Nancy Mainland, 87, of Driggs, Idaho, and formerly of Nyack, New York; London, England; Rome, Italy; Sandy Springs, Maryland; and Jackson, Wyoming, died of natural causes June 5, 2008, at the Renaissance Assisted Living Center in Driggs.

She was born December 30, 1921, in Staten Island, New York, to Henry Mainland and Mary Sinclair Mainland. She grew up in Staten Island and Manhattan, New York, and graduated from Curtis High School in 1938, with highest honors in Journalism and Latin. She was one of 2 graduates out of 1200 applicants to be awarded a full scholarship to New York University.

In 1942, she was compelled to leave N.Y.U. for England to join the war effort and worked there as a film editor with the Office of Wartime Information. She witnessed the bombing of London by Hitler, and after the war, attended the Nuremberg Trials in Berlin. She later worked as the personal assistant to the leading oceanographer of the Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory in New York, and later worked as a peace activist and newsletter editor with the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

At the age of 59, Nancy went back to N.Y.U. and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature. During the 70's and 80's, she attended several protest marches against the death penalty and war held in Washington D.C. and New York. Nancy was a warm-hearted and passionate peace activist with a terrific sense of humor and a keen eye for well-written prose.

She married Theodore Kaghan in Bonn, Germany, and they divorced in 1974. He died in 1989 For many years, she was active in the Quaker Society of Friends.

She enjoyed gardening, the New York Times crossword puzzle (which she completed every day for 38 years), journaling, proofreading, editing, swimming, and, over many years, caring for more than a dozen beloved cats. Among her many author friends were Kaye Boyle, Betty Friedan, William Shirer and Gore Vidal.

She is survived by a daughter, Susan Sharko of Warwick, New York; a son, Benjamin Sinclair of Jackson, Wyoming; 2 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Kaghan.

Private services were held Tuesday, June 10. 2008, at River Rock Lodge in Jackson, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial Contributions may be made to the Renaissance Assisted Living Center, 130 Valley Center Drive, Driggs, ID 83422.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com, or by email to benj.sinclair@tetonscience.org.