Obituary

Nancy J. Mazzone

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 6:15pm

Nancy Joyce Nivison Mazzone passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 3, 2022.

She was born March 26, 1950 in Norfolk Virginia, second of five children of Betty Joyce Leeper Nivison and Admiral William Nivison. As part of a military family, Nancy lived in multiple places growing up including Norfolk Virginia, Guam, San Diego, Monterey California, White Sands New Mexico, Newport Rhode Island, and Greece. While her father was stationed in Greece the family traveled through Europe driving a yellow 1970 Plymouth Fury III called the “yellow banana.” Throughout her entire life she spent her summers at the Nivison family home on Squirrel Island, Maine.

Nancy graduated from the University of California San Diego in 1972, where she met her husband, Robert Mazzone. They were married on September 5, 1971 on Squirrel Island, Maine. After college she worked for the Navy as a software programmer at Scientific Applications International Corporation, part of the government services industry. She continued to live at multiple Navy bases throughout the United States during her husband’s naval career. Nancy was in the Navy Relief at every duty station her husband was assigned to. She helped young military families financial advice and budget counselling as well as being a Mentor to many young Navy wives.

Nancy gave birth to two children, Margaret and Michael while living in San Diego CA. As a Navy Wife, she moved to numerous duty stations, including Bremerton,Washington, Monterey, California, San Diego, California Panama City, Florida Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Norfolk, Virginia. In every duty station, she made a home for the family and made sure that the children got the best education.

Throughout her adult life, she made sure that her children went to Squirrel Island as often as possible and developed a keen appreciation for what made the Island so special.

Nancy was a keen swimmer, scuba diver and tennis player. She was also an avid reader, preferring science fiction, and member of several book clubs. Her other hobbies were gardening, birds and flowers. She was a member of the Grandmother’s Club and Ladies IMPS on Squirrel Island.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Captain Robert Mazzone; her daughter Margaret Mazzone Clifford; her son Mike Mazzone; six grandchildren: Caroline Clifford, Josie Clifford, Annie Clifford, Millie Clifford, Eli Mazzone and Callen Mazzone; her siblings Mike Nivison, Gigi Butler, Janet Wichowski, William Nivison Jr,; and her cousin Beth McCully.

Nancy will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at North Hampton Cemetery with a Celebration of Life to be held on Squirrel Island in August.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital in her name.