Sad News

[loracs]

At 7:29 am on Feb. 5, 2018 Nancy Thomas passed away at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA. She was 64 years old. I first met Nancy at a recruitment meeting for new FAT LIP Readers Theatre members in 1986. She was one of the founding moms. Within a few months, I found myself sharing all most every Sunday afternoon for over 10 years with this group of incredible women. At that point Nancy didn't have a car and my route home from the meeting in Berkeley took me close enough to Nancy's house that most weeks I gave her a ride home.

Nancy also was a regular at Making Waves, the swim for fat women first in Richmond and later (after the 1989 earthquake) in Albany. Again my route took me by Nancy's house, so I began picking her up for swim. I didn't know how to get to the pool, so Nancy told me where to go. Since she only had gotten there by mass transit, I learned the bus route. Even years after Nancy no longer attended swim, I most often took this route. Over the years, we spent a lot of time in meetings, rehearsals, parties and riding in my van. Our conversations were far ranging and she taught me so much, especially about the oppression of people in the mental health system.

Nancy loved chocolate. Nancy loved playing board games. Nancy loved her friends. Whenever you could bring those three things together, Nancy was in her sweet spot. 
If you knew Nancy, none of this comes as a surprise.

Rest Reclining on a Couch, my Fat Lip Sister.

Her family (parents and two sisters) will plan a memorial and we'll spread the word when we have details.