Page 4 - Fall 2020 Rochester Athletics Newsletter | University of Rochester

A field hockey legend:

Nancy Melvin

Taylor ’86N

Help Rochester Athletics Washington, D.C. They married in 1996 teammates were inspired by her quiet
honor her memory and Kip, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, but vibrant enthusiasm.”
went to work every day at the Pentagon.
Nancy Melvin Taylor ’86N was the Just three weeks before Nancy died, she
University of Rochester’s first All- Everything changed, though, on was inducted into Rochester’s Athletics
American in field hockey. For many years, September 11, 2001, when American Hall of Fame. Family members and close
she held school records for the most Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the friends were present. Many of her college
goals in a single season (17) and the Pentagon—killing Kip and 124 others. teammates and fellow players from her
most career goals (50). She also served Nancy was pregnant at the time, with the high school days also came.
as the team’s cocaptain for two years. couple’s second child. Four months after In honor of Nancy and her dedication to
Nancy worked hard off the field, too, as a her husband died, she was diagnosed Rochester athletics and her lively spirit,
dedicated nursing student. with Stage 4 breast cancer. After a long the University has launched an effort to
battle, she died in November 2003 at name the field hockey locker room after
Nancy was a lot of fun, recalls her friend,
the age of 39, leaving behind two young her.
teammate, and cocaptain, Christine Joor
sons. That December, Nancy was buried
Mitchell ’86. “I remember that she would “It’s a small way people can get involved
alongside her husband at Arlington
wear pinnies to parties—the ones that to give Nancy the recognition she
National Cemetery. Their boys, now 20
we would wear during scrimmages. She deserves,” adds Possee. “Nancy’s name
and 18, are being raised by Kip’s brother
made them fashionable. She’d also be on that locker room can and should last
and his wife.
the first one to get a party going or rally forever, just like her legacy will.”
us to go to one—she loved having a “Nancy was a dynamic, skilled athlete For more information or to support
good time with her friends.” who led by her expertise and instinctive
the locker naming project in honor of
After graduating from Rochester, knowledge of the game,” says Jane Nancy Melvin Taylor, please contact
Nancy met her future husband, Kip, Possee, an administrator in the Terry Gurnett ’77, associate director of
while working in medical research in Department of Athletics and Recreation athletics.
who was Nancy’s field hockey coach. “Her

4 ROCHESTER ATHLETICS WINTER 2020