Saturday, November 9, 2024

Ann Marie Nickerson, 89

Ann Marie Nickerson (Andrews Mortuary and Crematory)

WILMINGTON — Ann Marie Nickerson, 89, of Wilmington, NC, passed away August 16, 2024.

She was born May 22, 1935, in Martinsburg, WV, to the late Bessie Vanmetre Bergdoll Diffenderfer and Cleland B Bergdoll.

Ann was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an accomplished science and math teacher and a real estate agent. She served selflessly through many philanthropic and volunteer organizations. Ann graduated from college in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in human resources/education, concentrating in Physical and Biological Sciences, from her beloved West Virginia University. She was happily married for 62 years to her late husband Philip E. Nickerson.

Ann grew up with an identical twin sister, Blanch, in Martinsburg, WV, spending many summers on the family farm with her sister, grandparents, aunts and uncles. She served as president of her high school student council as well as various officer positions in many other organizations. Ann was elected Martinsburg High School Homecoming Queen.

In college, Ann was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Dolphin Swimming Honorary.

After college, Ann touched many lives as a math and science teacher for 8th grade students in Maryland and Ohio. She pioneered a hands-on science course ISCS in Lexington, Ohio, with a focus on physics. She also substituted in many subjects for both junior and high school in California and Illinois. While living in Illinois, she earned a GRI and helped many families find their perfect domiciles as a successful real estate agent.

Ann volunteered in many service-based, charitable, patriotic, and philanthropic organizations where she held many offices. Most recently, she enjoyed her membership in the Wilmington Sorosis Evening Group where she has served as Chairman and Chair of Public Issues. She was also a member of the Stamp Defiance Chapter of the Wilmington DAR.

In Connecticut, Ann was busy as a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs where she served as a State President, District Director, Recording Secretary, as well as the 3rd and 2nd Vice President. She was also a chairman of the WFWC Public Affairs Special Projects. Ann served as a President of the Stamford Connecticut Woman’s Club. She was also a State President of the Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC). Ann held many offices as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), Daughters of Founders and Patriots (DFPA), Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, Connecticut State Officers and Regents Club, Stamford Newcomers/Suburbanites, and the Red Cross.

Out of college, Ann taught in the Catonsville Maryland school system when she met and married Philip E. Nickerson who was working as an engineer for Westinghouse in Baltimore. They had their two children Philip Jr. and Katherine before moving to Escondido, California. Ann and her family lived in MD, CA, PA, OH, IL, and CT.

Ann’s hobbies included playing duplicate bridge, ballroom dancing with Phil, voracious reading, politics, swimming, jazz music, power boating, and solving daily crossword puzzles. Ann taught boating safety courses within the Power Squadron organization on Long Island Sound while living in CT. Ann traveled extensively with Phil on business trips and for pleasure domestically and around the world. After retirement, she and Phil moved to North Carolina where they kept active attending lectures throughout North Carolina and enjoying the family cabin in West Virginia. Ann was also a staunch WVU Mountaineers and New England Patriots fan.

Survivors include her Son, Philip E. Nickerson, Jr.; Daughter, Katherine Ann Bond and husband Dr. Bradford Bond; Granddaughter, Vaughan Nickerson; Grandson, Philip G. Nickerson; Granddaughter, Elizabeth Bond and Grandson, Edward Nickerson.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held at the Sorosis Clubhouse, 20 South Cardinal Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Memorial Donations may be made to WVU Foundation (EIN: 55-6017181). In Memory of “Ann Nickerson” as the honoree.

Fund for WVU – 2W071

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