Nancy Cleveland was born in Santa Monica on June 29, 1945, to Shirley Ann Cleveland and Robert Charles Cleveland. She passed away on January 28, after three weeks in a coma. After escaping from the Palisades Fire, she suffered either a stress-induced stroke or fell or collapsed from exhaustion. She was found with her three dogs waiting by her side.
Nancy’s parents moved to the Pacific Palisades the same year Nancy was born. When she was younger, she enjoyed riding horses and being in nature. She had a deep love for reading history and western novels.
She graduated from the University of Santa Barbara in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science.
Nancy was a Vietnam War Veteran and an intelligence officer in the Air Force. Her military career spanned more than 24 years including both active duty and Air National Guard where she received the Meritorious Service Medal and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
She was a member of the Palisades Woman’s Club and a member of the Ronald Reagan Post 283 American Legion. Post Commander Joe Ramirez said she was an intelligence officer during the Vietnam Way and that she had told him that “She intercepted communications from the Russians, but she told me she couldn’t talk about her work.”
Just like her father Robert, Nancy was a proud member of Pacific Palisades Rotary Club for more than 20 years. Nancy served as President and various other positions during her time with Rotary. She was always an extremely active member of the Palisades community
Nancy was the epitome of a strong charismatic independent woman. She was a successful entrepreneur, real estate investor and businesswoman.
Her passions included reading, photography, oil paintings, hiking in Will Rogers Park and above all else animals, especially dogs.
There was rarely a time when she didn’t own three to four dogs at once. They were her true passion, and she always treated them like her children. Nancy dedicated many years of her life to training dogs for use in Search and Rescue situations. She was an active member of the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) with various emergency medical certifications.
Nancy always loved the great outdoors. In the early 90s Nancy bought a lakefront log cabin in Montana where she spent her summers hosting close friends and relatives, training her dogs and enjoying lake activities.
She was always a loving and caring sister and daughter. In the final years of her mother’s life Nancy spent countless hours caring for her mom in every way possible.
For those that had the opportunity to truly know Nancy her loss weighs heavy. She will be truly missed and always remembered.
She is survived by two siblings Ticia J Bloomfield and Russell R Cleveland as well as three neph
Nancy Cleveland presenting an award at a Rotary Club meeting.
ews and two nieces.
She certainly sounds like a wonderful person. Sorry to hear about her death and hope her dogs find happy homes.