My Way of Life
Coming back to work after 5 days off was difficult but I’m here and ready to face the challenges of the week. What I wasn’t ready to face was a call about an old friend and former boss, Nancy Harbutte. Nancy was one of the first people in our 80’s punk whatever circle of friends to get her shit together and get a real job. She was driven, and climbed high on the corporate ladder but never lost the quirkiness that made her Nancy. Okay, she was a little nutty, and very funny, pretty, and smart. She helped me tremendously in life. She gave me my first non-bar job even though I didn’t want to do inside sales (a fancy word for telemarketing). Turns out I was good at it and I actually found a way to earn a lot more money then I could have earned doing what I was qualified to which was nothing. When I started showing up to work to work wreaking of liquor or not showing up at all she helped me by telling me I had to straighten up or leave. I tried to straighten up but ended up leaving. When I decided to ’straighten up’ again Nancy gave me another chance. She and another friend, Denise, drove me to rehab. That was 13 years ago. I’ve been ’straightened up’ ever since. Maybe if I didn’t have that extra push it wouldn’t have been 13 years ago. Maybe it would. Maybe I’d be dead now. A few years later Nancy hired me at the other company she was working at when I couldn’t find a job. She was a VP. I kept in contact with her through brief, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ e-mails. Nancy was killed Thursday when her bike ran into the path of pick-up truck. Thank you, Nancy Harbutte. You made a difference and I will miss you.
Filed under: My Way Of Life
I’m sorry to hear about Nancy. She sounds like a really special person!
Yes! Nancy was indeed a special person that had everything going for her and went out on a limb to help people, including me.
David- how sad that you, and the rest of the world, lost such a great person. My condolences.
thankfully it’s people like nancy that make people like you.
i’m sorry for your loss.
Nancy was a special person. I just found out of her passing this morning and will miss her. I am sorry for your loss.
Hey all- thanks so much for your kind words. It’s funny, because even though I hadn’t kept in touch with Nancy that much her passing effected it me more then I thought it would. Years seem like days, in the grand scheme of things.
David..your story touched me deeply..you are right about her..she was so very special..I know..I am her brother..
Thanks for your kind words about Nancy, she too meant a lot to me and offered me a lot of support when I needed to”straighten up” . Nancy was all those things you described, but she was also one of the bravest people I knew.I am sorry for your loss. By the way you wheren’t good at inside sales, you where excellent.
Carmel
Hi,
I came across this posting while I was searching for news about nancy’s death. She too was my friend and my boss. Although I worked from India, we got along very well from the beginning and she was someone I looked upto because she was smart, and extremely nice to work with. I quit after working with her for 2 years and even met her during my visit to Chicago. She took a lot of time to show me around the place and drove me to her house in Michigan. Athough its been 11/2 years since we interacted, I was extremely saddened to hear about her death and felt so much grief. She will be missed a lot and my only cosolation is that I met her in person and shared some beautiful moments together.
Hi:
I am Nancy’s sister, Karen, and our family appreciates all the loving comments you and your friends have posted. Our other sister, Sarah, suggested I send you a copy of the tribute I wrote about her. At her celebration of life at her home in Michigan we heard, time and again, how each person felt Nancy was their best friend, and she was theirs. Nancy had that ability–to totally BE with a person, to know who they were and to appreciate their uniqueness. May you all pass on that love you recieved from Nancy to others in your lives.
NANCY DOLL
I don’t think there is anything that would have made my sister more happy than to have had a doll—like Barbie—named after her. You know, the Nancy Doll. Loved by millions. Played with my children and adults. Available in all kinds of cute outfits with interchangeable hair colors and styles. Packaged in a designer box decorated with stars and sparkles.
The first Nancy Doll would be Baby Sister Doll. She would be cute as a button and have 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters who adored her, carried her everywhere, catered to her every need and was the center of attention 24/7. Diapers and baby bottle included.
Preppy Nancy: A precocious preteen, popular, fun loving. She has on a darling pastel colored outfit and has the kind of long, wavy blonde hair everyone wished they had. Pink limo is a must to take her to birthday parties and dances.
Sorority Nancy: A more grown up version of Preppy Nancy, she is off to college waving a Western Illinois University flag. She comes dressed in a Leathernecks sweatshirt, jeans and a fake I.D.
