Nancy Bryson Schlosser

Nancy Bryson Schlosser, born March 15, 1928, in Evanston, Illinois, to Arthur Earl Bryson and Helen Decker Bryson, was the youngest of five children. She felt privileged to have been part of such a fine family, and to be educated in the Winnetka, Illinois school system. She was elected president of her Junior class at New Trier High School and always felt it was a great honor. She went on to attend her father’s alma mater, Colorado College, in Colorado Springs. She joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was elected homecoming queen. It was there that she met her best friend’s brother, Bill Schlosser, and they were married after a whirlwind courtship in September 1948. She then moved to Defiance, Ohio with her husband who was in the manufacturing business with his father. They had three children, Elizabeth, Mary, and Charles, who were outstanding in her eyes.

After her husband started a new company in Colorado Springs in 1965, they had 25 busy, productive years in that lovely spot. She was active in her church, the Garden Club of America, where she was a director on the national board, and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, where she served as chairman of the board. She was a trustee of Colorado College for twelve years, and she and her husband endowed a professorship in the arts at the College. She was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts in 2001. She and her husband traveled extensively, seeing most of this beautiful world.

Santa Barbara became her home in the 1990’s. She was a member of the Valley Club, the Santa Barbara Club, Birnam Wood, the Little Town Club, and the Garden Club of Santa Barbara. The visual arts were always her passion – home decor, gardening, arts and music brought her joy. She was an avid reader and loved bridge. She was devoted to Direct Relief International and served on their board and later became chairman. She was a conscientious volunteer whenever she became involved in an organization.

She is survived by her three children Elizabeth Schlosser (Charles Jordan,) Mary Schaefer (Hugh Rice,) and Charles Schlosser, Jr. (Persis Schlosser) as well as eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.