Nancie R Kennedy - Obituary

ancie Roop Kennedy, 81, a resident of Annapolis for more than 25 years and formerly of Rochester, NY, died unexpectedly, but peacefully, on March 25 at her home in Annapolis. Born July 24, 1939, in Christiansburg, VA, the daughter of the late Vivian Inez Graybeal and Ralph Goodwin Roop, Mrs. Kennedy graduated from Randolph-Macon Women’s College in 1963 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. A consummate performer and artist, she sang professionally for nearly 5 decades in operas, musical theater, and stage shows with the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, ArtPark in upstate New York, Opera Theater of Rochester, and many other arts groups in the U.S. and Europe. In 1979 she received her master’s degree in Performance & Literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Her immense love of classical music led her to become a voice teacher at the Eastman School of Music’s Community School, Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, and at Peabody’s Annapolis campus at Maryland Hall. After her teaching days, she enjoyed sharing her immense knowledge about opera and the performing arts with fellow patrons at pre-concert lectures to provide insight and context for each upcoming performance. She sang as both a featured solo artist and lead choral soprano on multiple recordings with the LSO Chorus and while at the Eastman School of Music. Her passion for turn of the century musical repertoire led her to perform with fellow Eastman faculty member, pianist Howard Spindler, as “Kennedy & Spindler” across the country for nearly 20 years and release a series of popular recordings of period Americana music. Nancie met her late husband, Duncan C. Kennedy III, while at Randolph-Macon in Lynchburg, VA and they were married in 1963. They moved to London in 1969 while Duncan was working for General Electric, before returning to the U.S. in 1975 to Rochester, NY. The couple then moved to Annapolis in 1995. Both were members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis and the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester. Mrs. Kennedy was an ardent supporter of the arts and many community organizations including Annapolis Opera Company, Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis Horticultural Society, Unity Gardens, and many local women’s groups. An avid gardener, she took great pleasure is cultivating each season’s blossoms and blooms to the delight of her neighbors. A proud resident of Rugby Hall and then Heritage Harbor, Mrs. Kennedy took many local initiatives to heart and supported her community with great energy and commitment. Surviving are her two sons; Duncan C. Kennedy IV of Greenville, SC and Scott C. Kennedy of San Diego, CA; sister Patterson Roop Webster of North Hatley, Quebec, Canada; and granddaughter McKayla, who is happily continuing in the footsteps of Mrs. Kennedy as an aspiring singer and musical theater performer. Due to the difficulties of travel and various restrictions in place during the pandemic, the family will be holding a virtual memorial service and online celebration of life. Mrs. Kennedy will join her husband at the Columbarium at First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, VA where they started dating while singing in the choir together. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Annapolis Opera Company (www.annapolisopera.org) or the cultural arts organization of your choice within your own community. SUPPORT THE ARTS!!! An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.