.

My heartfelt condolences to all the friends, family & loved ones of Ms. Miller.

I am so saddened to hear of Nancy’s cruel death. I never met her but felt like I knew her through her columns. I always looked forward to reading of her escapades with Peter and her friends and family. She had a way of making “life” seem so fun and interesting. She will be missed.

Her many loving caring friends are a testament to Nancy’s unique character and style. May she be perpetually surrounded by their love for her. What a tragic and senseless loss of life.

I knew Ms. Miller at Broadmoor Condominiums. She always had a smile for us, unless, of course, she was battling chipmunks or squirrels. She wrote about those critters, too! ~ I am so saddened by the news of such a lovely lady to meet such an end. I’m sure she’s walking with the best Angels and her wings are the brightest right now. My sincerest sympathy to her family and friend, Peter.

It has been almost 20 years since I worked with Nancy at the Post-Dispatch but she still shines brightly in my memory. Newsrooms are not the kindest and gentlest places to work, but Nancy was unfailingly kind and gentle. She was focused and decisive. Yet in any discussion or disagreement she was never anything less than composed and respectful. In my mind I can still hear her soft Southern drawl, I can still see her ebullient smile. The world is a poorer place without her.

As other comments have reflected, eventhough I never met Nancy personally, I felt as if I knew her through her columns. It always felt as if I was chatting with a dear friend over a Saturday morning cup of coffee. Perhaps it was the Southern connection that I shared with her. What a tragic loss to the community, mostly to her students at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. I hope that her teaching and her spirit always inspire you to be the type of writer and editor that she was. If you can do that, then she accomplished her mission.

I didn’t know Nancy but her writings touched me. The reader could feel her warmth and genuine kindness through her words. I hope she is at peace.

My shock over this senseless tragedy is absolutely overwhelming.

I have such fond memories of my time in St. Louis because of wonderful co-workers like Nancy. I still smile when I think about the times she and I ridiculously tried to outbid each other at all those silent auctions.

My heart sinks at the thought of her final moments, and I can hardly breathe when I imagine the unbelievable grief her family must be experiencing.

I worked with Nancy for 9 years at the Post-Dispatch, and am deeply shaken by the news of her death. Nancy was not only a friend, but a role model. She was grace under fire. This is one of the most rare and esteemed characteristics – one that I certainly have always struggled with – and one that Nancy so easily embodied.

For years, I watched this classy lady deal with deadline pressures and some seriously frustrating meetings, and I was amazed at how she conducted herself. It didn’t matter if you were new to the paper or had seniority, she listened to everyone’s opinion and addressed everyone with respect. She was a pleasure to work with – a highly organized leader who was a super hard worker and a great collaborator.

Nancy was also a very thoughtful person. Back when my dad died, she didn’t know me that well, yet wrote me a very touching card that really made me feel like I was part of the Post-Dispatch family. When I had a baby shower, she came, and when my work schedule switched to nights, I could always count on Nancy for some conversation and a feeling of comraderie as we both burned the midnight oil. I feel so lucky that right before she left for retirement, I was able to express to her how I felt about her. I remember she had tears in her eyes, and so did I.

I will always remember you Nancy, and will always keep with me the lessons you taught me simply by being yourself – a genuinely nice person.

Nikola Maria Taylor

My sympathies to Nancy’s family on this tragic loss. She was wonderful, and I looked forward to reading whatever she was sharing during her Saturday Lifestyles column. What a terrible loss of life. She will be missed.

I was so shocked to hear this news. I am so very sorry. Ms. Miller was a lovely person as I came to *know* her from her writings over the years. A wonderful spirit has been taken from us. She will be missed very much.

I read about Nancy’s tragic death with deep sadness. My condolences go out to her family. Each week I faithfully read her column and got to feeling like I knew her. I appreciated the warm way she wrote about her family and friends–simple yet hearfelt and sincere. It’s clear she was a wonderful person–that was obvious in her columns, which were a gift for all of us to read.

I am very angry that the parents of the “recent parolee” allowed their vicious, violent son to live in the same tony Chesterfield condo complex where Nancy lived.
Didn’t his parents sense it would be a poor match to bring a man barely a week out of state prisons on a 7-year sentence into the area. The name is Walters.

If the parents are renters, they should be evicted. If owners, the association should force them out. Murder is against condo association rules, no doubt.

Furthermore, did the parents ever consider keeping close tabs on the parolee? Time in prison is like earning a graduate degree in crime, according to most. Were the parents unaware of this? Recidivism is a well known fact.

