Nancy Holzka, 72, was born on August 11, 1937, at Center County Hospital in Bellefonte and grew up on West Fairmount Avenue in State College. The youngest daughter of Albert Witt Hutchison and Claire Homan, she is survived by her beloved brother and sister, William Hutchison, of Altoona and Anne Keller, of State College.
Nancy graduated from State College High School in 1955. She received a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1959.She later attended Columbia University where she received a Masters degree in Social Work. Nancy married Joseph A. Smith, also from State College, in 1960. They moved to New York City where they had three children before divorcing in 1972. From 1978 until his death in 1993, she was married to Joseph J. Holzka, of Staten Island. In 2008, she married Stephen Nutt, of Staten Island. Nancy began work at the South Shore Mental Health Clinic on Staten Island in 1974. She retired from the clinic as a Senior Clinical Social Worker in 2002.She was a past president of the Staten Island Chapter of the New York State Society for Clinical Social Work.Beginning in 1995, she maintained a private practice from which she retired earlier this year.
Those who knew Nancy will remember her for her varied interests, her sense of humor, and her love of friends and family. She was a feminist, and was passionate in her support of Planned Parenthood and of gay and lesbian rights. She loved attending the theater and listening to jazz music. She was an active supporter of the arts community on Staten Island.
In recent years she enjoyed meetings with "the ladies who lunch", a group of friends who gathered on a regular basis for food, conversation, and support. Nancy struggled for one month with a severe illness and died on Tuesday morning,August 3rd.
Nancy is survived by her beloved husband, Stephen Nutt; her three children; Kari, Joe,and Emily Smith; her three step-children, Molly Nutt, Jane Holzka, and Martha Orbach; and seven grandchildren.
A wake will be held at the Harmon Funeral Home Staten Island on Sunday, August 8, 2010, and Monday, August 9, 2010, from 2-4 p.m., and from 7-9 p.m.A memorial service is planned for early Oct. and will be held at the Unitarian Church, 312 Fillmore Street in New Brighton, Staten Island.