Nancy Hoffman Evoy passed away peacefully on Jan. 3, 2026, at Crosslands in Kennett Square, Pa., aged 95. Nancy was born in Williamsport, Pa., and had lived in Abington, Bryn Mawr, and Villanova, Pa., as well as West Tisbury.
She retained her curiosity, sharp mind, sense of humor, and ability to connect with almost everyone she met.
Nancy attended Skidmore College, graduated from Penn State, and later earned her master’s in library science from Villanova University.
She was proud of her 21 years (1972–93) as head librarian of Gladwyne Free Library. Nancy was instrumental in establishing the library as the first in the township system to offer videos and compact discs, and using her business acumen, she helped develop an excellent business reference section. She saw the library through multiple major additions and renovations to the building. Nancy was an invaluable collaborator and supporter on Gladwyne Library League endeavors. A Gladwyne Library Board member said, “If Gladwyne Library is the ‘heart of the village,’ then Nancy is the heart of the library.”
Nancy was a past active member of the Interschool Council of Lower Merion School District, the Lower Merion Scholarship Fund, the Bryn Mawr Home and School Association, the Easter Seal Society of Philadelphia, the Southeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Library Association, the League of Women Voters, Rotary Club of Ardmore, Pa. (one of their first female members), Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard, and Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club.
She traveled extensively, was an inveterate conversationalist on many subjects (including stocks), and an avid reader of mysteries, the New Yorker and the New York Times — solving the crossword puzzles in ink. Nancy listened to NPR, and rarely missed “60 Minutes” or a PBS/Masterpiece series.
Nancy was a seasonal resident of West Tisbury from 1998 to 2019. Every summer, her daughters and their families and friends took turns visiting. Her favorite beach was Lambert’s Cove. She enjoyed art, gallery openings, fundraisers, the Howes House discussion group, and of course, a good yard or estate sale, apple fritters, chicken salad sandwiches from Humphreys, the Galley, and Chilmark Chocolates. She had a succession of faithful cats who loved the Vineyard as well.
Nancy is survived by three of her daughters and their families — Barbara and Jeff, Susan and Jeff, and Amy and Don; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. Her husband Nelson and daughter Debbie predeceased her.
The memorial service will be on Feb. 14 at 2 pm in the William Penn Room at Crosslands, located at 1660 East St. Road, Kennett Square, Pa. For those unable to attend in person, the service also will be available live on Zoom: bit.ly/Zoom_NancyEvoy, Meeting ID: 839 7734 3733, Passcode: 1660.
Contributions in memory of Nancy can be made to the West Tisbury Library Foundation, online at wtlibraryfoundation.org; to Polly Hill Arboretum, pollyhillarboretum.org; to Friends of the Up-Island Council on Aging, friendsofupislandcouncilonaging.org; to American Friends Service Committee, secure.afsc.org; to the League of Women Voters Education Fund, donate.lwv.org; or to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, weareplannedparenthood.org.
