Nancy Braynard Wait

Nancy Braynard Wait, Jr. of Cockeysville, MD and Saltaire, NY died peacefully surrounded by her family at Broadmead on April 18, 2026, following heart complications. She was born in Glen Cove, NY in 1926 to Dr. Edwin C. Braynard and Carrie Upham Braynard. She attended Duke University and graduated from Douglass College in 1949 with a degree in library science. Her first job was to rebuild the science library at Jackson Labs in Bar Harbor Maine starting in 1949.

She married Harold Van Alen Wait, Jr., also of Glen Cove, NY on April 15 1950. They honeymooned at Ocean Beach (Fire Island, NY). They settled in NJ where they raised their family.

Nancy enjoyed sailing and swimming in Hempstead Harbor as a child and at Fire Island the rest of her life. She and Harold built a summer home in Saltaire on Fire Island and especially enjoyed vacationing there with her family and friends. Volunteering was important to her at Cranford United Methodist Church, the Cranford Public Library, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Saltaire, NY. She was a member of Gunpowder Friends Meeting in Sparks, MD. Nancy enjoyed gardening, bridge, crossword puzzles and reading. She was loved by family and friends for her sunny personality and ready smiles as well as her ability to always see the bright side.

Nancy is survived by her beloved children Susan Braynard Wait (Craig Phillips), Marjorie Wait Joyce, Judy Wait Antzis (Dave Antzis) and John William Wait (Barbara). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sara Phelan, Jeff Joyce, Michael Antzis, Will Brown, Andrew Wait and Elizabeth Wait. Her grandson Curt Joyce died in 2014. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, a cousin, Betty Irvin, and a sister-in-law, Carol Wait, and by a host of other family members and friends.

A celebration of life will take place in the near future in Cockeysville for her Broadmead neighbors. A celebration of life will also be held at the Matinecock Burial Ground on Long Island at a later date at the time of a private interment. In lieu of flowers, Nancy’s family suggests a donation to the American Friends Service Committee, http://www.afsc.org/ 1502 Cherry Street, Phila. PA 19102.