Nancy Jo Lattanzio

Nancy Jo Lattanzio, 79, of Webster, NY, peacefully passed away surrounded by family, concluding her long battle with Alzheimer’s on February 26, 2025.

Born on August 19, 1945, in Tully, New York, Nancy was the eldest daughter of the late Rodney and Dorothy Dando. She is predeceased by her sister, Susan, and her stepson, Kevin. She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Donald, her sons, Greg (Kari) and Aaron (Caitlin), and her stepson, Jeff. She is also survived by her sister, Sandy Wynne (Bill), her brother, Tom Dando (Kim), her grandchildren, Ryan and Cory (Jordan) (sons of Jeff and Karen), Nicholas (son of Jeff and Pam), Lucy and Charlotte (daughters of Aaron and Caitlin), and her great-grandson, Alan (son of Cory). Additionally, she leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, and their families. 

Nancy loved learning from an early age; this inspired her to earn her MA in Education from Geneseo University in 1967. Nancy dedicated her life to teaching, shaping young minds with patience and kindness. As she approached others from a place of compassion, it can be assumed that she made her students feel special and valued. She taught primarily 4th grade at schools in the Rochester City and Webster School Districts. During her teaching career, she was involved in setting up Mathlab curriculum for the Rochester City School District, and the Webster School District honored her as Teacher of the Year for the 2000-2001 school year (distinguishing her as the first recipient of the annual Oak Tree Award).

She enjoyed reading voraciously, loved her cats, and delighted in traveling. She especially cherished her trips with Donald through Europe (with visits to Italy and France being among her favorites). Her interests and hobbies included book clubs, cooking (through a gourmet club, she pursued her interest in exploring diverse cuisines), and swimming (she made many friends at the YMCA and the Penfield Racket Club). Nancy was a spiritual person, and for many years was an active member of the Spiritus Christi community, volunteering in their prison outreach program.

Nancy’s legacy lives on in the countless students she inspired, many of whom warmly remembered her years later, and the family she cherished. 

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the Rochester and Finger Lakes Region Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association or the Rochester Education Foundation.