© Bruce Allen
Grateful No Matter What
March 19,1952 – August 17, 2021
Nancy Gillespie, 69, died peacefully at St. Vincent Hospice on August 17. She was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, and was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Elizabeth (Harper) Gillespie. She is survived by a sister, Mary (Volk), Audubon, PA, brother Ed Gillespie, Glade Valley, NC, husband Bruce Allen, daughters Liz (Pearce), Seattle, WA, Ginger (Edwards), Carmel, IN and Cate (Collins), Chicago, IL and her six grandchildren, upon whom she doted. She will be greatly missed.
Nancy graduated from high school in Woodbury, NJ in 1970 and attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, graduating in 1974. She and Bruce were married in 1975. Daughter Liz was born in 1977, Ginger in 1980 and Cate in 1984. Nancy spent a dozen years as a full-time mom before re-entering the workforce in 1990. She worked at both Carmel High School and the Carmel Public Library and ended her career at OneAmerica as an Organizational Development leader.
After retiring in 2016, Nancy continued to pursue her love of travel, visiting Mexico, Hawaii, Arizona, Mackinac Island, New York City, Seattle, New England and the Atlantic coast. During this same period she beat all the odds in a battle against Stage IV pancreatic cancer. She credited the combined prayers of her family, friends and complete strangers for her lengthy survival. She was an avid reader, loved her book club members, and stayed in close touch with old friends from Woodbury, Cincinnati, and Annapolis. She loved birds, especially hummingbirds and cardinals, and beaches.
Nancy was an active member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish for 37 years, volunteering for and leading a host of ministries over that time. A calling and eulogy will be held in the church narthex (14598 Oak Ridge Rd, Carmel) on Thursday, August 19, 2021, from 6 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 20 beginning at 10 am. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Peace cemetery (9001 Haverstick Rd., Indianapolis). In lieu of flowers, the family requests your support of pancreatic cancer research through donations to The Lustgarten Foundation.
Nancy Gillespie, circa 2007. Photo by Douglas PearceTags: Nancy Gillespie, Nancy Gillespie obituary., Nancy P. Gillespie
Late-Braking MotoGP 
August 18, 2021 at 10:39 am |
Very sorry for your loss Bruce. Sounds like a long, fruitful, and happy marriage.
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August 18, 2021 at 10:48 am |
Bruce, this is so sad. She was beautiful and she sounds like an amazing person.
Hugs to you and your family.
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August 18, 2021 at 12:38 pm |
Bruce, your blog is ripe with expert analysis and irreverent fun.
But to every thing there is a season.
And now is a season for condolences.
I’m sorry for your loss.
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August 18, 2021 at 1:05 pm |
Wish I had two million more readers just like you. I’d be on ESPN. Thank you, brother.
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August 18, 2021 at 1:05 pm |
She must have been great, she chose you.
Condolences.
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August 18, 2021 at 1:40 pm |
My condolences on the passing of your Dear Wife, Bruce. May she Rest In Peace.
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August 18, 2021 at 3:28 pm |
Bruce, I am so sorry for your loss. 69 years is not enough time on this bountiful earth, but from what you wrote is appears that she made the most of the time she had. The world will never be the same without your soulmate but I’m sure she will want you to continue the journey ahead. I’m glad to hear she passed in peace, and that you were able to say goodbye. Please continue spreading the joy and laughs that attracted her to you and kept her by your side for 46+ years.
May her legacy live on through her daughters and grandchildren. As I write this now, there is a hummingbird fluttering between flowers outside my window.
fuck cancer.
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August 18, 2021 at 8:09 pm |
So sorry for your loss Bruce, I really don’t know what to say. It really saddens me to learn this kind of news.
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August 18, 2021 at 8:12 pm |
So sory for your loss Bruce. It really saddens me to learn or read this kind of news. I’m lost for words, don’t know what to say…
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August 19, 2021 at 8:35 am |
Sincere condolences, Bruce!
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August 19, 2021 at 10:17 am |
So sorry Bruce. Prayers for you and your family.
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August 20, 2021 at 8:19 pm |
My heartfelt condolences Bruce. Thank you for managing to
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August 20, 2021 at 8:22 pm |
Heartfelt condolences Bruce!
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August 21, 2021 at 3:38 pm |
My condolences to you, Bruce, and your family.
God bless
Ozzy Mick
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August 22, 2021 at 3:03 pm |
Having lost my father to cancer almost 3 years ago, I feel it every time someone else passes. My sincere condolences to you and your family. She is no longer suffering and is in a much greater place than we can ever imagine.
Take all the time you need, I’ll be here awaiting your return whenever you’re ready. Thank you as ever for your excellent coverage of the sport we all love to follow!
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August 23, 2021 at 1:55 pm |
So, so sorry Bruce. Hope the pain is soon replaced by warm memories. Motorcycle racing seems so trivial in comparison to one’s life love. Take it easy, we’ll be here when you’re ready to come back. We’re thinking of you.
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August 23, 2021 at 7:48 pm |
My deepest condolences to you and your family Bruce, you are not alone. Take care brother.
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August 24, 2021 at 5:08 am |
Fellas (no Allison) I need y’all to quit being so FUCKING NICE to me and go back to the way you used to be! I’m much more comfortable with fact-checking than I am with sympathy. I will miss the hell out of her. I will move on.
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August 25, 2021 at 1:28 pm |
You can count on us, Brucey.
You post up, and we’ll shoot down.
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