Nancy M. Coppolino

Nancy Coppolino was a woman of principle who stood up for what was best for children and always remained a strong advocate for what was right. She saw the future in the eyes of her students and her life's passion was to teach every child to read. She knew that books weren't just filled with pages and words...rather with hopes, dreams and possibilities.

Nancy died unexpectedly but peacefully on Monday, January 22, 2018 at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. She was 63.

Born on May 31, 1954 in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Harvey E. and Theresa M. (Deveaux) Ouellette. Raised and educated in Waltham she graduated from Waltham High School class of 1972. She then earned both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education from Boston College.

Nancy began her career teaching at South Junior High School in Waltham in 1977 where she met fellow educator Michael J. Coppolino. They later married on August 11, 1979 in Saint Julia's Church in Weston. Over thirty years ago they moved to Acton to raise their family and Nancy stayed at home to raise their children before returning to education. She taught part-time in Billerica before becoming a Reading Specialist at the MacArthur School and later Director of Reading and English Language Arts for the Waltham Public Schools. It was a position in administration that she felt would enable her to have more influence in ensuring every child learns to read. After being diagnosed with a rare form of Melanoma in August of 2016, Nancy retired from her position in June of 2017 in order to focus on her health.

Nancy was her children's number one fan and delighted in watching her sons work at Fenway Park as batboys for her much loved Red Sox. She beamed with pride in knowing her daughter followed in her footsteps as a teacher. She gave back to her community through involvement in a variety of organizations including Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Council, A-B Little League Board of Directors, Educational Foundation of Acton and Boxborough and, Douglas Elementary School Council PTO Chairperson. Nancy was content sitting at the beach where one is able to breathe in the freshness of the sea and breathe out the cares of the day. Sun, warmth, the water, a good book and company of family and friends created years of memories on countless number of beaches, particularly on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, which was her favorite. At home, she and Mike enjoyed tending to the yard and gardens and entertaining their many friends. Fiercely loyal, she had an enviable host of great friends who became family. With a terrific and contagious sense of humor and natural ability to 'story-tell' she was also very vocal and honest about matters important to her. She will be very much missed.

In addition to her husband of 38 years, Michael J. Coppolino she leaves their children, Michael C. Coppolino and his fiancé, Jessica Mushel of Newburgh, New York, Krista M. Curley and her husband, Matthew of Sudbury and Matthew R. Coppolino of Acton; her brother, Robert H. Ouellette of Plaistow, New Hampshire; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, cousins and many close friends.

Family and friends will honor and remember Nancy's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, January 26th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Julia's Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorials in her name may be made to DFCI Melanoma Research Fund of Dr. F. Stephen Hodi, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02245 or online at http://www.dana-farber.org, click on GiveNow and specify In Memory of Nancy Coppolino.