Nancy Sommers

Nancy Sommers, 86, of Jacksonville, Illinois, took her final bow on December 25, 2024, at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.

She was surrounded by family.

Nancy was born on May 29, 1938, to the late Dick and Georgia Godfrey. At the age of six, she began persistently requesting formal dance training. At eight, she began taking classes in Springfield, Illinois, from her first dance teacher, Mary Jo Mack. Her father, a former jazz musician from 1926 to 1932, forbade a performance career, so she adapted by teaching, opening her first dance studio in her parents’ basement at age 14. Her first student was the late Julie Fulfer.

She transformed her passion into a love of teaching others to learn and appreciate dance as she did.

For several summers, her mother brought her to Chicago to study with Meredith McCray. In the early years, they stayed in Uptown hotels; Nancy later transitioned to the prestigious Three Arts Club.

At 13, she met Joe Sommers at the Nichols Park Community Swimming Pool, where Joe was a lifeguard and Nancy was a swim instructor. They later married. Joe and Nancy became dance partners and parents to Kirk (born 1964, died 2001) and Kari Sommers (born 1962).

Her love of dance was surpassed only by her love for her family. She was preceded in death by her sister, Doris Jean Walz of Jacksonville; her husband, Joe Sommers; her son, Kirk Sommers; and her son-in-law, Bradley Waters.

She was especially proud of her son’s performance career, which included the Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre, the long-running production of Jubilee at Bally’s (now MGM Grand) in Las Vegas, performances at Disney World in Orlando, and engagements on Crystal Cruises.

She is survived by her daughter, Kari; son-in-law, Rafael Rivera; grandchildren, Miette and Comus Rivera; grandson-in-law, Kelly Buffini; her nieces, Penny Evans of Clinton, Kelly Walz of Springfield, and Terry Walz of Racine, Wisconsin; and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews.

She maintained special relationships with her cousin and best friend, Susan Craigmiles of Jacksonville; her great-nephew, Keenan Roe of Chicago; and her close Chicago friends, Mary, Lisa, Carole, and Nancy, among many others.

Nancy opened dance studios in Jacksonville, LeRoy, Tuscola, Clinton, Farmer City, and Maroa, Illinois, and later taught and formed deep connections at Becki Sadomytschenko’s Studio B in Decatur, Illinois.

She was a proud lifetime member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM) and past-president. As President (1999 - 2001) she proudly worked toward financial stability for the organization, opening their first-ever investments.

Nancy never stopped loving dance and continued to teach private lessons well into her early 80’s. 

The Nutcracker was her special favorite, taking countless students to see Ruth Page’s Nutcracker at the Arie Crown Theatre at McCormick Place.

Nancy struggled with her health, surviving a remarkable 32 surgeries over the course of her lifetime. She was the ultimate survivor.

As her ability to walk declined, Nancy required surgery #33 to correct a dislocated arterial stent. On Monday, December 23 the first surgery was performed, but the blood flow to her leg abruptly stopped the following morning and surgery #34 was required to save her life and hopefully save her leg. The final surgery was not successful and our Sugar Plum Fairy danced into another life in the early hours of Christmas morning.

A service will be held at:

Michelle’s Ballroom

2800 W Belmont Ave, Chicago

Monday, December 30th

1:00 pm

Service with performances by the students of her former dance students.

1:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Sweet Tea and chocolate reception from 1:45 - 4:00 pm. 

Should anyone wish to honor her love and legacy of dance, please consider a donation to the CNADM College Scholarship fund by visiting https://tinyurl.com/NancySommersCNADM.