Diana Rodriguez, one of Nancy Hanson’s longtime exercise class students, decided to organize a vigil and walk in remembrance of the much-beloved teacher who was allegedly murdered by her husband nearly two weeks ago. “Nancy was so sweet,” Dr. Rodriguez said, explaining that she wanted people to focus on Nancy’s enthusiasm, her dedication to her students, and her advocacy for others. On Saturday evening, July 29th, about seventy people — many friends and classmates of Nancy’s three sons, most wearing something in Nancy’s favorite red – gathered in front of the West Suburban YMCA on Wells Avenue to honor her. On a table under the entrance archway were candles, photographs of Nancy smiling, and a wide array of brochures for agencies providing assistance to people experiencing domestic violence. Red roses were strewn across the table.
Elizabeth Schon Vainer — director of Jewish Family & Children’s Service Journey to Safety, which offers services to victims of abuse – echoed the feelings of many in the crowd when she declared herself “frustrated that we continue to live in a world where people who are being harmed by their partners often feel deep shame about their situation, while those who cause the harm so often do not.” She urged people to become familiar with the programs available to assist abuse victims and “share what you learn with as many people as you can.”
Representatives from several other agencies providing services to victims of domestic abuse joined the vigil, including REACH and Mass General Brigham at Newton Wellesley Hospital. Carmen Aliber, a neighbor of Nancy’s, urged people to join her in supporting H.1547( cosponsored by Rep. Ruth Balser and Rep. Kay Khan) and S.1077, expanding the definition of domestic abuse to include “coercive control” as a criterion for filing a restraining order. There was also a notice announcing Monday night’s domestic violence forum, and several speakers invited the group to attend. Newton City Council Vice President Rick Lipof brought a message of sympathy and condolence from Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, who was in Detroit, where her father died on Thursday evening.
Tom Gehman, wearing a red t-shirt and leading Nancy’s small white Havanese dog, Cami, said the exercise instructor was aggressive in her belief that “if you don’t keep moving, you stop moving.” Mr. Gehman provided technical support and music for her exercise classes, every day, even during Covid. “She was an angel,” he said, adding that he had not seen any clue about the difficulties of her domestic situation.
Although Newton was besieged by pelting rain and loud bursts of thunder, people still came together for the event. Remarkably, as the program began, the rain subsided long enough for people to speak and to walk in a loop around Wells Avenue, bearing candles.
Just as the walkers returned, the sky lit up again with bright flashes of lightening, booming thunder, and drenching rain that overwhelmed the dark night.
