Obituary: Nancy Garni

In the late afternoon on October 9, 2015, beloved Nancy Garni suddenly passed away at her home in Pasadena as a result of cardiac arrest. Having undergone a valiant stem cell transplant for leukemia diagnosed nearly two years ago, Nancy was in full remission, but her recovery was gradual and arduous. Surrounded by her husband, Michael Seltzer, and her daughter, Katherine “Kati” Farina, Nancy, 64, left her Earthly existence, loved ones, pets, and friends to serve a greater purpose.

Nancy was the Lord’s disciple as her mission-filled life was served for others, coming to their aid, advocating for those disadvantaged, and protecting the little ones. Nancy cherished gardens and delighted in their splendor, shelter, and serenity, and it was no coincidence that she planted seeds of love, friendship, compassion, and leadership among those who knew her.

Born on May 14, 1951 as the first child of Avis Tompkins Garni and Vincent Garni, Nancy was raised in Whittier, California. Nancy’s incredibly compassionate spirit began at an early age. She graduated from California High School in 1969, but not without planting seeds of love and compassion. While in high school, her commitment to serve those less fortunate continued when she sent care packages to soldiers serving in the Vietnam War. She also volunteered at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier. Her friendships meant the world to Nancy. She was a great friend, student, and writer, and this latter skill led her to work for the hospital where she had volunteered. While honing her public relations skills at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, she finished her collegiate journey at California State University, Fullerton where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1979.

Upon her graduation, Nancy served as the volunteer personnel director for Anaheim Memorial Hospital Medical Centers in Anaheim, California. In that capacity, she blossomed by conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and securing funding for 11 new health education programs that represented a 550 percent increase in community participation. Her leadership abilities were beginning to form while she served as management staff support for all their volunteer activities and programs. She provided primary staff direction for its foundation board of directors, among other support groups and auxiliaries. Her impeccable taste and style was evident in the numerous special events she also managed.

After two years of tending to this hospital’s mission, she left and joined the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Chapter where she continued to blossom for six years. She climbed the ranks from assistant director of financial development and director of annual giving, to director of financial development and finally, development officer. Through her leadership, Nancy’s department conducted a campaign for relief funds of Ethiopia’s devastating famine in 1984. Her staff also provided support for the major earthquake on October 1, 1987 whose epicenter was near Whittier, her hometown. Public relations and marketing campaigns for support of other major disasters, the Summer Olympics in 1984, and local initiatives were also part of her responsibility. In her tenure as a prominent figure for the largest Red Cross chapter in the nation, her strategic planning, administration, and execution of fund development yielded a fruitful harvest, an increase of 1,500 percent in charitable giving dollars.

In October 2, 1989 she planted her final roots as the director of development and later chief advancement officer for Hillsides, a Pasadena-headquartered premier provider of child welfare services in Los Angeles County. Nancy, recently married gave birth to her cherished daughter Kati the following year. Without missing a season, Nancy’s momentum to reap what she sowed for this agency continued. While preparing the work and patiently planting the seeds as she did at home in her English garden, Nancy served the agency for 26 years, profoundly committed to the mission of creating lasting change in the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and families. In her tenure comprised of four capital campaigns and yearly goals, Nancy raised more than $50 million to provide services and programs to the most disenfranchised populations. She successfully led a team to bridge the financial gaps many nonprofits experience when government contracts cannot fulfill the demands and needs of its operations.

While working at Hillsides, Nancy advocated for those the agency served, who experienced unimaginable traumas and suffered emotional distress. The lives of those she served were full of thorns and weeds. Nancy believed in Hillsides work and the good seeds the agency planted as well to heal hearts, mend broken families, and enlighten souls. An inspirational leader and articulate communicator, Nancy’s steadfast commitment was to protect the most vulnerable and serve them through mentoring others’ talents and abilities, whether they were child care counselors, therapists, volunteers, or donors.

All those she mentored entering the fund raising profession felt her leadership. Nancy was always willing to speak to anyone wanting knowledge in the field. Her team remembers her grace under pressure, her ability to solve problems, her open-door approach, and her gift of friendship, all while having the perfect application of makeup, polished nails, and an impeccable wardrobe.

She balanced her professional career with spending time with her family and friends. In 2010, Nancy’s love for others came full circle when she married her soulmate, Michael. Both cared for each other deeply, tending to their hearts and cherishing time together. In 2011, Nancy was honored as one of Pasadena’s 50 Fabulous Women of Influence, and in a characteristic manner, Nancy shared credit for her accomplishments with her team of like-minded and dedicated associates.

Like her English garden, Nancy had weathered adversity, having been diagnosed with leukemia nearly two years previously. Yet, Nancy continued to illustrate her grace, courage, kindness, and love for others. She continued to pray and seek understanding, a time to reflect on the roots firmly planted. Today, we are surrounded by her legacy: a walking garden of flowers, buds, and seeds in the lives of those she touched. May they all water and nurture the seeds she planted and live a life in full bloom like Nancy Garni.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by Judy Garni, her sister, Katherine “Kati” Farina, her daughter, Michael Seltzer, her husband, her two dogs, Mischa and Bijou, and two cats, Confetti and Fifi.

The Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church located at 1175 S San Gabriel Blvd, Pasadena. A reception following the memorial service will be held at the church’s parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to City of Hope or Hillsides. To donate to City of Hope, please visit www.cityofhope.org/donate (click on “Donate Online Now” and then click on “for Memorial & Honorary Donations”) or call 1-800-535- 7119, ext. 85483. Given Nancy’s love for flowers, a memorial fund has been established to create a garden on Hillsides campus as a permanent memorial to Nancy. If you are interested in supporting this memorial, please contact Carrie Espinoza at (323) 543-2800, ext. 221, cespinoza@hillsides.org, or visit www.Hillsides.org/donate.