Nancy Rawlings Lewis, 82, who retired as registrar from St. John’s College in 1998, died peacefully of cancer at her home in Murray Hill on Dec. 7, surrounded by her family. She was born in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 1933, the daughter of Nellie Morton Rawlings and Herbert Lee Rawlings, and the granddaughter of Henry and Bessie Morton.
She spent her childhood in Forest Glen Park and attended the University of Maryland. There she met and married artist Eric Winter and travelled with him to Juneau, Alaska, where the first of their four children was born. Two years later, they moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where they raised their children in a home they built out of ruins of the Christensen farm in Estate Tutu. In St. Thomas, Nancy managed the A. H. Riise Art Gallery and the Sheltered Workshop for disabled adults.
After the marriage ended, she moved with the children to Barcelona, Spain, where they settled for five years in the seaside town of Sitges. There, she became part of a creative international expatriate community. In 1976, she relocated to Annapolis, Md., where for 20 years she served as the registrar at St. John’s College. Nancy was on the board of the Friends of St. John’s and a member of the Caritas Society. Upon retirement, she was made honorary alumna of the college.
In 1982, she reconnected with an old college friend, Fred Lewis. They married in 1984 and have been by each other’s side ever since. Nancy was an adventurer who enjoyed life fully. She loved to read, garden, play golf, entertain and travel with her husband on many trips abroad and in this country. She savored lively discussions on any topic. Most important was her deep connection with friends and family. No matter where she lived, her home was a gathering spot for all. She will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, humor, grace, beauty and loving heart — and especially for her ability to make everyone she knew feel special and important.
She is survived by her husband of 31 years; daughters: Page Winter (Paul Smith) and Leslie Winter Mills (Raoul), both of Annapolis; sons: Eric Winter (Nui ) of Annapolis and Cy Winter (Stephanie) of Costa Rica; one stepson, Freddie Lewis (Patty) of Wilmington, N.C.; one brother, Herbert Rawlings (Beverly) of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; eight grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
The family expresses its profound thanks for the outpouring of love and concern from friends and neighbors for Nancy during her illness, and for the excellent care of the Hospice of the Chesapeake. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m., Dec. 21, in the Great Hall at St. John’s College. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s College, Box 2800, Annapolis, MD 21404.
