Nan Bennett Kay

08/20/2001

Nan Bennett Kay, 62, of Chestnut Hill and East Road, Richmond, died Monday at her home in Richmond after a long struggle with breast cancer. Born in New York City on April 24, 1939, daughter of Frances Celts Goldin and the late Arthur Goldin, she was raised in Greenport, Long Island, N.Y. She attended Vassar College, where she later served as a trustee, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A lifelong advocate for children, Mrs. Kay was a former chairperson of the board of the Children's Museum, a trustee of Boston Children's Services, a trustee of Families First and Facing History and Ourselves. She was also chairwoman of the Harvard Center for Children's Health Advisory Council and the Harvard School of Public Health Children's Advisory Board. Mrs. Kay's love of music led her to found the Newton Symphony Orchestra and she was active with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as chairwoman of the Board of Overseers. A sportswoman, Mrs. Kay enjoyed tennis, golf and skiing, and last year completed the Jimmy Fund Boston Marathon walk. Besides her mother of West Palm Beach, Fla., she leaves her husband, Stephen B. Kay; two sons, Gordon Bennett of Brookline and Jeffrey Bennett of Newton; a daughter, Jennifer Bennett of Boston; two stepdaughters, Jacqueline Cessou of Paris and Julie Kay of Dublin, Ireland; two brothers, Stevan Goldin of Gloucester and David Goldin of Atlanta, and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held today, Thursday, at 2 p.m. at Temple Israel in Boston. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boston Children's Museum, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Facing History and Ourselves, in care of DEVANNY-CONDRON FUNERAL HOME of Pittsfield, which is in charge of local arrangements.

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