Nancy Marie Wyche Morgan, 64, educator in Philadelphia and the Virgin Islands
John Street hired her as a special education advisor in 1996.
NANCY MORGAN got a chance to try out her French during a reception in 2001 for French dignitaries in celebration of French support for the American Revolution 225 years before.
As she presented a ceremonial bowl to French ambassador Francois Bujon de l'Estang, she said, "Vive la France. Vive l'Etats Unis. Vive l'alliance. Vive Philadelphie."
Then she impulsively added, "Vive l'amour!"
Explaining why she added the expression of eternal love to her remarks, she said, "I cannot say the vives without saying, 'Vive l'amour.' "
"Well," someone said, "we are the city that loves you back."
Nancy was acting as a special assistant to then Mayor John Street in helping to greet the French officials here in Philadelphia. The role actually was a bit afield from what Street had hired her for when he was City Council president - to run an educational summit to bring together city officials, parents, teachers, administrators and unions to talk about improving public education.
Nancy, who died May 1 at the age of 64, was well-qualified to handle the job of education adviser. She was a highly regarded educator in the Philadelphia School District, and held a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees and a doctorate in education.
After leaving city government, Nancy moved to the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, serving as a visiting professor on the St. Croix campus of the College of Education at the University of the Virgin Islands for the past seven years.
Nancy loved the salt water and sea air of the Caribbean island. She enjoyed chilling out at "Doc Pete's" on the beachfront with her companion, Dr. Eugene Peterson. She collapsed of unknown causes on the island, and efforts to resuscitate her failed.
Nancy Marie Wyche was born in West Philadelphia to Samuel Phillip Wyche Sr. and the former Frances Andre Rouse. When Nancy was 2, the family moved to West Mount Airy.
She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1967, and went on to Cheyney University. She became a member of the Delta Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
After graduating in 1971, she joined the Philadelphia School District as a teacher of special education, where she pursued her commitment "to recognizing, celebrating and developing the gifts of all children," her family said.
She earned master's degrees from Arcadia University and Antioch College. She completed her doctorate of education at Hofstra University on Long Island, N.Y.
She married Dr. Robert B. Morgan in 1975.
Her marriage ended in divorce. She is survived by a daughter, Lyndsay Morgan; two sons, Robert and Samuel; three sisters, Phyllis Wyche Brown, Adrienne Thomas and Marsha Money; two brothers, Herbert and Samuel Wyche Jr.; and three grandchildren.
Services: 7 tonight at Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, 610 Summit Ave., Jenkintown. Friends may call at 5 p.m.