I am so angry over her murder, by this beast that his parents let out of the cage.

Good work police and neighbors, on identifying him and locking him up.
Now, for the trial.

I know Nancy, and both respect and admire Nancy’s life and work.

I am just sick over the death of Nancy. I did not know her but enjoyed her writings. I am so sorry her family and friends have to go through this. I don’t understand how this sick person could do something like this. I will never understand.

My reading of the comments listed here goes to show what a wonderful person she was.

I didn’t know Nancy Miller or even read her columns in the paper. I have since read the exerpts and I am very impressed. I think it is so unfair for people to be murdered, for any reason at all. This was a person who cared about people and who worked with people. That was what her life was all about. May you rest in peace.

I didn’t know Nancy Miller but I felt like I did. I loved to read her columns. And, yes, on one occassion, she did respond to an email I had sent her. So she was very “real” to me. What a stupid, vicious, random act to end her life. My condolences to her family and all those who knew and loved her.

I worked with Nancy at the Post-Dispatch about 10 years ago. We were on the Teen Marketing Committee together. I enjoyed working with her on a proposed teen section for the paper even though nothing came of our hard work. At the time, I was trying to keep the paper’s high school journalism program alive and she encouraged my efforts. So it didn’t surprise me to read that Nancy was working closely with college journalism students during her retirement.

I am heartbroken that Nancy is no longer with us. She was such a special person who had a kind word for everyone. She was so approachable and easy to talk to. She deserved a long and happy retirement doing all the things she loved.

My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family as they try to cope with this tragic loss.

The terrible news about Nancy arrived this morning in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
I am completely stunned by the violence done to such a gentle person. Having worked with Nancy for years, I can assure readers that what they read in Nancy’s column was authentic and true. My heart goes out to her family in Arkansas and to her many friends in the entire Post-Dispatch family, present and past.

We met Nancy about 12 years ago through our friend, Peter. Nancy immediately clicked with all of our friends — who could not like her! Over the years we did many things together … dinners, movies, concerts, two trips to Mexico. All of the things said in the other messages are so true. She was a warm, funny, sweet, gracious lady, loved by all who knew her. She touched many lives and will be missed by all of us. Our deepest sympathy to her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews who were so special to her and to our dear friend, Peter.

Tommie and Jim Degnan

It was a terrible shock to hear this sad news on Saturday. Although I never knew Nancy personally, I am so saddened by her tragic and senseless death. As many others have said, I read and really enjoyed her column every Saturday. Her stories about Peter, her friends and family seemed like a conversation with a good friend.

My deepest sympathies to her family and friends.

I was shocked Sunday evening to hear the devastating news of Nancy’s death. When I recognized Nancy as my former advisor from the student newspaper at St. Louis Community College, I almost burst into tears. The news of her death left a heavy feeling on my heart. How could someone so brutally assault and murder that sweet woman?
I am honored that I had a chance to know Nancy, however brief it was. I met her during my last semester at the community college and only regret that I didn’t have more time there to learn from her.
I think about the rough drafts of my articles, sitting in a folder inside my filing cabinet, that bear the editing marks of Nancy’s expertise and I know that I will keep them as a reminder of Nancy’s kind encouragement and wise wisdom.
As a final thought, I truly hope that the black eye left on the face of her attacker was by Nancy’s fist. I hope he is haunted for the rest of his miserable life by the memory of his evil act and that he withers from existence knowing that he was unworthy of life in the first place.

Nancy was an assistant metro editor when I joined the paper in 1996. In one of the first stories I wrote, I described someone I quoted as having a “drawl.” My editor, John Curley, balked at that description; it was insulting, he said. He turned to Nancy, who was editing copy nearby. “What do you think? You’re our resident expert on all things southern.”
Nancy looked up with that sly smile she deployed so well. “I prefer to think of it as a lilt,” she said. I quickly lost the drawl.
That was Nancy’s essence. Even when correcting an insensitive New England boy, she was the personification of grace and charm.

Nancy’s column was always the first thing I read in the Saturday Lifestyle section. I have really missed reading her column’s, I suppose, because they were so personal she made you feel like a friend. That’s how I feel now, truly shocked by her violent death. So tragic, and so unfair.
My deepest sympathies to everyone who truly did know her.

