Nancy M. Kobryn - Bio
Profile
NANCY M. KOBRYN (1928 - 2004) was an influential American educator, futurist, and community activist , who left a significant mark on the Utica, New York community and beyond. Nancy’s passion for space exploration, education, and life itself was infectious, deeply impacting her students and all those fortunate to cross paths with her. Nancy's work with NASA's Young Astronaut Program and the ChinAmerica sister city program with China enhanced the Utica area's national and international reputations. Nancy received her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Education from Syracuse University.
People like Nancy Kobryn dedicate their lives to making the world a better place. Let us keep the torch lit, and proudly pass it on to all mankind in a quest toward a more peaceful world.
— Lee Kelley, "Letters to the Editor" in The Observer-Dispatch 11 March 2004.
Portrait by J. Victolee (1986)
Chronological Bio
Early Life: First Trimester
Nancy came into this world on June 29, 1928, in New York City, NY. She was the first of five children born to Thomas Briody, a New York City fireman and World War I Naval Aviator, and Mae Allen, a family noted for their musical and wagering skills. Excelling in academics during an era primarily dominated by men, Nancy completed her high school education and attended a local college for a year before marrying Alphonse ("Al") S. Kobryn in 1948 in Utica, New York. Despite his impressive mathematical abilities, Al left Renneslaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) after his first year to return to his hometown of Utica. He took up a job as a blue-collar worker and union representative. The couple had three children: Allen (later Alen), Chris (later Cris), and Mary Lou. For their initial decade together, the Kobryn family led a content and healthy life, as Al's promotions in his manufacturing job allowed them to buy their first house in the nearby suburb of New Hartford, NY.
Middle Life: Second Trimester
The tranquility of the young Kobryn family was shattered in 1959 when Al became permanently disabled by a rare neurological disorder and could no longer provide for the family. In the face of adversity, Nancy chose to return to university to earn an undergraduate degree that would allow her to become a professional teacher. She balanced her education with a near full-time evening job as a "housemother" at a local nursing school. By 1969, she graduated from Utica College, Syracuse University with a B.A. in Psychology, and with honors. Following her graduation, she was hired as a grammar school teacher in New Hartford, where she excelled in her profession while simultaneously completing her M.A. in Education from Syracuse University.
Her engagement with NASA's Young Astronaut Program and the ChinAmerica sister city initiative with China elevated the Utica area's national and international profile. In 1986, she was appointed a Professor at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Later Life: First Trimester
Until her last breath, Nancy retained her interest in space exploration. Her expertise and fervor for space topics earned her admiration from NASA astronauts, science fiction writers, including Issac Asimov, and Star Trek enthusiasts. Simultaneously, she continued her community activism in Utica and was honored with the YWCA Mohawk Valley "Salute to Outstanding Women" award in 1996. In a final testament to her dedication to lifelong learning, Nancy suffered a fatal stroke while attending a Mandarin Chinese class in Utica on February 18, 2004. Her memorial service saw a turnout of hundreds of former students and admirers.
Publications
- [Kobryn 1995] Kobryn, Nancy (1995). "Guts and Glory, Tragedy and Triumph: The Rufus P. Elefante Story." Mid-York Library System: Steffen Publications.
- [Kobryn 1981] Kobryn, Nancy, et al. "Universal Studies", University for Youth Press, Utica, NY.