Nancy Collins passes away at the age of 92
Menlo Park resident Nancy W. Collins passed away at home peacefully in the company of her three sons and immediate family on December 21, 2025.
Nancy lived in the Bay Area since 1968, engaging in countless professional, philanthropic, and personal initiatives. Her experience as an executive administrator with Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Hoover Institution, and the Marconi Society illustrates a life replete with service.
She was born in 1933 and attended the University of North Carolina and Cornell University and later worked as journalist in London, Paris, and Frankfurt. She is the mother of three sons, James Q. Collins, III, Charles L. Collins, and William R. Collins and eight grandchildren.
As a published author and advocate for the advancement of women in the professional world, Nancy expanded her civic contributions as a member of the Boards of Directors for American Health Way Systems, and the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Society, the American Association of University Women, Catalyst, the Peninsula Professional Women’s Network, the American Management Association, the Menlo Circus Club, the Oversees Press Club, the Commonwealth Club and Kapp Delta Sorority.
In recognition for her professional contributions Nancy was chosen as a lifetime achiever in the Marquis Who’s Who in America.
Nancy leaves behind an extended network of family and friends who have each been an important part of her life.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Peninsula College Fund (Nancy Collins Scholarship Fund), http://www.peninsulacollege.org.
Obituary courtesy of family members
Margo Ritter December 27, 2025 at 6:57 pm
I loved Nancy, she was one of the people who recommended me for the Volunteer Coordinator of the Palos Alto Medical Foundation where I played Pearl Mesta for twelve years ! She was beautiful inside and out and everybody thought so highly of her abilities ! A treasure everyone will miss.
Kevin Arnold December 28, 2025 at 9:39 am
I met Nancy as one of the members of the steering committee of the Menlo Park Horse Show, a tennis player at BATS, and a poet. Every year she’d invite thirty or forty of her closest friends for breakfast to see the show—she had the most generous heart. She’ll be sorely missed.
Scott Lohmann January 03, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Incredible individual, with tons and tons of energy! You always knew your event or organization was going to be a success, when Nancy was part of it. We will miss her dearly at Peninsula College Fund and the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy where she worked extremely hard to connect people to these organizations to make both better! Thank you Nancy!