Dear Friends of Nancy,

My prayers are with Nancy’s family and friends, but especially with her former co-workers during this time of very sad loss. In a previous profession, I had to pitch story ideas to Nancy. She could have ignored my calls, but she didn’t. Instead, she usually had a pithy or funn response, and always a kid-glove approach to rejection. Never rude nor curt, yet professional through and through, she stood the stereotype of the crusty editor on its head. We all lost a friend last week, but your loss is obviously deeper. By reviewing these many tributes, never doubt the power of professional news people on the public. You are important. All of you matter. May Nancy look out for you from above.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Nancy was one of the most kind and positive people I have ever met. She really was one of the good people in this world filled with evil. We didn’t keep in touch after I left the P-D, but that memory of her demeanor and good nature has stayed and will stay with me. That memory is something that this weak, little, oxygen thief of a man can take from me.

I was saddened at hearing the news of Nancy’s passing. I work for an institution that Nancy belonged to. She was always a joy to see and help. She was one of those rare individuals whose eyes were always “smiling”. I take solace though as I read through the comments left here. Look at how many lives she has touched! How many were mentored and taught by her! How thankful we can be that even in this most horrific end Nancy will live on through the many lives she has touched!! God bless her family and friends, and find them peace.

Ken and I knew Nancy on a personal level. She was an extraordinary woman with so many talents. We will miss her.

What a testament to Nancy that 89 people have already felt compelled to share their thoughts about her. She was warm, had a dry wit , was very sweet, and,was always a lady. Another reason she was so special is because when a person was talking to her, she gave them her full attention. Nancy will be missed by all who knew her, and ,from reading many of the comments about her ,she will also be missed by those who did not personally know her, but felt that they did because she wrote her articles from her beautiful heart.

“Our Loss,” Nancy wrote on my favorite piece of personal Post-Dispatch memorabilia, a 2×3 foot caricature poster inked by Dan Martin as a parting gift when I left the Post in 1995. Nancy will live on in my memory as a gentle and forgiving soul. Always encouraging, witty and appreciative of simple kindnesses, Nancy really made the newsroom feel like family. No Nancy, the “loss” is really ours.

Such a beautiful lady. I helped Nancy carry the boxes to her car on her final day at the Post-Dispatch. We joked a bit and I remember her stopping at the elevator for one final look back at the newsroom that she loved so much. There was a sadness in her that is impossible to describe. The awful senslessness is too much to understand.
Bill Smith

Saturday mornings at the kitchen table…. I would always save the best for last, Nancy’s column.

I have never connected with a columnist or journalist until I found her. I still have a column of hers that I cut out years ago and still read faithfully- a gentle, yet funny reminder about how to treat people and deal with life’s little ups and downs.

Nancy- you were a gift to all of us, whether we knew you personally or through the written word. You will be missed.

Like many posters here, I always enjoyed Nancy Miller’s columns in the Lifestyle section. I was absolutely shocked to read of her brutal murder — even more so when I realized that she was only a year older than I am. There but for the grace of God …

Obviously she touched many lives during her too-short time on this Earth. I hope the Post-Dispatch and/or Lee Publications will consider setting up a scholarship fund in Nancy’s memory — perhaps one here in St. Louis and one at her alma mater (University of Arkansas).

Bill McClellan’s column in Monday’s paper was a lovely tribute.

Nancy’s column was the very first thing I’d read, and I always enjoyed hearing about her week, what she and her sisters did or where she and Peter had dinner. I was so upset when she was no longer in Lifestyle, and am crushed to hear of her senseless death. So, so sad.

I didn’t know Nancy, and to my knowedge, I never read any of her articles. But I am greatly saddend by her death all the same. No one deserves to be a victim of such a brutal crime. What happened to her is too awful for words, and I just can’t imagine how one human being could do something like that to another. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her loved ones.

Hey Nancy, today is Monday—–I cried—–almost all day. The last three days I’ve been in shock. You are a special lady with a Southern charm that will be missed. I thought about you on my way home from work. It’s warm today and I opened the sunroof. Remember when you couldn’t close your sunroof? We both giggled and prayed that it wouldn’t rain.
Your Lifestyle Assistant
Karen

I joined the Post-Dispatch staff the same year as Nancy, 1977, but left her and so many other wonderful friends behind when I moved on 13 years later to other publications. The Post years were just the best in terms of good memories and good people. I think of you all now with love and share your sorrow.

Many years ago, before Nancy moved to St. Louis, she was my assistant city editor at what was then the Arkansas Democrat (now the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette). I was the city editor at the time - a 20-something way over his head. Nancy spent much of her time turning my bad decisions into good ones.

