NANCY LOUISE LOADMAN (NAN)

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NANCY LOUISE LOADMAN
December 5, 1955 - February 10, 2021

Our beautiful and beloved Nancy ("Nan") Louise Loadman passed away suddenly on February 10, 2021 from an acute aortic dissection at the age of 65. Nan was born in Winnipeg, the fourth of Drs. Alice Evelyn and Bruce Loadman's four girls. She grew up in River Heights, attending Robert H. Smith elementary, River Heights School, and Kelvin High School. From the very beginning, Nan had the purest and most genuine appreciation for every part of the natural world. So much so that she would frequently choose to sleep on the balcony outside her bedroom on Montrose Street. Growing up, Nan could often be found outside, by water, counting the bugs, the stars, and appreciating every little being around her. She had many happy summers at Trout Lake and loved to canoe and sail. She was also an experienced camper and spent many treasured hours exploring the Manitoba and Ontario wilds with her mother Evelyn.
Nan had to overcome many challenges and endure significant loss early on in her life. Her resilience was palpable to everyone that knew her. These formative experiences gave Nan an intrinsic understanding of what was truly important. She knew that life was meant to be savoured, celebrated, and shared with loved ones.
Nan met the love of her life, Tim, when she was 19 years old. They married in 1978 and built a beautiful, full life together over almost 47 years. Nan and Tim shared a deep sense of care for the environment, a love of all kinds of music and of exploring the world together. They created a family of their own with their two children, Ben and Meg, whose childhoods were full of laughter, unconditional love, and unwavering support for all their endeavours. Nan and Tim also had an incredible community of neighbours in Wildwood Park, who quickly became lifelong friends.
Nan obtained a Bachelor of Science and later a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba. She then went on to become a beloved Instructor in the Department of Biology at the University of Winnipeg ("U of W"), where she taught for 35 years. In 1986 and 1987, Nan took a sabbatical from the U of W to work at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, which took her to the Rockwood Fish Hatchery near Teulon, Manitoba. She also frequented the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography ("ASLO") conferences and presented research all over the United States alongside her cherished colleagues.
Nan's career was significant not only because of her contributions to the scholarship on the effects of UV radiation on plants, human stressors on freshwater ecosystems, and many other topics, but because of Nan's profound and lasting impact on her students. Nan's teaching evaluations were bursting with praise for how she ignited students' interest in biology, limnology, and chordate zoology, her unparalleled mentorship and investment in their success, her commitment to creativity and innovation as a scientist, and her proclivity for having the class break out in songs about fish or dinosaurs. Nan loved her research, but most of all she loved her colleagues and her students. Nan's undeniable core was that of a wonderful teacher, a steadfast mentor, and the best kind of friend and champion anyone could ask for.
Nan's love of nature continued to be a central focus in every aspect of her life. Her house was always a refuge for a turtle who had lost its way or newts that needed a place to crash. Nan also raised her children to have a deep respect and appreciation for all creatures great and small. She was happiest during the time spent at the families' cottages on Lake Winnipeg, where there were countless celebrations, wave jumping days, and kitchen dance parties. Nan also became an active member, and later a scientific advisor, for the Lake Winnipeg Foundation. This community and the health of Lake Winnipeg were so important to her. Nan was truly an experiential scientist, spending many summers on the Namao research vessel on Lake Winnipeg and donning her rubber boots at every opportunity to trek out into the field with her students.
Nan was over the moon to welcome her two grandsons, Charlie and Owen, and her great-nephew, Graeme, to the family over the last four years. Being Nana and Nanan to these three wonderful boys, and answering all of their questions about the world around them, was one of the greatest joys of her life.
In the days and weeks since her passing, her family, friends, students, and colleagues have lamented the loss of not only Nan, but of Nan's beautiful laugh. Her humour, love of celebration, and undeniable zest for life punctuated everything she did - Nan turned everyday moments into lifelong memories. No event was left without a uniquely shaped cake to mark the occasion. We were not ready to live without our Nan, but we are so grateful for all the memories she left us with.
Nan was predeceased by her parents, Evelyn and Bruce; and her dear sisters, Susan Lloyd and Alison Loadman. She will live on through her beloved husband, Timothy Fultz; her children, Benjamin Fultz (Alicia Barnard) and Megan Fultz (Dayne Moyer); her grandchildren, Charles and Owen Fultz; her sister Mary Fultz; brothers-in-law, Christopher Fultz and Derek Lloyd (Anne Calverley); nieces, Joanna (James) Turner and Jennifer Fultz; nephews, Jonathan Lloyd (Heather Phenix), Matthew Lloyd (Ruby Katilius); and great-nephews, Graeme Turner, George Lloyd, and baby Lloyd-Phenix.
We would like to thank the first responders and 911 operator as well as the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital Emergency Department for their considerable efforts.
The family will be gratefully accepting contributions to the Nancy Loadman Memorial Fund through The Winnipeg Foundation, which will ultimately be used to support students at the University of Winnipeg who share Nan's passion for science and the natural world. Donations can be made at: www.wpgfdn.org/Loadman.
A celebration of Nan's life will be held as soon as it is safe for us all to be together.

Until we meet again, Nana, at the lake
on the edge of the universe - we will
love you forever and never forget you.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 20, 2021