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Nancy Ogden Samler

Nancy Ogden Samler, 67, of Clinton, passed away on Jan. 26, 2024, at Yale New Haven Hospital, surrounded by family, after a brief illness. She was a resident of Clinton for 27 years. Nancy was born on Jan. 16, 1957, in Glen Rock, New Jersey, to Ogden (Sam) and Alice Samler (Alexander).

They moved to England in 1962; Nancy first attended a Church of England school and later the American School in London. Nancy remembered those years fondly. She developed an English accent only to soon lose it when her family moved back to the U.S. in 1968, and a new home in Weston. She had two older sisters, Mary and “Allie” (Alexandra).

Nancy attended Weston High School, Class of ‘75, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1980 with a B.A. in psychology. After college, she worked at Harvard University in the Department of Alumni Affairs, and in 1987, she moved to Amityville, New York, and worked at Long Island University. She traveled extensively during this period of her life with her then-husband, John Massaro. On March 29, 1994, they had twins, Scott and Mary Massaro.

In 1997, Nancy moved to Clinton. Her children attended schools in the Clinton Public School District through high school. Having special needs children, Nancy had many challenges and successfully and lovingly advocated for her children throughout their school years and beyond. Afterward, Nancy helped her daughter obtain social services and was eventually placed into several group homes, the latest being a very stable home in Waterford, where Mary has lived for the last 10 years, owned and run by the Eastern Connecticut Developmental Corporation. Scotty also has services through ECDC, Sharp Vocational Training, and Vista Life Innovations in Madison and shares an apartment in Clinton.

Her long-term partner, John Wemmlinger, has been with Nancy since 2001, and they shared many precious, fun-loving, and challenging times together. Some of Nancy’s favorite times were summer weeks spent in Westerly and Maine, attending concerts and listening to music, taking long walks, and going to the local beaches. Pets were an important part of Nancy’s life, and her current young felines, Travis and Wesley, will also miss her and will continue to be cared for. Nancy worked for Madison House in Madison for eight years in the 2010s.

Nancy was an honest and courageous woman and devoted most of the last 30 years to caring for and advocating for her children and helping them achieve independent lives with a good quality of life. Her sudden passing was a shock to all, but with the support of her partner, John Wemmlinger; the children’s father, John Massaro; her sister and her husband, Mary Samler Williams (Keith); and state and private agencies, this will continue on.

A memorial service will be planned for the future. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Eastern Connecticut Developmental Corporation or the Branford Compassion Club.