Over time we became friends. I’ll never forget the time I took her fishing on Lake Maumelle near Little Rock. Nancy was a born newspaper person, but I promise she was not a born fisherman.

On the day of our trip, the temperature was in the 90s. Nancy showed up at the marina with her fishing equipment - a half gallon jug of Gallo wine and a package of Dixie cups. Red wine and the Arkansas sun conspired in the usual way. The last coherent statement from Nancy that day was: I am so confused.

Today, I’m the one who feels confused. We only meet a few truly exceptional people in our lives, Nancy was one of mine.

I am a friend of Nancy Miller’s sister, Vivian Nix. I wanted to let all of Nancy’s former co-workers and friends know that I am deeply sorry for your loss. I am praying for all of you and the family. I wanted to share with you my thoughts about Nancy:

I meet Nancy only once, last year at her sister’s college graduation. Nancy “met no strangers”. It was like we had known each other for years. Almost immediately, we shared some common bonds. We both “loved to talk”. Ha. Ha. Which I am sure her sister Vivian can attest. We also enjoyed talking about our families and how proud we were of their accomplishments, especially on that day. Nancy was a loving, kind, caring and warm person whom I was privileged and honored to have known. To all of Nancy’s family and friends, May God’s love surround you, His grace sustain and lift you up, and His peace comfort you during this time.

I met Nancy in May of 2007 when she 1st joined The Scene the St. Louis Community College-Forest Parks newspaper. She was a very nice, caring, gentle woman who didn’t deserve to have her life taken away by a cold hearted, thoughtless intruder. Even though I only knew her for a short amount of time she affected my writing a lot. She edited a lot of my articles before she took over as advisor of the paper. I was in complete sadness and shock when I found out about her murder. I truly hope her attackers black eyes came from her fighting back. She will be greatly missed, rest in peace Nancy.

To the family of Nancy Miller

I did not know her personally but looked forward to her news letter on Sat. morning in the Lifestyle Magazine. I was so sadden when she left that position. The paper hasn’t been the same since. I am still trying to absorb the fact that her life was taken in such a horrible way. Please know that my heart is with you during this terrible time. She shall be missed by a break many people. God Bless

I loved Nancy’s Lifestryles. I so enjoyed reading her personal commemts at the beginning of each issue. Lifestyles isn’t the same without her. What a horrible ending of such a beautiful person. My sincere condolences to Nancy’s loving family.

I represent the Arkansas chapter of the Nancy Miller Fan Club. Until reading the postings on this blog I never fully realized the depth and scope of her fan base, or the many, many lives she affected over the years. She would be so proud of this outpouring of love and affection; and her mother, the indomitable Vivian, would have been dazzled and delighted by it. She raised her daughter well.

I first met Nancy in 1968, when I began dating her best friend, Diann, when we were all students at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. I quickly understood that I could never win Diann unless I earned Nancy Nix’s seal of approval. Nancy was “Nana” and Diann was “Dudder.” They had been best friends since they were 13-year-old girls growing up in El Dorado, Arkansas; they could already finish each other’s sentences, an art they would only perfect in the coming years. Often, all it took was a single word or a name to trigger spasms of laughter. Even then, as a 20-year-old journalism major, Nancy was the most polite and gracious of women. But she also had her mom’s biting wit and her own unique charm and sense of silliness; she was always enormous fun to be with. I introduced her to the man who would become her husband. They were the sole witnesses present at my wedding to Diann, and the next year Diann and I were the only witnesses at their wedding. (They divorced a few years later.)

Over the next decades, Diann and I remained in constant contact with Nancy. We celebrated holidays and birthdays together, vacationed together, enjoyed concerts and the races together. She was there when our kids were born. In fact, our children were in grade school before they came to realize that “Aunt Nancy” was not actually a blood relative. She had a great love of food and an uncanny memory when it came to dining experiences; she could tell me exactly what I had ordered at a restaurant seven years before — the entrée, the dessert, everything — and whether or not I had liked it. In time I came to know and love her wonderful family, the Nixes; her special St. Louis friends; and, of course, her longtime companion Peter, one of the sweetest souls who ever lived. We visited Nancy only last month. As always, she was the perfect hostess. And as always, she and Diann stayed up every night until the wee hours, sipping wine and gabbing . . . and laughing.

Like so many of you, I loved Nancy Miller. It is inconceivable to imagine the world without her.

