Nancy Corey Turetzky

Nancy Leigh Turetzky (Corey) was born November 7, 1937 in New Haven, Connecticut. She was raised by her parents, Walter and Geraldine “Gerry,” with her older brother, Walter “Van,” and younger brother, George. She was educated at Hamden Hall Country Day School in Hamden, CT and went on to study at The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, CT, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Nancy was a gifted flute player and began teaching privately across the state of Connecticut.

Nancy met Bertram Jay Turetzky at The Hartt School of Music and they were married on September 6, 1958. They had three children, Gerald, Marc, and Jennifer “Jen”. Bert’s work as a music professor and concert musician brought them to San Diego where they settled in 1968 in Del Mar, California.

Nancy had many passions and loves in her life; she was a devoted mother who worked hard at being her children’s biggest supporter, leading the cheer at baseball, soccer and lacrosse games, and being the first to applaud at countless dance recitals and competitions across the state. At this time in her life, she was also an accomplished musician, collaborating and creating music for decades which brought her so much fulfillment. Her music was enjoyed by all that listened to her. She had such skill and range as a flutist; she mastered the piccolo, alto, and bass flutes with a gorgeous sound. Nancy had encyclopedic knowledge and memory of music, especially songs that were written between the 1930s and 1950s — even days before her death, she was singing lyrics to old classics from this era.

Nancy was very much a life and musical partner to Bert, and they were fortunate to travel the world touring and playing for many. This fostered her adventurous spirit; she found such joy in visiting other cultures and seeing the world. She was very proud and very supportive of Bert’s career and spent years teaming up on his music projects, producing many memorable works and recordings.

Nancy was also very passionate about her volunteer work. For over 30 years, she was a mainstay at the Helen Woodward Animal Center and for the local Meals on Wheels chapter in Encinitas. She was filled with incredible stories from this soul-filling work that fueled her love of giving that everyone who loved her admired.

Nancy was a baseball fanatic, particularly for her beloved San Diego Padres. This sport and team brought so much light and fun to her life. Nancy and Bert were Padres season ticket holders for over 30 years and even in her later years, she would drive herself down to San Diego to go to games alone to fulfill her desire to watch them play ball. Her children wish she had gotten to see them win a World Series, but she was able to experience World Series games in 1984 and 1997, which she always remembered as a thrill!Nancy was a loving, generous, kind, sensitive, forgiving, encouraging, fun-loving woman. She was an exceptional writer who enjoyed making people laugh and feel good. She had a gift for making everyone she interacted with feel important and loved.

Nancy had multiple health challenges towards the end of her life and spent her final years living at home with Bert where their children visited often. She received wonderful care from a dedicated team of caregivers that loved her. She passed away on May 10, 2026, at the age of 88. Nancy is survived by her husband, Bert; her children, Gerald (Patti), Marc (Maria), and Jen (Mark); her granddaughters, Ali and Tatum; her brothers, Van and George; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life for Nancy will be held at 1:30pm on Saturday August 1 at the Musicians Union Hall, located at 1717 Morena Blvd, San Diego, California.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the organizations that Nancy held dear:

The Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 02067

Meals on Wheels of San Diego County 9591 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA 92123.