Nancy and Ed

 

Wedding October 2001: (L. to R.) Andrew Demsky, Willem Demsky, Kathryn Howard Demsky, Jose Oliva, Margaret Howard Oliva, Nancy Nielsen Howard, Edwin Howard, Sarah Howard

 

Nancy Ann Nielsen Howard
Burlingame High School Class of 1955

After Burlingame High School I attended San Mateo Junior College, Mt. Zion Hospital School of Nursing in San Francisco, and Miss MacAleer's Secretarial School in San Francisco. My work life has included being a Medical Secretary, Homemaker, Wife, Mother, and Grandmother. I was the Operating Room Ward Clerk at Scenic General Hospital (1980-84) and Surgery Scheduling Secretary at Stanislaus Surgery Center (1984-1990). I recently retired (2003) as a scheduler and biller for an anesthesiologist who is also a pain management specialist.

Edwin Howard and I were married in San Mateo CA in June 1961 and we stayed in San Mateo while Ed taught junior high in South San Francisco. Our first two daughters, Margaret and Kathryn, were born at Mills Hospital in San Mateo. We moved to Modesto CA in 1968 when Ed accepted a principal position at a junior high school. Our third daughter, Sarah, was born in Modesto. Kathryn and her family live in Napa; Margaret and her family, in San Leandro. Sarah currently lives with us. She has an AA degree from Modesto Junior College and attended UCLA for a year. She is working now and continues classes at MJC. She plans to complete her BA in the near future. We are proud of our three young women and are thoroughly enjoying the growth of our two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Before joining the paid work force, I served three schools in many capacities including PTA and assisting in the classroom. I was PTA President at Lakewood Elementary, La Loma Junior High, and Downey High School and was on the District Board for PTA. We enjoyed supporting our daughters in their many activities during their years in the Modesto City Schools and continued to do so as they went on to universities.

While living in Modesto we have actively supported many of the area's cultural, musical, educational and environmental programs. We serve our church family in many capacities including the choir and various committees. We have sung each year in the local Habitat for Humanity Choral Concert.

Currently I am the Hosting Selection Chair for the Modesto Chapter of AFS (American Field Service Intercultural Programs/USA); Ed is the Chapter President. As Co-Chair with my husband, we represent the Sierra San Joaquin Area Team on the Southwest Regional Council of AFS. These are volunteer positions.

AFS brings high school students from over 50 countries to the US for an eleven-month stay with a host family and sends students to almost the same number of countries for a semester, full year, summer, community service, or language stay program. In 2002 I was selected by the local Soroptimist Club to receive a "Woman of Distinction" honor for Community Service.

Our belief that learning about other cultures and people is beneficial to all keeps us involved with young people especially in the area of exchange students. In this small way we feel that we are bringing peace to the world one person at a time.


Grandchildren, December 2004
Nicolai (6 mo.) and Emilia Oliva (2-1/2)

Grandchildren, December 2004
Willem (almost 5) and Lena Howard Demsky (2-1/2)