I loved reading Nancy’s personal column at the beginning of each Lifestyles issue. When she retirred I kept meaning to e-mail her to tell her how much I missed her, but regretfully I neverdid.
May G-d give solace to her grieving family.

Shirley Zeffren

I never met Nancy but I felt like she was a friend thru her Lifestyle column. I am a mother of a young son and I enjoyed her stories of entertaining- it was fun reading about someone who enjoyed entertaining so much and she had the coolest ideas! I was sad when she left and hoped the Post would do an update on how she is doing in her retirement.

I was horrifed when I saw her photo and the article about her tragic death Saturday! I felt like I, too, had lost a friend. I can not stop thinking about her stunned family, friends, co-workers and dear friend, Peter. I work in Chesterfield and it is so unreal to think something like that could happen to someone so incredible in such a safe and nice area.

God Bless you Nancy for brightening my Saturday mornings and for being so devoted to your readers!

I worked closely with Nancy for 10 years at the Post. So many things come to mind when I think of her. I can imagine her now in one of the many of meetings we attended, laughing and smiling with reading glasses perched on top of her beautiful thick red hair. She knew how to enjoy life, but there was never any question that she also knew how to roll up her sleeves and get down to business. I always admired her unshakable work ethic. As a page designer one of the highlights of my day was seeing that final sign-off on one of her page proofs: “OK NM.” You better believe that was a page with no mistakes because she had that ‘eagle eye’ when it came to catching even the slightest grammatical error. She practiced excellence in everything she did, not just when it was convenient. Working with her was a pleasure because she never came to work with a bad attitude. Thank you Nancy, for inspiring us all to do our very best work and actually have fun at the same time!

Christine Zueck

I had only a small connection to Nancy Miller, but like so many others, I feel compelled to write about her.

Nancy and I talked by phone once a few years ago. I had left a message for her, asking for advice that I might give to students in a writing workshop who were interested in freelancing for Nancy’s Lifestyle section. That evening she returned my call.

Although Nancy and I had never met, I felt that I knew her through her column. And she knew who I was. That’s because during college in North Carolina, my daughter became a close friend of the daughter of Nancy’s dear friends in Little Rock – the friends she mentioned often in her column, Diann and Craig. My daughter’s friend loved the woman she had called Aunt Nancy as she grew up, and she always visited Nancy when she came to St. Louis. So through the daughter of Nancy’s friends, my daughter knew Nancy, and I knew Nancy’s friends.

That night when Nancy returned my call, we talked first about the people we both knew – Lindsey and Kate and Diann and Craig. Then Nancy offered suggestions for my workshop students. I was surprised that she took so much time with me because at 7 p.m., she surely wanted to head home. I thought she was giving me special attention because of my daughter’s connection to her friends.

Now that I’ve read the tributes here, I suspect that I was wrong. I probably would have received the same attention and useful advice from Nancy if I had had no connection at all to her life. I see that she made many people feel special.

I remember a comment that Anna Quindlen made years ago in her column in the New York Times, that she didn’t think she was old enough yet to be wise. The comment got me thinking about what actually does make people wise.

Nancy’s columns and these tributes to her show that she was wise. She wrote about the subjects that matter to people – family and friends and good times together. She connected with readers and with the people around her. She helped people to smile, to feel good about themselves and to enjoy life.

Rest in peace, Nancy. May your family and friends be comforted by this outpouring of appreciation and love for you.

Mary Harrison

Nancy was a gifted and thorough editor. I remember showing her pages that had been corrected and were ready for a quick glance. No such luck with her; she would read the entire page again, and sure enough, would find something others had missed.
She was calm and patient on deadline. The clock would not rush her copy-editing. She had the power of concentration and would break away to discuss the art or design of the page and then rush right back to the words.
At office parties or social gatherings, Nancy was a safe-haven for conversation, empathy or a good laugh. As a newspaper designer for more than 30 years, I have had several favorite editors, and Nancy is one of them.

Reading all of these comments and anecdotes about Nancy have been so comforting and have brought smiles to my face in a time when the pain and sadness is unbearable. She would be so touched.

I have grown up with Nancy as my “Aunt Nanna”. She was much more to me and my family than my mom’s best friend, she was a part of our family and we have been fortunate to have her at our house almost every Christmas Eve and every other important event in our family history. She was one of the most thoughtful, caring people you could ever hope to meet.

