CAMDEN — Nancy Phillips Whitaker, 95, of Camden, passed away May 28, 2022 at Sussman Hospice House in Rockport. She was born June 12, 1926 in Upper Montclair, New Jersey to Stuart Philips and Eleanor (Neare) Phillips.

She graduated from Montclair High School in 1944 and entered Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, graduating with a B.A. degree in French in 1948. It was in Boston that she met her husband Arnold (‘Whit’) Whitaker of Westfield, New Jersey, a student in MIT’s Navy Officer training program, on a blind date. They were married on June 26, 1948.

After Arnold left the Navy, they moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut where they both worked at Chance Vought Aircraft. In 1949, Arnold took a position at Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, Long Island, New York. She and Arnold moved to Levittown, New York before moving to Syosset, New York shortly after the birth of their first child, Gail. Their sons Steven and Jeffrey were born and raised in Syosset. 

In addition to being a full-time mother, when her children were older Nancy worked in sales at Bloomingdale’s in Manhasset, New York, a job she held for 13 years. Arnold and Nancy and children enjoyed many summers in Chatham, Cape Cod, in the same cottages they honeymooned in. 

After Arnold retired in 1984, they bought a house on Turkey Cove in Tenants Harbor, Maine, to be near their daughter Gail and husband Fred Ribeck, of West Rockport, and grandchildren Hannah and Noah. For the next couple of decades, they spent winters in Bonita Springs, Florida and summers at the home on Turkey Cove. After selling the condo in Bonita Springs, they spent winters at the Knox Mill East Condominiums in Camden starting in 2012.  They began living at the Knox Mill year-round in 2016 and Nancy continued residing after Arnold’s passing in 2018.

Nancy enjoyed traveling to Europe, as well as being home in Maine, attending many fairs, antique shows and auctions in the area. Nancy loved Big Band music, old movies, cooking, gardening, decorating with her sister and best friend Betsy, as well as spending time with her four grandchildren.

Nancy is survived by her sister Elizabeth Taliaferro of Caldwell, New Jersey, daughter Gail (Fred) Ribeck of West Rockport, Maine and son Jeffrey (Patricia) Whitaker of Boulder, Colorado, as well as four grandchildren: Noah (Danielle Jerdee) Ribeck of Oakland, California, Hannah (Colin) Malone of Hope, Maine, Laura Whitaker of Boulder, CO and Joshua Whitaker of Los Angeles, California, as well as her great-grandchildren Gene Ribeck, Shay Ribeck, Briar Malone and Samuel Malone.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, by Arnold, her husband of 70 years; and their son Steven.

Gail and Jeff would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers who provided care and companionship, allowing their mother to remain in her home, as she wished, until two days before her passing.

Services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Camden Area District Nursing Association, P.O. Box 547, Camden, ME 04843 or to he Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport, ME 04856.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements have been made through Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Camden.