Nancy Cafferty

Nancy Cafferty was a lifelong New Yorker (apart from a stint in Houston) and the daughter of Joseph (Joe) and Ann (Nancy) Cafferty. She excelled in school, particularly math, from a young age, which led her to pursue a BS in Accounting and then an MBA in Finance at St. John’s University. This was no easy task at the time, as there were significant barriers and blatant discrimination against women pursuing business degrees and careers in finance. Her father Joe was an essential supporter, always believing her, and in the right of women to use their gifts and to pursue their professional ambitions. He helped Nancy secure her first job on Wall Street as a file clerk. Joe also worked at St. John’s, after running his own business and working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the war. Nancy’s mother, who emigrated from Ireland as a teenager, had a similar entrepreneurial spirit and ran side businesses throughout Nancy’s childhood.

Nancy’s professional career was marked by success in challenging positions and by breaking ground for women. After years working in oil and finance, Nancy moved into arts administration where she championed dancers and artists. She retired after serving as Acting Executive Director of the National Academy Museum. In retirement, she continued to give back to her community as a career advisor at Queens Public Library. She loved coaching New Yorkers from all walks of life to gain the interview and job skills to help set them on a path to success. She was also dedicated to her church and volunteered at their food pantry during the pandemic. Nancy gave the same dedication, support, and kindness to her family and friends. She stayed in close touch with cousins and friends in the UK and Ireland, continuing to travel to visit them and enjoyed researching her family tree. Nancy also spent every Mardi Gras in New Orleans with close friends there. Nancy was also humorous, generous, and cherished; and an anchor to those she loved.

She is survived by her brother John, nieces Elizabeth and Catherine, nephew John, cousins Kevin and Maureen Connolly, and their children Betsy, Kevin Joseph, and Kathleen as well as cousins Father John Sullivan, Patsy Walton, Eleanor Rose and Raymond Donnelly, and many dear friends including Carol Patella and Barry Bisbee. She was pre-deceased by her cousin Eleanor Roazzi.

Visitation will be held at Frederick Funeral Home 192-15 Northern Blvd., Flushing, NY on Tuesday July 13, 2021. Visiting hours will be from 3-7PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday July 14, 2021 at 9:30AM from Immaculate Conception RC Church

86-43 Edgerton Blvd., Jamaica, NY. Interment to follow at St. Mary Star of the Sea Cemetery in Lawrence, NY/

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Scholarship Fund at St John’s, which Nancy established in her father’s honor to support other women seeking degrees at the business school.