Anne Townsend 'Nancy' Riker of Weston, Massachusetts, formerly of Sarasota, Florida and Tucker's Town, died on Sunday, July 21st, 2002.

Born on July 14th, 1911 in Lawrence, Long Island, NY, she was the daughter of the late Daniel H. and Frances L. Cox. Her father, a naval architect and graduate of the Navy Academy at Annapolis, taught her to sail at an early age. She became a keen sailor and in 1926 was the Junior Sailing Champion of Long Island Sound. Sailing and boats were a lifelong hobby.

After graduating from St. Timothy's School in 1928, she studied in Paris. In 1932 she married Samuel Ricker Jr. and lived in New York City. Their three children, born in Manhattan, moved to a farm in Middletown, New Jersey during the Second World War, where the family raised produce, farm animals and dairy goats. They continued to farm the land until 1958.

Mrs. Riker was a volunteer airplane observer for the Army Air Corps during the Second World War, a Red Cross nurse's aide at the Riverview Hospital, and worked with the Visiting Nurse Association of Middletown Township. She was a Member of the Board of the State Home for girls in Trenton for 15 years and took great interest in the education of these teenagers. She also was a member and taught Sunday School at the historic Christ Church Episcopal (1702) on the King's Highway in Middletown.

When her husband retired, they moved to their house in Tucker's Town, "Fairway", which had been built for Mr. and Mrs. Riker, Senior in 1926. Mrs. Riker continued her interest in nursing as a volunteer at King Edward VII Hospital. In 1962 she became a certified SCUBA diver and pursued her interest in nature and underwater science at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research where she volunteered for many years. In 1971 she was appointed a Trustee of the station and was elected 'Life Trustee' in 1982 in recognition of her many years of service.

In 1975 she built a house on the island of Cariacou, Grenada which she enjoyed for years. She made many friends while helping out in the Primary School and also took great interest in the construction of Uranus, a local "working" sailboat. Every summer she returned to the island to assist at the regatta for these boats. In 1982 she moved from Bermuda to Sarasota, Florida where she belonged to St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key. She was a member of the Handbell Choir and a teacher's aide in the Pre-school. She also became a trained Hospice volunteer and remained a committed "team member" of Hospice of Sarasota until 1996.

In early 1997 she moved to Weston, Massachusetts where she belonged to St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She enjoyed the Boston Symphony and trips to the Museum of Fine Arts as well as walks at Massachusetts Audubon Society's Drumin Farm and Ashumet Holly Preserve. She liked to travel, and made bird watching trips a priority. Scores of Field guilds attest to her interest in world-wide travel and the birds she had seen. She had a natural curiosity about the world around her and the people she met along the way.

A memorial service was held on Friday, September 27, at Trinity Episcopal Church, in Concord, Massachusetts. A celebration of her life and burial of her ashes took place at Holy Trinity Church, Bailey's Bay on November 9.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, USA.

Mrs. Riker is survived by her daughter, Anne T. 'Susie' Buttrick of Concord, Massachusetts; and sons, Samuel of Tucker's Town, and Robert T. of Sarasota, Florida. She also leaves her sister, Frances B. Cox, of Sarasota, Florida; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. - Contributed