Nancy Fallon, editor of Saint Mary's magazine, dies unexpectedly
By NOREEN GILLESPIE
Associate News Editor
Nancy Fallon, three-year editor of the Saint Mary's alumnae magazine Courier, died Wednesday after a heart attack. She was 45 years old.
Fallon was watching her daughter Clare, age 11, participate in the Catholic Diocese spelling bee at Holy Cross School in South Bend when the apparent heart attack struck.
Fallon began as a freelance writer for Courier in 1989, where she assumed the editor position eight years later. She also worked as a freelance writer for Notre Dame Magazine.
Maureen Manier, then editor of Courier, was immediately impressed with Fallon.
"I knew instantly that she was someone I wanted to work with," Manier said. "She was a quiet, even unassuming woman when you met her, but in the course of our first meeting I could tell she possessed tremendous intelligence and insight."
The first impression Fallon made would be one that would start a long-winded professional and personal relationship.
"After meeting with her about freelancing, I wrote on my calendar, `great writer, amazing woman. Definitely call,'" Manier remembered.
During her tenure at Saint Mary's, Fallon extended her contributions beyond the Courier's office. She collaborated with development on writing projects and also wrote a video script for the College.
"Nancy was an extremely bright and talented, very kind person," said Barb Henry, director of alumnae relations. "She contributed a lot to Saint Mary's. She was our voice."
Fallon revamped the Courier during her tenure in the position, envisioning a new design for the magazine and greater attention to detail in the publication.
"The magazine was like our mutual brainchild," Manier said. "The magazine truly soared under her leadership. She showed not only vision, but a meticulous attention to detail."
Fallon was born Oct. 28, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Okla. She earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University and holds a master's degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia. During her career she taught at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., and at Notre Dame. In 1981, she married Stephen Fallon, an associate professor in the Program of Liberal Studies at Notre Dame.
Fallon also founded and taught the Junior Great Books program at Holy Cross School in South Bend. She was a longtime volunteer of St. Joseph Soup Kitchen in South Bend.
All News Stories for Tuesday, February 29, 2000
