IN MEMORIAM: LUCY NAZRO

In Memoriam

Lucy Ann Collins Nazro

1927 - 1933

Lucy Ann Collins Nazro, founding board member of Austin Soundwaves and board member emeritus, died peacefully on August 21st. She was 86 years old.

Born in Dallas, Texas on March 29, 1927, Lucy devoted her professional life to education, in particular Episcopal schools and 32 years as head of St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin. She would go on to serve as president of The National Association of Episcopal Schools and was honored with the Ruth Jenkins Award for Outstanding Service to Episcopal Schools. She was awarded Honorary Doctorate degrees from both Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and The Seminary of the Southwest in Austin.

In the words of our executive director, Patrick Slevin:

Lucy was one of the most principled and thoughtful individuals I've had the pleasure of meeting in my 12 years "on the job." Lucy helped us develop our first private school partnership with Trinity Episcopal School that ultimately helped us refine our definition of equitable arts education. As Austin Soundwaves grew from a tiny grassroots program to one with hundreds of students and a growing team, she helped us to become an independent nonprofit and develop meaningful partnerships and relationships that exist to this day. 

I still remember the first meeting we had with school leaders at Trinity Episcopal School. Everywhere we went on campus, parents, teachers, and administrators stopped Lucy to say hello and give her a big hug. Lucy greeted each person by name, asking about their family members and mutual friends and colleagues. I was too early in my career to even consider the phrase "leadership philosophy," but I knew then that Lucy was the kind of leader and person that I wanted to be. She was a true servant leader who irrefutably made this world a better place.