| Nancy Johnson Kirtland
DOVER - Nancy Ellen (Johnson) Kirtland passed away peacefully on October 18, 2020, following a lengthy illness. Nancy was born on December 5, 1956, to Merna E. (Painter) Johnson and Edward F. Johnson, the fifth of five children. She grew up in Rye, NH, and Durham, NH, and graduated from Oyster River High School in 1974. After high school, Nancy set out on a journey to discover what adventures the world held for her. On the way, she met the love of her life, Todd Kirtland, and they ended up in New York City, where Nancy attended and graduated with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Nancy and Todd then continued their journey together as they were married on September 19, 1983.
They settled in Stratham, NH, where Todd co-owned a prosperous construction business, and Nancy spent most of her time at Durham Stage Company / Mill Pond Center for the Arts, where she was artistic director. Because of her amazing personal and decorating style, Nancy's talents were often in demand to create costumes and build sets. She also loved to act and direct, and earned rave reviews from a Boston Globe art critic and also from Seacoast Repertory Theatre for her direction of “Tobacco Road.” But Nancy's greatest passion in her theatrical career was devoted to her role as educator and mentor to the youth and young adults she taught. Nancy also had great musical chops, possessing perfect pitch, a beautiful, expressive voice, an inherent gift for rhythm, and the ability to accompany herself on guitar and piano. She liked to draw in charcoal and oil pastels, and designed architectural blueprints.
For a while, Nancy and Todd operated Little Italy, a popular restaurant in Stratham, where Todd was head chef and bartender, and Nancy did the rest, including accounting, personnel management, supply inventory and ordering. To relax, they would indulge their love of travel; some of their favorite trips were to Italy, Germany, and several Caribbean islands.
Although Nancy was born with a congenital disorder, she never really appeared or acted disabled in any way. She was quite athletic and coordinated, participating fully in gymnastics, field hockey and cheerleading in school. In a highly adaptive manner, Nancy and her body have seemed to know intuitively how to right herself, even after very difficult surgeries and traumas. Her ability to bounce back has been noted with awe and admiration by many.
Most of all, Nancy was known and appreciated for her sense of humor and quick wit. Rarely at a loss for words, she could entertain and delight whoever her audience happened to be with a well-delivered phrase. Nancy will be greatly missed; she was and is inspiring to all who knew and loved her.
Nancy is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Todd; her mother and father; her mother and father in-law, and two cousins. She is survived by her siblings: Christine and Peter and family; Barney and MJ and family; Cindy and Dave; Carol and Chas and family; her nieces: Maddy, Rylie, Brianna; her nephews: Kyle, Erich, Ben, John Curtis; her sister-in-law, Blair; numerous cousins; close theater friends who will always know her as “Dora;” and many other lifelong friends.
Donations may be made in her memory to Boston Children's Hospital or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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