A touchstone of the arts in Aurora, Nancy Smith Hopp left us March 23, 2023 with the same unassuming grace she showed in all she did in Aurora. And, she did a great amount.
As a historian, biographer, connoisseur of art and architecture, philanthropist, executive, trustee, conservationist, gardener, mentor, and many other admirable things, Nancy brought exquisite taste and boundless generosity to her city, her colleagues, her friends and the family she loved so dearly. Every day she found ways to connect people with others for the benefit of all, or to direct them to new resources and broader or more distant horizons.
Here at the Aurora Historical Society we had just begun to celebrate the way she illuminated and expanded our Spring exhibit of Ruth Van Sickle Ford paintings and were eager to have her speak in the gallery, sharing the depth of her knowledge and the breadth of her appreciation. Her biography of Mrs. Ford will endure as the ultimate exposition of this wonderful artist. We were anticipating her curatorship of an exhibit this autumn of Hollywood Casino’s history, built upon the remarkable collection of artifacts assembled by her late husband, Jim Hopp, who managed much of the material development there.
We are grateful to have known and worked with Nancy.
—Aurora Historical Society