In 1964, Nancy Van Dyke wrote “Mighty flames burst from little sparks.” A prophetic phrase for the Rockland District High School graduate 54 years ago as the 4 foot 10 inch Van Dyk made a big impact on the lives of friends, family, co-workers and community members in the ensuing years. On April 25, those who know Van Dyke honored her as she received Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor’s highest honor, the 2019 Lifetime Service Award.

Since 1960, the local Rotary has honored a senior citizen each April “ to honor a local patriot close to the actual Patriots Day holiday.” This year, Van Dyke’s dedication to the community earned her the honor. Van Dyke, 74, grew up in Owl’s Head. After high school, she attended business college in Portland. Following her college graduation, Van Dyke’s first job was as a computer key punch operator. “Yes, she worked with those giant punch cards with huge holes. So Nancy, this truly makes you a dinosaur,” said Al Roberts, master of ceremonies. 

A few years later, Van Dyke continued her business career at Wiscasset Ford in the dealership’s financial operation. As she worked in various jobs over the years, Van Dyke left an indelible imprint on her co-workers. When she decided to leave the business world for nursing, Roberts recounted the void she left on the dealership. “They needed three people to replace her.”

As a nurse at Miles Hospital in Damariscotta, Van Dyke earned the nickname “The General and Fancy Nancy.” Fellow nurse and close friend Pam Kamen described Van Dyke as always upbeat, friendly and “a person you wanted to see and speak to even though you haven’t seen her in a while.” Kamen also recounted how her friend dealt with a dying patient. “At the end, you need help with bathing, feeding, turning, pain management, mouth care, and skin care, just to name a few. To do this with compassion, dignity, fun, caring, and love is a true gift. Nancy has this, and, at the end, she is someone you would want to care for you,” she said. 

Van Dyke showed the same compassion to her sister Cynthia Heisler when she was dying from cancer. Two years ago, Van Dyke traveled to Heisler’s home and cared for her, Roberts said. Rotarian Vic Taylor also told about Van Dyke’s dedication to local food insecurity issues. He described her job as a complicated one which included  juggling recipients, shoppers, preparers and deliverers. And Van Dyke is Taylor’s favorite person he’s ever worked with. “The average person would be a bit testy dealing with these minions, not Nancy. She has the most positive attitude I’ve ever seen, and I’m not a young man, I’ve seen many attitudes,” he said.

Van Dyke has worked as an elder care nurse, provider and caregiver for most of her life. This dedication to senior health care earned her the nickname “911 Nancy,” from her friend Sue Burge. “When she learns someone is ill Nancy seems naturally to gravitate and assist. She is a true team player,” Burge said. 

Her Christian faith is a pillar that marks Van Dyke’s life. She served three times as a missionary to Peru and a “half dozen times” in Africa. She has served twice a month 23 years as a missionary in the Maine State Prison in Warren. George Nelson testified to her dedication to Christ and all of the Lord’s children. Eighteen years ago, Nelson declared he contracted “Nancyitis.”

“I’ve never heard of such a debilitating, incurable virus before,” he said. “It’s a source rooted somewhere near Boothbay Harbor and has been a constant irritation to many inhabitants of the coastal town for what seems hundreds of years.”

Van Dyke is married and has three children. She lives in Edgecomb with her husband John Van Dyke.