Nancy Cunningham Cassis

She led an amazing life filled with personal and professional successes, most significantly her achievements in the Michigan State Senate.

Nancy was born on January 26th, 1944, she was the beloved daughter of Francis Boughman and George Cunningham and grew up in Southampton, Long Island, NY. She was the oldest of the Cunningham children with her sister Judith, brother Michael, and sister Melinda all growing up together. She earned a Bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Ohio University in 1966, a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1979, and an education specialist degree, also from U of M, in 1980.

Nancy began her career as a teacher in Cleveland for Ohio Public Schools from 1966-68 and upon relocating to Michigan took on a role as a school psychologist for the Novi Community Schools from 1980-96.

Her passion for public service in government led her to take leadership roles starting in Novi with an election to the Novi City Council from 1985-93 and 1995-96. In 1996, an opportunity presented itself to fill a vacancy in the Michigan House of Representatives in which she served for six years. In November of 2002 she was elected to the 15th Senate District seat where she served and was re-elected in 2006.

Some of her greatest accomplishments were achieved upon her election to the state House. She made history for her appointment as the first female Chairperson of the House Tax Policy Committee. When she took office in the Senate, she was selected as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, based on her extensive knowledge of finance and tax policy issues. In these roles her most significant achievement affecting the entire state was the landmark reform to bring transparency and accountability to the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) and film credit programs. This type of openness in state government had never been done before. Throughout her time in public office, Senator Cassis had been an effective voice for taxpayers, businesses, families, children, seniors, and the educational community. She served as the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and as a member of the Education, Banking and Financial Institutions, and Government Operations and Reform committees. Senator Cassis was also elected by her colleagues as Republican Caucus Chair.

Once her time in the Senate was complete in 2010, she retired and pursued her dream to live near the ocean. She moved to Boca Raton, FL with her husband Victor and had a beautiful view of the ocean from the balcony of their condo. In her retirement years, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends at her beach home. She cherished seeing her grandchildren, enjoying time with her siblings, and actively following political activities. She found her dream home and loved each day with the amazing view living out her remaining years.

Nancy was preceded in death by her mother Francis Boughman and her father George Cunningham.

She is survived by her husband Victor Cassis, siblings Judith Cunningham (Michael Jacobson), Michael Cunningham (Kate Cunningham), and Melinda Cunningham, her children Caroline (Jack Weiner) Covert, Drew (Jenna) Covert, Richard (Lorraine) Cassis, Gwendolyn (Rick Brahmer) Cassis, Laila Cassis, Mona (Steve Heuer) Cassis, Louis Cassis and her grandchildren McKenna, Ellison, Morgan, Addison, Liam, Makhoul, Marisol, Zain, Elias, Maxwell, Victor, Nikolas, and Hayat.

Nancy had tremendous passion to drive change, she never backed down from something she believed in, and her purpose was to make the world a better place. She will be dearly missed by many.

A visitation for Nancy will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a trisagion to occur at 7:30 PM at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. A funeral in state will occur Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman Rd, Livonia, Michigan 48152. A funeral liturgy will occur Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Basilica of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman Rd, Livonia, Michigan 48152.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Mary's building fund for their Montessori classroom.