I lived in St. Louis last summer and am so grateful to have had three months of wonderful meals, glasses of wine, movies in the den, and fun with Nanna and friends. With her I always felt at home and her wit, charm, and knack for story-telling was a constant reminder of why she and my mom have been inseparable their whole lives. Their friendship was one of those rare and lasting bonds that one can only hope to find in life. I loved just being in the room when my mom and Nancy were together- Nancy drawing out my mom’s Arkansas accent and the two laughing at inside jokes only they knew from a lifetime of shared experiences.

I cannot imagine our lives without her- the loss will always be felt. But, I feel so fortunate to have had my Aunt Nanna as a model for how to be a friend and how to live life with grace, class, and humor.

In Lifestyle I always turned first to Nancy’s essay. I remember one about the gift of a robot vacuum cleaner for a friend, some about short interesting travels. Nancy Miller, William Woo, past editor and columnist Elaine Viets, all now missing from the Post’s pages.

I wish I had written Nancy two years ago when I thought of it and told her how much I liked her.

This is published on behalf of Joan and Harry Seltzer:

When we remember Nancy, we remember her smile. That warm smile that exuded interest, care, love and respect. Nancy Miller will be missed, but never forgotten.

I hadn’t seen Nancy since 1992, when I left the Post-Dispatch, after a career there of 20 years. But I remember her as being reliable, soft spoken, deferential, talented, and a good person to have on your team.

I’m shocked and saddened to hear of this tragedy.

I feel as if I’ve lost a friend, though I never had the pleasure of meeting Nancy Miller. Each week, I looked forward to her Lifestyle column and I was sorry to see her retire last June. I am still trying to make sense of the loss of someone so vibrant and in love with life. I hope the Post-Dispatch issues a commemorative book of her columns through the years . My condolences to her family and friends.

I never met Nancy, but I loved her column and her stories about the simple pleasures in life. When I moved to this area, she was one of my best finds. I feel like I lost a friend and am haunted by her murder. I offer my condolence to her family.

My dearest Nancy:

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your world.

I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to know you and I will cherish the memories, always. I smile when I think of you. You are beautiful through and through. It is unbearable to believe you are really gone. I always said you were an angel and I meant it.

Like so many others, I didn’t know Nancy but felt like she was an old friend. I looked forward to reading her column each Saturday. I missed her so much when she retired in June and haven’t enjoyed Lifestyles since. I am haunted by her tragic, senseless death. I only hope her family and dear friend, Peter, will be comforted by all the wonderful tributes to this special lady.

There have been very few people in my life who have inspired me to be a better person, let alone a better journalist. Nancy Miller was one of those people. I’ve worked for The Scene, the student newspaper of St. Louis Community College - Forest Park since January 2006, serving most of that time as photographer and photo editor. This semester, I have also taken on the additional duties of sports editor. Even though it seemed like a heavy work load for me, Nancy made me feel like I could do it. I drew new energy and a new passion for my work from her. Her enthusiasm was infectious and I looked forward to working with her and catching some of her mojo even if only through osmosis.

This past week has been difficult, especially as a journalist covering this tragic event for The Scene. I know I should remain impartial and not let my feelings influence my writing, yet my heart aches and wants nothing more than justice at this point. If I hurt this much after only knowing Nancy for the short period she was with The Scene, I can’t imagine the grief and sorrow of those who worked with her for years or even decades, or who knew her their whole lives.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her family, and by family I mean friends, anyone who ever worked with her, or read her columns, because that’s how she made us feel - like we were family.

I waited this long to write something. I just didn’t know what to say. I met Nancy at the newly-formed St. Charles bureau. We both started around the same time. For some reason, we could always make each other smile. Years later when we were both in the Downtown office and we saw each other on the elevator, we both instantly smiled. So, what can you say about the person that taught you how to use the word “nonplussed” with a Southern accent? And what do you say about someone who recommends that you go see the Land of Kong when you go on a trip to Arkansas? You can say that she was truly one of a kind. The great thing for me is that anytime someone mentions her, I will always smile.
Susan Emory

As a freelancer for the Lifestyle section, I was privileged to communicate with Nancy, whether by e-mail or phone, on a weekly basis. I always looked forward to those moments, invariably punctuated by laughs, that we shared. What a loss. What a legacy of joy she leaves behind.

I was Ms.Miller student this past fall. She was the best teacher I ever had. She was always there to email me with all the help I needed. Our class was so fun. She opened up my eyes. I will never forget her, this is so hard. Rest in heaven peacefully Ms.Miller…love you