Surry
On Aug. 29, at age 94, Nancy Kandutsch has found fair winds. She was a fierce sailor, gourmet cook, wonderful artist who for years led the Blue Hill Drawing Group, frequent letter-writer to The Ellsworth American, and foremost in her heart: loving mom, grandma and wife of over 70 years to renowned Jackson Laboratory scientist Dr. Andrew Kandutsch. This 5-foot-2, eyes of blue, maybe 100 pounds soaking wet dynamo was cuddly, but not to be underestimated.
Her son, Dr. Mark Kandutsch of Bar Harbor, notes: “…aside from her family, her greatest loves were her artwork and especially the sea; she was happiest at the tiller of a sailboat with a fresh wind in her face. She had many friends. She was a passionate, unapologetic voice in support of oppressed peoples’ struggles from Cuba to Palestine, and of the antiwar and civil rights causes at home and wrote about these things many times to the newspapers and to politicians.” Her family remembers how this tiny, mighty lady in her nightie chased a bear off her porch and “will do it again if he comes back,” worked with her husband and sons to build a beautiful home, gardens and log cabin in the woods in Surry, organized daring adventures to Cuba, Belize, China and waters of the Gulf of Maine, created memorable meals, parties, and events for friends and family and spoke eloquently of her love of her family, community, and this country.
She is survived by husband Dr. Andrew Kandutsch of Surry and sons Dr. Mark Kandutsch of Bar Harbor and Carl Kandutsch, Esq. of Manta, Ecuador. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com and the family wishes any donations to go to Doctors Without Borders at doctorswithoutborders.org.