Paid Notice: Nancy Dubin, of New York City and Bridgehampton, New York, passed away on August 3, 2026, at the age of 80, after a brave struggle with cancer. Nancy was an intriguing, self-made woman whose life was marked by long friendships, curiosity, creativity and adventure.
Born on March 21, 1946, to Mary Elizabeth Woodley Dubin and Lester Dubin, she grew up in Pelham, New York with her sisters Barbara and Kathryn. As a child, she loved going into New York City with her mother and sisters to see Broadway musicals.
She graduated from Connecticut College in 1968 and moved to NYC, where she worked as a photographer for The Village Voice and, for a time, at 30 Rockefeller Center. During those years, she appeared as a Bee in the early Saturday Night Live “King Bee” skit with John Belushi. She later worked as a production associate on the documentary "The Eagle and the Hawk," with John Denver..
Nancy took photography classes with Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson and befriended photographer Helmut Newton while walking her much-loved dog, Rachel.
A bold adventurer, Nancy traveled solo throughout the United States, Europe and South America. She easily formed friendships that lasted for decades.
If a friend needed a doctor, she would research until she found the best. If someone was looking for a job, she would reach into her wide circle of friends and acquaintances to make a connection. She was generous with her time, knowledge and connections and made a meaningful difference in many lives.
Nancy was a wonderful raconteur with an extraordinary memory for names, faces and details from decades earlier. Her storytelling about people, places and the experiences was legendary and always entertaining.
When Nancy became interested in a person or subject, she immersed herself, retaining an astonishing amount of what she’d learned. A woman of strong opinions, one learned to argue with her on facts at one’s peril.
She developed a successful career in real estate, and in the 1980s bought her beloved house in Bridgehampton. She loved the life and community she found there and in Sag Harbor.
At the Sag Harbor Transfer Station, Nancy had an unusually keen eye, donating many discarded instruments to local music teacher David Fox for students.
Nancy magnanimously donated her family’s Steinway grand piano, in her family since the 1960s, to The Church, the arts and creativity center in Sag Harbor, where it has proved indispensable.
Nancy knew great “world music” musician/composer David Amram for years, and arranged for him to perform at The Church in March 2024.
That same year, Nancy was diagnosed with cancer, and returned to her New York City apartment for treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she remained very much herself—curious, engaged, and independent.
Nancy lived a singular life, filled with friendships, adventures, and curiosity. She will be remembered and missed for her resourcefulness and generosity, her sense of humor, and the stories that entertained her friends and family for so many years.
