Warner New Hampshire Artist, Fine Arts Printmaker: Nancy (Lewis) Nemec (1923-2003)

Although not born in New Hampshire (she was born in North Carolina), Nancy Nemec was a Warner New Hampshire resident on-and-off from 1942 to her death in 2003.

Nancy Nemec is pictured above, giving a demonstration at the annual League fair at Sunapee.

She  produced a great deal of her work at her “Kearsarge Studio.” In addition to her artistic talents outlined below, she was a contributing editor for the Concord Monitor from 1990-1991, and she taught art classes.  Born Nancy Lewis, she was the daughter of Tracy Hammond & Esther (Tufts) Lewis. Her mother Esther hailed from both the Sise and Lyman families who very early settled in Portsmouth NH. She graduated from Vesper George School of Art in Boston MA. She married and later divorced Boyce Nemec, and had three children.

The photograph above shows Nancy Nemec with her horse Zachary, at home in Warner NH.

She was a well-known print maker and worked in a variety of mediums. Her wildlife etchings won her several awards. Her intaglio and relief printing is what I am mostly familiar with, and I own three of her artwork pieces. (See one of them posted below).

Her daughter Patricia remembers her mother’s “whimsical side,” and provided a vacation notice Nancy Nemec created.

Her work is exhibited and collected internationally. She received many prestigious awards including Medals of Honor from Audubon Artists, the National Association of Women Artists at the National Academy of Design Galleries, several at Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts Exhibitions, Jubilee Print Prize at Newport, and numerous others.

She had over sixty one-person shows from coast to coast, and is represented in important private and public collections such as the Library of Congress, New York Public Library, Philadelphia Free  Library, New Britain Museum of American Art, Springfield Museum of Fine Art, Norfolk Museum, and Georgia Museum of Art.

Her accomplishments have been noted in Who’s Who of American Women, 1961; Contemporary Graphic Artists, Who’s Who in American Art, 1973-2000; Who’s Who in the East 1990, and others.

Locally she was an active member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, and the New Hampshire Art Association. She was also active in community work in Warner NH. The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen honored her work and her teaching in an exhibit, “The Mentor Collection,” in 2000.  On 29 September 1978 the Concord Monitor presented a feature article about Nancy Nemec.

Janice

My thanks to Nancy Nemec’s daughter Patricia for providing the photographs found in this article.

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**FAMILY TREE OF NANCY (LEWIS) NEMEC**
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Robert Lewis (1607-1645) & Elizabeth Lewis (1610-?) of Breconshire Wales and Warner Hall, Gloucester County, Virginia
John Lewis (1635-1689) & Isabella Warner (1672-1720) Gloucester Co, Virginia
John Lewis (1669-1725) & Elizabeth Warner (1672-1720)
Charles Lewis (1696-1779)  & Mary Howell (1700-1783)
Charles Lewis (1721-1782)  & Mary Randolph (1725-1803)
Charles L. Lewis (1747-1831) & Lucy Jefferson (1752-1784)
Randolph Lewis. (1773-1811) & Mary Howell Lewis (1774-1812)

Charles Andrew Lewis, son of Randolph & Mary Howell (Lewis) Lewis, was b. abt 1790-1792 in Lexington KY and d. 13 Oct 1822 in Plattsburg NY. He m. Nancy Reeder. She b. 1790 in Shelby KY and d. 13 Oct 1843.
Child of Charles A. & Nancy (Reeder) Lewis [may be more ch]:
1. Isaac Jefferson Lewis, b. 30 Sep 1819 in Carthage Falls NY

