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Nancy Whaley Cuthbert of East Moriches died on February 27 at her home on Tuthill Point, surrounded by her family. She was 86.
Born on January 9, 1930, to William Elliott Whaley and Katherine Harris Whaley, she grew up in Hempstead Village where she met her future husband, Pete, in high school. She was a cheerleader and he was a varsity basketball player. She modeled as a teenager and was invited to Manhattan by the Ford Agency, but decided she wanted to marry and have children. She and Mr. Cuthbert married in St. George’s Episcopal Church in Hempstead on August 12, 1950, and lived together in Northfield Falls, Vermont, while her husband finished his senior year at Norwich University.
In 1951 Ms. Cuthbet was chosen as the Queen of the Norwich Winter Carnival.
After Mr. Cuthbert served in the Korean War, they built a small house on Tuthill Point, which was soon over-crowded with six children. They moved to a larger house in Westhampton close to the schools, where Mr. Cuthbert taught. Ms. Cuthbert became active in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where she taught Sunday school, co-chaired the rummage sale for years, worked at the annual fair, was a member of the Altar Guild, and was the first president of the Seabury Chapter at St. Mark’s. She was active in Girl Scouts and enjoyed being the Scout leader of Troop #513, taking the girls camping and on many adventures. She was also known for her hospitality, hosting scores of friends and family at their ski chalet in Ludlow, Vermont.
For years Ms. Cuthbert served as the Race Committee chairperson at the Westhampton Yacht Squadron. When all the children finished high school, they returned to their small home on Tuthill Point. She co-founded the Hampton Bed and Breakfast Registry, a successful business venture for several years.
An athlete, she was a dancer, skied, played tennis and was one of those rare people who got right up on water skis the first time and never fell. She was an avid birdwatcher and keen bridge player, who also loved word puzzles and knitting scarves for family, friends and nurses who helped her during her long battle with cancer. She loved decorating her house every holiday, and enjoyed working in her gardens and flower beds. Her memory of dates and events was incredible, as was her cooking. Survivors said, Ms. Cuthbert was a “lady” in every sense of that word.
Ms. Cuthbert was predeceased by a brother, Bud; sister, Katherine; and granddaughter, Sarah. She is survived by a brother, Zach Whaley; her husband, Peter W. Cuthbert; and six children, Jane Clifton, Mary Waters, Peter W. Cuthbert Jr., William Cuthbert, Lee Green and her twin sister Lynne Jones; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 or the Westhampton Yacht Squadron, Box 315, Remsenburg, NY 11960.
on Mar 8, 2016