State Representative Nancy Nathanson

A personal message from Nancy:

I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas.  As a young child my parents taught me that "if a job is worth doing it's worth doing well," and made sure my brother and I had a good mix of study and play. My mother taught me a few steps that sparked a lifelong interest in dance starting at age 5.  I took tap, jazz, and classical ballet for 12 years, and as a member of the Dallas Junior Civic Ballet even danced as a mouse in the annual Nutcracker Suite. (In Eugene I helped spread my love of dance and taught tap for several years.)  As a Brownie and Girl Scout I learned the motto, “Be prepared.” Today I still hold that value and work to promote policies for responsible, common-sense government service and budgeting, like establishing a Rainy Day Fund.

After graduating from high school I went to Evanston, Illinois for two years at Northwestern University. I was impressed by a “big time” learning environment, the bitter cold wind blowing off Lake Michigan, and living in a dorm. I moved to Oregon to finish my degree at UO, and I was taken by the landscape, the neighborhoods, and the culture.  Even though I missed my parents, younger brother and close-knit extended family, I was here to stay. 

Enjoying the varied landscapes of Oregon, I've fished, hiked, and camped. Each summer my husband, Steve Robinson, and I pick blackberries for making jam and sauce; I wish I had time to continue making apple butter and pear preserves in the fall. (He's the athlete, I'm the cook.) Together we enjoy gardening, watching the backyard birds, tedious discussions about policy-wonk detail, snorkeling and educational and cultural travel.

My time shrinks as legislative activities expand, so some of the traditions get replaced with new opportunities to meet and learn.  The calendar can get double-booked sometimes, but I try to keep up with regular events like the county fair, Eugene Celebration, Asian Festival, Art and the Vineyard, and even occasionally catch up with the First Friday Art Walk.