Nancy Franciose

This amazing woman was much more than my loving wife, but our 29 happy years together ended in the early hours of August 28th. Nancy Franciose passed away peacefully at home, her death caused by metastatic breast cancer complications. Born Nancy Anne Saavedra to parents Armand and Nora (née Felipe) in New York City, she had been a resident of Santa Barbara, CA for the last 10 years; but ever the city girl, Nancy always bragged about living in 4 of the 5 NYC boroughs. She was a precocious child and graduated from Martin Van Buren high school at 16. Nancy loved and studied theater, attending Nassau Community College plus CUNY Queens, and in small measure performed off Broadway plus summer stock. As well perforce, she worked in entertainment management for talent agents and MCA records in the city for a few years. After winning a few thousand game show dollars, she escaped to the Green Mountains for some ski bum fun, living in Killington, VT for a couple of snow seasons. A promotional marketing job in the record industry then brought her to Boston, necessitating radio station visits and enabling occasional limo rides with pop music stars. (e.g., Elton John & Loretta Lynn on different occasions). A next career change to the Airline Industry, Nancy worked for several airlines in various sales capacities for 12+ years while she called Marblehead, MA her home until 1991. She then wed a lucky Navy guy and moved west, first to San Diego California, then Whidbey Island, WA. It was there, at the Oak Harbor Playhouse, that she resurrected her stagecraft via acting & directing in Community Theater. Those seven shows in just over two years were followed by a move to Monterey, CA. and three more dramatic productions. Before moving to Santa Barbara, Nancy and her husband resided in the DC area of Northern Virginia, until their son graduated from prep school. Ascribing to the work hard & play hard ethos, Nancy was an enthusiastic world traveler. She also avidly enjoyed dancing, skiing, reading, photography, cooking, and gardening. In her varied life adventures, this wonderful and pragmatic woman was known as a “Go-To” reliable problem solver and a generous entertainer. Ever the chic dresser, she especially had a flair for scarves. Most of all, she was a determined force of nature, evidenced by the results of remodeling several homes, her celebrating holidays in style, her moral compass which pointed true north, and her ever planning a next tourism expedition. Finally, always, and foremost, this beautiful woman zealously loved her family and friends. Her husband, Randy Franciose, her beloved son, Zachary Franciose, of Brooklyn, NY, and two stepchildren, Nicholas and Natalie Franciose of Denver, CO survive her. Her parents, her brother, Mandy Saavedra, and her 1st husband, Peter Miller, predeceased her. She will be laid to rest near her parents in Santa Barbara Cemetery and a private family memorial service will be held later this year.