BIGELOW, Nora E.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Monday, January 28, 2008 Nora E. Bigelow passed away Oct. 15, 2007, from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was a graceful, curious, and adventurous woman who faced each challenge with strength and humor. Born June 28, 1931, in Garden City, N.Y., she graduated from Dana Hall High School and Wellesley College, later marrying a Harvard lawyer. Widowed unexpectedly at 36, she went back to school for her MFA, working as a teacher to support her three young children. In the late 70's, she married Bill Bigelow, an architect, and moved to Kenya, East Africa for six years to run a photographic safari business. Upon her return, she lived in Ventura, Calif., then moved to Chloride where she got her realtor's license while competing in tennis and painting watercolors. She also did taxes and taught art at the local community college. After her non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in 1993, she went on to win a silver medal for two consecutive years in women's singles tennis at the Senior Olympics in Tucson and in Orlando. If anything, her diagnosis spurred her on to fill in every last second! Ten years ago, she met Ken Bartels through playing tennis with his youngest daughter, Sara. Together, she and Ken played tennis and golf, traveled, and had lots of laughs! On her own, she went to Argentina to teach English to business people. With Ken, they traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and most recently, Peru. Though Ken is an avid duck hunter, he joined Nora for a two and a half week trip to bird watch in Peru. Nora was well known for her mise-en-scene watercolors for which she earned many awards and recognition. She managed her own very profitable stock portfolio as well as dabbled in real estate, recently selling 20 dusty acres in Golden Valley for a handsome profit. She never gave up hope and never gave up her humor, joking with the nurses and technicians to the very end. She is survived by her partner, Ken Bartels, and his family as well as by two sons, Henry and David Blackham, and a daughter, Rachel Blackham. She has three grandchildren: Henry and Lauren Blackham, and Morgan Mischo. She is greatly missed by the many people whose lives she touched. A celebration of her life was held Oct. 28,2007, in Altadena Country Club. Condolences will be gratefully received at: midwayrachel@msn.com