Nancy Hayes Sununu, former First Lady of New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024, surrounded by her family. Nancy was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on May 27, 1939 to Edward and Eleanor Christie Hayes, two loving educators who dedicated their careers to the Brockton School System. Nancy spent her formative years in Brockton and on Cape Cod, graduated from Boston University, and moved to Salem, NH with her growing family in 1970.
Nancy was the cherished wife of Governor John H. Sununu for sixty-five years and a devoted mother to eight children: Catherine, Elizabeth, Christina, John, Michael, James, Christopher, and Peter. Known for her grace and dedication to family, Nancy instilled a profound commitment to community service in her children, many of whom have given themselves to public service ranging from local politics to the US State Department, the United States Senate, and Governor of New Hampshire.
Throughout her life, Nancy built upon her parents’ passionate advocacy for education. She served on the Board of Trustees of Rivier University in Nashua, NH, and chaired the School Board in Salem, NH. Those who attended the Board’s regular meetings would inevitably note her ability to read, speak, and debateall while continuing to work on her current knitting project. Nancy received Honorary Doctorates from St. John’s University, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Iona College in recognition of her contributions to education and public service.
Professionally, Nancy held influential roles, including Project Director for the Republican Governors Association and Vice Chairman of the Republican Women’s Federal Forum. She chaired the Republican State Party in 1980 during the pivotal New Hampshire First in the Nation Presidential Primary that propelled Ronald Reagan to the White House.
Nancy’s unwavering support bolstered her husband’s political endeavors, showcasing her as a pillar of strength and dedication. As First Lady of New Hampshire, she exemplified grace and poise. She undertook the first major renovation of the historic Bridge’s House, and in 1987 led the organization of the Christa McAuliffe Ski Invitational and Scholarship Foundation which raised over $1 million to support sabbaticals for New Hampshire public school teachers.
Nancy’s philanthropic spirit shone brightly in her community involvement and charitable contributions. She served as a Board Member of Holy Family Hospital, the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, and on the Board of Advisors for the LPGA. She was also honored to sponsor the USS Montpelier (SSN 765).
Widely rumored to possess almost limitless abilities, Nancy Sununu’s prowess extended to skiing, golfing, and baseball, where her sharp eye at the plate was as keen as her accurate pitch. Early in life, her father imparted to her his deep knowledge of carpentry, a skill she would put to good use when she single-handedly refinished the basement of their Salem home to accommodate her growing family. Beyond athletics and carpentry, Nancy excelled in domestic arts such as knitting, sewing, and horticulture, often found cultivating her lawn on Samoset Drive, where her grass was always the greenest and her garden bloomed like no others.
Nancy dedicated her life to her family, friends, and the Granite State. She spent the last two decades in Hampton Falls, deeply involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, avidly participating in activities with them and constantly forging new friendships on and off the golf course. She had a natural ability to connect with people from all walks of life and political views, and was as comfortable meeting with Presidents and First Ladies as she was leading a meeting of the local PTA.
In addition to her husband John and eight children, she is survived by her sixteen grandchildren. Nancy was predeceased by her sisters Joanna Creney and Sally Christie. Her legacy of kindness and compassion touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her.