Thursday, October 1, 2026
The former Nancy Duncan, known in Olympia in the 1970's as the owner/operator of The Cinema movie theater, went Home to Love on the morning of January 21st, 2025. She was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, November 10, 1943. She is survived by her husband David A. Huss, children Tom J. Aeschliman and Elizabeth A. Aeschliman and her Extended Family; all those she adopted with her heart.
Nancy lived her life with courage, determination, and love. Often called “a force of nature,” she possessed a quick-moving and dramatic temperament, much like the wind storms she loved. And she was great fun.
Strangers, passing her in a theater or on the street were known to comment on her “world class” laugh which we will remember and miss for the remainder of our lives.
She knew how to make and keep friends, and built community wherever she found herself. She was a first rate conversationalist, loving to talk about ideas and never shy to share her confidently-stated (and always interesting) opinions.
And she loved movies. She spent several years learning the ropes of starting and running independent movie theaters while working for Randy Finley (Seven Gable Theaters) in Seattle. In the 1970s, she moved to Olympia, WA to build a theatre of her own - The Cinema, that had a short but vibrant run as a special place for the community’s film buffs.
In the 1980’s and 90’s she became Executive Secretary to the Director of Seattle’s Public Arts Commission, and the UW’s Henry Art Gallery.
After retiring and moving to Bellingham, Nancy threw her energy and movie theatre experience into organizing the efforts to create The Pickford Film Center.
In Seattle, she’d lent her lovely voice and unforgettable laugh to reading Books for the Blind, as well as recording interviews with authors. In Bellingham, she organized a chapter of Books for Prisoners.
In 2019, while already experiencing chronic pain from Post-polio Syndrome, she suffered a stroke. In the last years of her life, she faced confusion, memory loss, and ever-decreasing mobility. This was a tremendous struggle for someone used to a trustworthy mind and a big life. And still, her intelligence, curiosity, and kindness shone through. Each day she laughed, and did her best to fully experience life, engaging in the moment with everyone she met.
Her joyful love for life will live in our hearts.
A Celebration of her life will be convened March 1st, 2025, Noon to 3:00 p.m., at Squalicum Boathouse in Zuanich Point Park, Bellingham, WA. Everyone is Welcome!
Memorial website: https://everloved.com/life-of/nancy-huss/.
