Nancy Skinner Nordhoff, a distinguished Seattle-area philanthropist whose life was marked by remarkable generosity and dedication to women's causes, has passed away at the age of 93. She died peacefully of natural causes on January 7th in her home, surrounded by flowers, candles, family, friends, and attended by Tibetan lama Dza Kilung Rinpoche, according to an announcement from her wife, Lynn Hays.
A Life of Privilege and Purpose
Born into one of Seattle's most prominent philanthropic families as the youngest child of Winifred Swalwell Skinner and Gilbert W. Skinner, Nordhoff's life journey took her from privilege to purposeful engagement with the world. She attended Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, where she developed the values that would guide her later philanthropic work.
Her personal life included meeting Art Nordhoff while learning to fly planes at Bellevue airfield, leading to their marriage in 1957 and the birth of three children: Chuck, Grace, and Carolyn. However, in her fifties, Nordhoff embarked on a period of profound personal transformation, divorcing Art and traveling across the country in a van to re-evaluate her life's direction.
The Lakefront Home and Later Life
Nordhoff and Hays later built a life together in a stunning 5,340 square foot lakefront property that featured seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, breathtaking views of Seattle, a private Zen garden, and abundant natural lighting. The Northwest midcentury style home underwent a comprehensive remodel that created stylish gathering spaces, an updated kitchen, a great room, and a fabulous recreation room.
The property, which included multiple view decks for alfresco dining, was valued at nearly $4.8 million before the couple sold it in 2020. Yet despite this luxurious residence, Nordhoff's true legacy lies elsewhere in a more modest but profoundly impactful property.
Hedgebrook: A Sanctuary for Women Writers
Nordhoff's most enduring contribution is undoubtedly Hedgebrook, the 48-acre women's writers' retreat she co-founded with friend Sheryl Feldman in 1988. This remarkable initiative has hosted more than 2,000 authors free of charge, creating what one admirer described as "an intimate, restorative, generative space where writers feel seen and supported and utterly free."
The retreat emerged from Nordhoff's deep commitment to women's issues, with Feldman noting that "one of her wonderful qualities is she is going to make it happen. She is dogged, she doesn't hesitate to spend the money, and off she goes."
Each of Hedgebrook's six cabins features a wood-burning stove because Nordhoff believed every woman should be able to light a fire to keep herself warm—a symbolic gesture reflecting her approach to empowerment through practical support.
Building Community and Connection
It was during the creation of Hedgebrook that Nordhoff's relationship with Lynn Hays, a letter press printer, blossomed through conversations about inks, fonts, and papers that gradually deepened into a lifelong partnership. "Our great adventure began with the birth of Hedgebrook and went on for 35 years," Hays reflected.
Kimberly AC Wilson, Hedgebrook's current executive director, captured Nordhoff's essence: "What I saw in Nancy was how you could be kind and powerful. You were lucky to know her and know that someone like her existed and was out there trying to make the world a place you want to live in."
A Legacy of Philanthropic Engagement
Beyond Hedgebrook, Nordhoff's volunteer work spanned numerous organizations including Overlake Memorial Hospital (now Overlake Medical Center and Clinics), the Junior League of Seattle, Pacific Northwest Grantmakers Forum (now Philanthropist Northwest), and Seattle City Club—a nonpartisan organization she co-founded in 1980 specifically to counter the exclusionary nature of men's only clubs.
In 1999, she further extended her community impact by co-founding the nonprofit Goosefoot, which supports local businesses and affordable housing initiatives on Whidbey Island.
The Philosophy of Generosity
Hays revealed that Nordhoff's guiding principle was to "counsel people to find their own generous spirit," explaining that "you become bigger when you support organizations and people that are doing good things, because then you're a part of that. And your tiny little world and your tiny little heart—they expand. And it feels really good."
This philosophy resonated deeply with those she touched, with one admirer noting online that "Nancy epitomized Mount Holyoke's mantra of living with purposeful engagement with the world. I am inspired by the depth of her efforts and the width of her contributions."
A Lasting Impact
Nordhoff is survived by her wife Lynn Hays, her three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Her passing marks the end of an era for Seattle's philanthropic community, but her legacy continues through Hedgebrook and the countless lives she touched through her generosity.
As another admirer wrote: "I carry my gratitude for her and for Hedgebrook into all that I do." This sentiment captures the enduring impact of a woman who dedicated her life and resources to creating spaces where women could find their voices, their warmth, and their creative power.
