Fairport: Nancy Lindborg Austin. age 86, went to be with the Lord at home on Friday, March 11, 2016. She lived a life that was filled with selfless giving and caring for others and will be very deeply missed.
Bom in Omaha, Nebraska to Helen Margaret (née Smith) and John Almont “Al” Lindborg, Nancy was the youngest of three daughters, growing up in a house built by her grandfather. Studying piano from an early age, she became organist at Dundee Presbyterian Church in Omaha while still a high school student.
Graduating early from Benson High School, she attended the Municipal University of Omaha, receiving a BA in Music, before moving on to the Eastman School of Music on scholarship where she received an MA in Music Theory in 1955. After Eastman, Nancy moved to Westminster, Maryland, to accept a position on the music faculty of Western Maryland college.
In July 1956, she married Edwin “Ed” Austin in Omaha, whom she had met when they both sang in the Brick Presbyterian Church choir during her time in Rochester. Living initially in Framingham, Massachusetts, they moved back to Rochester after a few years, settling soon after in Fairport.
Nancy volunteered for many years at the Fairport Public Library reading stories to preschoolers for their Story Hour, filling her home with children’s books for her young sons. Deepening her relationship with the Fairport Library, she won a public election to its Board of Trustees, later becoming President. Inspired by her love of libraries, Nancy took a second Master’s Degree in Library Science from SUNY Geneseo in 1979.
In addition to her volunteer work at the library, Nancy served as Assistant Organist both at Brick Presbyterian Church in Rochester and also later at Pittsford Presbyterian Church. She was a volunteer Braille transcriptionist, tutored several newly-arrived immigrants in English, and taught piano privately for many years, serving as Chair of the Rochester Chapter of the National Guild of Piano Teachers.
After her sons were grown and her marriage had ended, Nancy joined the staff of the YMCA of Greater Rochester. She also became a member of the newly-formed Perinton Presbyterian Church, becoming the church’s pianist and director of the chime and hand bell choirs, positions she held until past the age of 80. Ordained as an Elder in the church, Nancy also spent several years on the church’s governing board.
Aside from all of her good works, Nancy will be remembered for her love of books and music, her endless curiosity about the world, her ready laugh and silly sense of humor, her kindness to all whom she met, and her great love for her family.
Nancy is survived by her sons Ed (Julie) of Cedarburg, Wisconsin and Todd (Olga) of Dexter, Michigan, her sister Janet DeHuff of Madison, New Jersey, grandsons Brady (Christena), Trevor, Toby, Baxter, and Linus, great-grandchildren Julian, Eloise, and Harriet, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, infant brother, and sister Lucy Zipper.
A memorial service will take place on May 21 at 11 a.m. at Perinton Presbyterian Church, 6511 Pittsford Palmyra Road in Fairport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nancy Lindborg Austin Endowment for Music at the church.