Nancy Louise Shammas
 

October 15, 1955 – November 29, 2012

Pacific Grove ~ Nancy Louise Shammas, 57, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2012 after a 5 year challenge with breast cancer. She was born on October 15, 1955 in Carmel, California. She attended St. Angela's Elementary School, Junipero Memorial High School and graduated from Pacific Grove High in 1973. She graduated from MPC and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior from University of San Francisco in 1980, graduating Cum Laude.

Nancy began her career at Gateway Center in Pacific Grove as a program coordinator. She then went on to become the first executive director of the Monterey County Special Olympics. In 1989, Nancy joined the staff at Digital Research as Human Resources Administrator. Nancy began a new career in publishing, working for Brooks/Cole Publishing Company as a Senior Production Editor. In 1999, she opened her own publishing services company, New Leaf Publishing, managing book projects for major textbook publishers and counseling clients with self-publishing projects. Most recently, Nancy was also the Blood Donor Recruiter for Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

Nancy was an active member of the community. She served on the board for the Skills Center, Inc., was a board member and graduate of Leadership Monterey Peninsula, and served on the Executive Program Committee of California Special Olympics. Nancy was an especially committed member of the Rotary Club of Pacific Grove. She proudly served as president from July 2011 to July 2012.

Nancy loved to travel and saw many parts of the world; she just returned from a European vacation and cruise with her brother in September. She loved the outdoors and long hikes. She especially loved Big Sur and Yosemite. She enjoyed playing softball and beach volleyball, making lifelong friends. Nancy was a devoted San Francisco Giants fan.

Nancy was a generous person and cared greatly for people. She was a
beloved daughter, sister and aunt. She had a close relationship with her family and had a special bond with her nieces and nephews. She is survived by her mother, Betty Shammas of Pacific Grove; sisters, Beth (Richard Gray) Shammas of Monterey and Anne (Jeff) Swedberg of Aptos; brother, Joe Shammas, Pacific Grove; nieces and nephews, Eron, Karson (Jacqueline), Krista and Julie Swedberg; Jamil and Nicolas Salas, Layla (Dror) Manor, Marta (Matt) Dalhamer and Coby and Robbie Shammas. Her father, Jacob, predeceased her in 1999. Nancy also leaves her beloved dog, Lola, in the care of Allen Bubar.

The Shammas family would like to acknowledge and thank "Nancy's Team": Dr Jerome Rubin, Mariana Nunez, Anna Thomsen, Beatrice Levinson, Dr Bonnie Gintis, the Oncology Nurses at CHOMP, Dr Diego Sanmiquel, Joy Smith, Amy Dore and Dr. Joanna Zhao. The family also thanks Nancy's best friends, Laverne Baker-Leyva and Judy Gonzales for their constant love and support.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated this Friday, December 7 at 11:00 am at St. Angela's Merici Catholic Church, Lighthouse and 9th St. in Pacific Grove. A reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Pacific Grove Rotary Legacy Fund, P.O Box 51, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950 or consider donating blood at Community Hospital's blood center. Please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com to sign Nancy's guest book and leave messages for her family.