Nancy Fleming Cappelletti

Nancy Fleming Cappelletti, born on November 19th, 1937, in Norfolk, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 2nd, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was 86 years old.

Nancy was a devoted mother to Sharon Mahoney, Kathy Cappelletti, and Jim Cappelletti Jr., and a loving grandmother to Mikel and Jennifer Mahoney, Matthew Mahoney-White, Mia and Carly Milosevic, grandmother-in-law to  Jennifer's wife Rachel Mosbacher, and great grandmother to Bailey Roo Mahoney.

She was raised in Norfolk, Virginia and later moved to a farm in Lafayette, Indiana where her compassionate spirit and dedication to justice were cultivated. A trailblazer in her own right, Nancy was a passionate feminist and human rights advocate ahead of her time. She pursued higher education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia during the late 1950s, defying societal norms that limited opportunities for women in academia. She was married to James R. (Jim) Cappelletti Sr. for over 50 years and both were committed to the betterment of the Cleveland Heights Community in their respective ways.   

In the early 1970s, Nancy embarked on a career as a real estate agent in Cleveland Heights with Franklin-Heard Real Estate Agency. Nancy proudly volunteered for the St. Ann’s Social Action Housing Committee, a pivotal organization in combating housing discrimination in Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights.

As a member of the St. Ann’s Action Housing Committee, Nancy played a crucial role in documenting and exposing discriminatory practices in the real estate industry. Her involvement in the St. Ann’s Audit revealed systemic racial bias, leading to the establishment of organizations like The Heights Community Congress and The Heights Housing Service, dedicated to fostering integration and combating segregation.  She, among a few other change-making women, were inducted into the Innovator’s Circle in 2012 for their work in helping create the vibrant and diverse community that many enjoy in the Cleveland Heights area. 

Despite facing personal challenges and depression later in life, Nancy persevered with resilience and sought solace in the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism. Her journey led her to Tai-Chi, a practice she embraced wholeheartedly for 20+ years. Nancy found profound relief from depression through her practice of Tai-Chi and became both a dedicated student and a passionate teacher, touching the lives of many with her wisdom and compassion.

Nancy was a voracious reader of books and news and kept herself and loved ones informed on all issues of social justice and politics.
 
Nancy was also a lover of all things in nature.  She enjoyed bird watching, walks in the metro parks and over the years, became an expert gardener. She created enviable rose gardens in each of their homes and took care of over an acre of land in Gates Mills where Jim and Nancy lived after their children left home.  She nurtured trees, flowers, vegetables, and herbs from seedlings to their beautiful maturity. 

Nancy will be remembered for her indomitable spirit, unwavering commitment to human rights, and love for her family and community. Her legacy of advocacy and compassion will continue to inspire generations to come. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shaker Heights Nature Center or to the Jim “Coach” Cappelletti Scholarship Fund, that she continued to support after Jim’s passing. https://www.shakerlakes.org/ways-to-give/   or https://heightsschoolsfoundation.org/the-coach-jim-cappelletti-memorial-scholarship-fund/

To honor Nancy’s wishes, the family will remember her in a private service, after which she will be laid to rest at Knollwood Cemetery in Mayfield Heights next to Jim in the Garden of Meditation.