Isaac Jefferson Lewis, son of Charles A. & Nancy (Reeder) Lewis, b. 30 Sep 1819 in Carthage Falls NY and d. 8 Oct 1889 in San Diego California. He married 11 March 1854 in Cuyahoga, Ohio to Harriet Maria Tracy, dau of Abel & Sarah (Reed) Tracy.  She b. 9 Apr 1834 and d. 26 Oct 1915 in Los Angeles, California. They removed to Kansas and later to Tombstone AZ. In 1900 she was living in Brooklyn NY with her son Irving, and in 1910 also with him in Manhattan NY.
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Census > U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > Ohio > Cuyahoga > Cleveland Ward 5
Isaac J. Lewis 40 Master Builder NY
Harriet M. Lewis 25 F Tenn
Charles A. Lewis 16 M Ohio
Samuel A. Lewis 14 M Ohio
Julia A. Lewis 12 F Ohio
Hattie J. Lewis 10 F Ohio
Henry A. Lewis 5 M Ohio
Willie E. Lewis 3 M Ohio
Irving C. Lewis 3/12 M Ohio
Francis C. Lewis 3/12 F Ohio
Mary Tracy 17 F Ohio
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Census > U.S. Census > 1870 United States Federal Census > Ohio > Lake > Concord
Lewis, Isaac 60 M W Carpenter 5200/2500 NY
Lewis, Harritt 35 F W Keeping House Penn
Lewis, Alfred 15 M W at school Ohio
Lewis, Willie 13 M W at school Ohio
Lewis, Irving 10 M W at school Ohio
Lewis, Frankie 10 M W Ohio
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > New York > Kings > Brooklyn Ward 31 > District 568
Lewis, Irving J. Head W M March 1860 40 Ohio NY PA Journalist
Lewis, Harriet, mother W F Apr 1816 64 widow 4 ch 4 living PA VT NY
Bartlett, Mrs. Frank V. sister W F March 1860 40 widow married 10 yrs 1 ch 1 living Ohio NY PA
Bartlett, Alfred L. nephew W M Nov 1884 15 single Missouri Maine Ohio
Evans, Eliza J. servant Black F Oct 1869 30 married 4 yrs NC NC NC
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Children of Isaac J. & Harriet Maria (Tracy) Lewis:
1. Charles A. Lewis, b. abt 1844 Ohio
2. Samuel A. Lewis b. abt 1846 Ohio
3. Julia A. Lewis b. abt 1848 Ohio
4. Hattie J. Lewis b. abt 1850 Ohio
5. Henry A., aka Alfred Henry Lewis, b. 20 January 1855 in Cleveland Ohio. He studied for and passed the bar exam in in 1876, opening a law office and becoming involved in local politics. In 1880 he became Cleveland Ohio’s prosecuting attorney. Later he worked as a cowboy on several ranches in the Cimarron region of Kansas where he drove cattle. In Watrous NM he was hired as the editor of the Mora County Pioneer a small newspaper, and served briefly as the editor of the Las Vegas Optic. In 1885 he opened a law office in Arizona, and married Alice Ewing (from Ohio). He was a journalist who wrote about social issues and also short stores, including some about cattlemen and cowboys for various publications. He also wrote about historic people, and mysteries. Some titles include “Wolfville,” “Richard Croker,” “The President, A Novel,” “Peggy ONeal,” “The Black Lion Inn,” “The Sunset Trail,” and “Sandburrs.”. He died in 1914.
6. +William Eugene “Willie E.” Lewis, b. 14 Sep 1857 [prob.in Cleveland Ohio]
7. Irving Jefferson Lewis, b. March 1860 Ohio, twin; newspaper editor residing in Manhattan NY in 1900 and 1910. His widowed mother lived with him.
8. Francis C. Lewis b. abt 1860 Ohio, twin; married — Bartlett; widow by 1900; had one ch, Alfred L. Bartlett, b. Nov 1884 in Missouri.

William Eugene Lewis, son of Isaac J. & Harriet M. (Tracy) Lewis, b. 14 Sep 1857 [prob. in Cleveland Ohio and d. 28 Oct 1924 at Great Neck, NY. He married 10 Apr 1884 to Frances Elinor Oviatt, dau of Orson M. & Frances C. (Hammond) Oviatt.  She b. abt 1876 in Cleveland Ohio and d. 1931 in Great Neck, NY.
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > New York > New York > Manhattan > District 567
Lewis, William M W Sept 1863 37 married 15 yrs Ohio NY Penn Editor of Telegram
Lewis, Frances wife F W Feb 1866 34 married 15 yrs 2 ch 2 living Ohio Ohio CT
Lewis, Ethel dau F W Jan 1887 13 single Ohio Ohio Ohio
Lewis, Tracy son W M Nov 1890 single Ohio Ohio Ohio
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Children of William E. & Frances E. (Oviatt) Lewis:
1. Ethel Oviatt Lewis, b. 4 Jan 1888 in Cleveland Ohio; m. Waldo Grose
2. +Tracy Hammond Lewis, b. 30 Nov 1890 in Richfield, Summit Co. Ohio