Goth Nancy: Dressed all in black, wearing a leopard skin pill hat and a skull ring. Short, spikey hair dyed white. Or black. Or red. She’s an urban girl whose social life starts after 11:00 pm. Temporary tattoos included.
Sporty Nancy: This girl can do it all. Swim, hike, bike, mountain climb, play tennis and even skydive. A triathelete, her outfits are always colored coordinated and she comes with trophies, a mountain bike, water bottle and sweat towel.
Adventure Nancy: Interchangeable with Sport Nancy, Adventure Nancy climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro, goes on an African safari, white water river rafts, bikes across Iowa, and keeps her Vespa always at the ready. Includes a passport, hiking boots and camera.
Work Out Nancy: Cute even when sweaty, she comes with two outfits. Designer work out clothes perfect for Chicago’s East Bank Club and casual sweats for at-home workouts. Included are hand weights, a heart rate monitor and Propel.
Spa Nancy: Always happiest when other people are catering to her, Spa Nancy relaxes at exotic locales where she can exercise with celebrities, take yoga class with Buddhist monks, expand her mind with meditation—and still get her nails done. White fluffy robe, towel and massage oil are included.
Corporate Nancy: Preppy Nancy all grown up! She’s smart. She’s creative. She’s got her M.B.A from DePaul University! Confident in the board room and capable of creating corporate strategies, Corporate Nancy comes dressed in an Ann Taylor suit—size 4—and carries her laptop in a Prada bag.
Aunt Nancy: Wildly popular with nieces and a nephew, Aunt Nancy is all about fun and games. Whether she’s reading books, playing dress up or competing in Dance Revolution, Aunt Nancy knows how to relate to kids because she still is one. Casual clothes, stuffed animals and toys are included.
Daughter Nancy: Only available to two people, Daughter Nancy is much loved and prized. She has been rocked and kissed, spanked and rewarded by her adoring Mom and Dad. A source of pride, worry and delight Daughter Nancy is all ages, all sizes, all hair styles and colors. She comes with all the accessories and clothes from the entire Nancy Doll line, including a fabulous home in Michigan, friends from around the country, siblings and cousins and aunts and uncles who love her and a pup named Addison.
Wise Woman Nancy: This Nancy Doll is sought by anyone who needs a true friend, a good listener, a strong shoulder to cry on and some wise advice. Wise Woman Nancy has been on a long journey, up the tallest mountains and down into the darkest pits. She suffered but gained experience and wisdom that she is willing to share. Those people lucky enough to be in the presence of Wise Woman Nancy are filled with her love and her light.
You must be warned. The Nancy Doll collection is VERY EXPENSIVE and is HIGH MAINTENANCE. But then, the most precious things in life always are.
Hi David,
Glad to see you doing so well. Thank you for your kind words about Nancy. I am blessed to have had Nancy in my life for the past 23 years.
She will be missed tremendously.
I am living in MI, but lets keep in touch. Life is a gift that is fleeting.
Best Regards, Elisa J .Pollack
Hi David-
Tom, myself, Elisa and I just had dinner with Nancy’s sister Karen a couple of nights ago. Karen is the one who told us about your blog. Elisa and I were in charge of going through Nancy’s phone to contact whomever we could in a very short time. I was so glad that we found you, and that Elisa made the call. Nancy would periodically keep us updated on the goings on in your life, and it made me so happy to know that you were doing well. I could not help but wonder if the Cara from the above message was “Cara” from the punk rock days at “murder mansion” I am grateful to have had Nancy to lean on for the past 20 something years as well. I may have an old photo of you two somewhere. I will see if I can locate it.
Take Care David, John Natsis
(PS I still get to see Elisa often, so that is one other thing I am gratefull for)
Hi, my name is Esther Weil. Formerly Esther Diak. Nancy was my best friend in college at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. I searched for her name on yahoo and this is what I came up with. I was trying to locate people from college. I am in shock. I’m so sorry to hear of Nancy’s passing. She was my best friend for 4 years but we lost touch after college. If anyone sees this, could you please write me back? Thanks. Again, my deepest sympathy.
Dear Esther,
I am Nancy’s sister and if you would like you can e-mail me directly at sarahwallin@adelphia.net
Sarah Harbutte Wallin
I am so sad to find out about Nancy. I had no idea. I lost touch a few years ago after she left Ameritech. I have great memories of Nancy at Western…she was a great friend. I am so sorry for your loss.