Nancy Stoops

Nancy (Monk) Stoops was born in 1926 in Waltham, MA. Her family moved to 29 Champney St., Groton, in 1928. Over the years, Nancy returned and lived in this house three different times.

She attended Boutwell Elementary School and graduated from Groton High School in 1944. She attended Antioch College where she met Donald John Stoops. They were married in Chicago in 1947 and raised eight children together.

Nancy was a determined student. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Union College’s Adult Degree Program in 1954/1955 and her Law degree from the New England School of Law in 1988, at age 62. She passed the bar exam in Washington State at age 70 and worked for the State of Washington until age 81. She was an advocate for equal worker compensation.

Nancy moved back to Groton in 2008. She and her neighbor, Lois Young, took frequent walks in town and recounted many stories. This inspired Lois to create the Groton Memories project.

The interview with Nancy and her daughter, Marji McMillan, reflected on the town’s changes since the late 1920s.

On March 25, 2022, at the age of 95, Nancy passed away peacefully at her daughter Martha’s home in Maine.