Tracy Hammond Lewis, son of William E. & Frances E. (Oviatt) Lewis, b. 30 Nov 1890 in Richfield, Summit Co., Ohio, and d. 7 Nov 1951 at Great Neck NY; He m. 16 Oct 1920 in Meredith NH to Esther Tufts, dau of George Leonard & Gertrude Ware (Sise) Tufts.  She b. 26 Jan 1898 in Medford MA and d. 8 Dec 1976 in Warner NH. [Gertrude hailed from the Sise and Lyman families who early settled in Portsmouth NH].   He owned an advertising agency per the 1930 U.S. Census. He also wrote books and short stories (including “Along the Rio Grande,” an illustrated book in 1916). He was motion picture editor for the Morning Telegraph. ? they divorced. In 1934 he was living at 2 Horatio St., NYC and he and Ann Lewis (age 33, b. 1900 Boston MA) traveled on ship Queen of Bermuda.
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U.S. Census > 1930 United States Federal Census > New York > Nassau > Plandome > District 154
Lewis, Tracy H. Head 40,000 M W 39 married at age 29 Ohio Ohio Ohio Publishing Agency, WWII veteran
Lewis, Esther T. wife F W 32 married at age 22 MA MA MA
Lewis, Nancy dau F W 6 single North Carolina, Ohio MA
Lewis, Annie dau F W 4 single NY Ohio MA
Lewis, Patricia dau F W 3 single NY Ohio MA
Lewis, Etta dau F W 1 single NY Ohio MA
McQueen, Annie cook F W 50 married at age 21 Scotland Scot Scot cook
McQueen, Georgianna, waitress F W 18 single Scot Scot Scot waitress
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Children of Tracy H. & Esther (Tufts) Lewis:
1. William Eugene Lewis, b. 15 July 1921, d. 9 Jan 1923
2. +Nancy Lewis, b. 30 Nov 1923 Pinehurst, Moore Co. North Carolina; m. Boyce Nemec
3. Anne “Annie” Lewis, b. 19 July 1925 in NY; d. Feb 1952
4. Patricia Lewis, b. NY; m. 21 Apr 1950 in Italy to Oswaldo/Osvaldo Verani. He was born 31 Jan 1922 in Italy and d. 25 June 1997 in NH. She is a graduate of the Boston Museum School, and studied in Italy as a sculptor. Her bronze bear was cast in 1979 for the University of Maine campus at Orono. She engraved the obverse side of the 1987-88 Olympic silver dollar commemorating US participation in the Seoul Olympiad and the 1996 Centennial Olympics Gold $5 coin (flag bearer). In addition, her design for the “Constitution dollar” was used by the United States Mint. Resides Londonderry NH; member NH Art Association. In 1951 they were living at Highland Farm in Warner NH. They have four children including: Michela, Daniella Elda and Margherita (now president of the realty company), and Giovanni M.  In 1959 Osvaldo was pres-treas of Sam’s Italian Sandwich Shop in Londonderry NH. In 1967 he began Prudential Verani Realty.
5. Ethel “Etta” Lewis, b. 25 Sep 1928 NY; d. 15 Feb 1953

Nancy Lewis, daughter of Tracy Hammond & Esther (Tufts) Lewis, was  b 30 Nov 1923 in Pinehurst, Moore County, North Carolina, and died in 2003. She married 8 May 1948 to Boyce Nemec, son of Frank L. & Ruth L. Nemec. They divorced.  He b. 19 Apr 1918 in Hopkins, Hennepin Co., Minnesota [one source says Minneapolis] and d. 17 July 1988 in Winchester, Litchfield Co CT. During WWI he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. He was a consultant for the motion picture industry [Boyce Nemec Designs], and a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers,  and at one time Executive Secretary. She was a talented artist, whose biography appears at the top of this article. She had three children, David, Patricia and Abigail.

Obituary: Concord Monitor (N.H.) Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. WARNER-Nancy L. Nemec, 79, died on Saturday at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Concord. She was born in Pinehurst, N.C. she spent much of her childhood in Center Harbor. After marrying in 1948, she moved to Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. She moved to Warner in 1971. She attended Colby Junior College in New London and graduated from Vesper George School of Art in Boston in 1944. She taught at the Hudson River Museum and the Westchester County Center, both in New York, and was a visiting artist at West Virginia Wesleyan University. She is best known for her work as a fine arts printmaker. She had shown her work in individual and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad. She is represented in public and private collections, and received awards for large prints and for miniature prints and sculptures, including medals of honor from Audubon Artists, the National Association of Women Artists and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts Exhibitions. She was an active participant in the New Hampshire Art Association and the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, which honored her work and her teaching in an exhibit, The Mentor Connection, in 2000. She was an avid horsewoman and active in the Eastern Competitive Trail Ride Association. She rode regularly until age 71, earning recognition for having sucessfully completed over 3,000 miles in competitions. She was active in local affairs as a member of the Warner Planning Board and Conservation Commission and of the Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Committee. She also regularly contributed a humorous entry to the annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival parade. Survivors include a son David Nemec of Seattle; two daughters, Patricia Nemec of Arlington, Mass., and Abigail Bloxsom of Colebrook, Ct.; two sisters, Patricia Verani of Londonderry and Elizabeth Young of Warner; five grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours. Services and burial will be held at the convenience of the family. The Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home in Henniker is in charge of the arrangements.

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