Nancy F. Harrington

Nancy Fletcher Harrington, 91, passed away June 22, 2025. Nancy was born January 1, 1934, in Hempstead, NY. She graduated from Oldfields School in 1950 and Vassar College in 1954, majoring in child education. Nancy taught art and language arts at Aiken Preparatory School for 34 years. Her students learned how to look at art and write their own stories about famous works by the likes of Winslow Homer, Degas, and Bruegel. Nancy also worked for a time at the Savannah River Ecology Lab which inspired a great interest in owls and sparrow hawks, for whom she cared and kept precise data.

Nancy grew up on horseback and knew the Hitchcock Woods thoroughly. She served as joint MFH (Master of Fox Hounds) Aiken Hounds in the late ‘50s/early ‘60s. She spent many happy hours riding her chestnut former racehorse Etnay Kissel Dotter Conger Harrington (1956-1966).

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bob Harrington. She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Watkins (Bill) of Durham, NC; a son, Robert J. Harrington, Jr. (Lia) of Aiken; two grandsons, Zach and Jake Harrington; and a sister, Elizabeth Fletcher Meyers of Christmas Cove, Maine.

She was also predeceased by Lassie, Annabelle, Earnest, Tag, Moose, several Jack Russells (dear Bisque, Hazard, Racquet, and others), and more recently her Border terriers Sparkle, Scratch, Fenway, and Wrigley. No doubt they are now in “joyous reunion” as depicted in the Rainbow Bridge poem dog lovers know so well.

Throughout her life Nancy created up-to-date family photo albums, replete with affectionate narration and numerous exclamation points. She was an avid reader, reading widely on subjects of interest (she devoured the Harry Potter and Patrick O’Brian series). She enjoyed artists’ and women’s biographies. Nancy also listened to choral and classical music. She played the recorder and piano; for awhile she sang in the choir at St. Thaddeus. This former teacher and dog owner will be remembered for her intelligence, humor, and candor.

The family would like to thank the staff of Cumberland Hills for their care.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the Hitchcock Woods Foundation (hitchockwoodsfoundation.org).

A Celebration of Nancy's Life will be held Saturday afternoon, June 28th at 1 o'clock at Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home.

SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC