NORA WHITE SHATTUCK, 97, Lincoln
LINCOLN — Nora White Shattuck, of Lincoln, Vermont, passed away on July 7, 2023, in Middlebury, Vermont at the age of 97. She was surrounded by family.
Born August 25, 1925, in Ottawa Canada, Nora was the fourth of five children of John Herbert White and Eileen Simpson. The family homestead was a 1000-acre property on the banks of the Ottawa River with horses, sheep, orchards and crops where many adventures were had involving treacherous toboggin jumps, riding their mischievous Welch pony “Baby” and skijoring with their shepherd Mountie.
Nora started ballet classes in Ottawa at the age of five and at age 16 traveled to New York City to attend the American School of Ballet. By 1942, she was on Broadway dancing Rosalinda for the New York City Opera Company and from 1943 to 1947 she danced in the Ballets Russes de Montecarlo and toured throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
After studying ballet in Paris, Nora returned to the U.S. and married author and professor Roger W. Shattuck in 1949. Over the next 50 years Nora founded the Cambridge School of Ballet and Austin Ballet Theatre and taught ballet and modern dance at the University of Texas, University of Virginia, Boston University, in the Ivory Coast, France, and Lincoln, Vermont.
In addition to her accomplishments in dance, Nora cherished her home and community in Lincoln. She chaired the PTA, was treasurer of Lincoln Sports, volunteered at the Lincoln Library and organized community square dances, ballet classes and performances at Burnham Hall.
She enjoyed horseback riding, tending her large vegetable and flower gardens, cooking for family gatherings, swimming in the pond and surveying the view of the Green Mountains and fields from the “cabin.” Nora shared these simple pleasures with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Nora Shattuck is survived by her son Marc, daughters Patricia and Eileen, six grandchildren — Ruth, Heather, Charles, Killian, Jasper and Troy — and six great-grandchildren: Joseph, Nora, Rosie, Lincoln, Joselyn and Elliot. Nora was predeceased by her eldest daughter, Tari Elizabeth Shattuck, in 1993, and her husband Roger Shattuck in 2005.
For those who wish, donations in her honor may be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice (P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753 www.achhh.org) or Lincoln Sports (Lincoln Sports Inc, c/o Andy Soares White, 3237 Ripton Road, Lincoln, VT 05443). Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 5, 2023, at the United Church of Lincoln, Vermont with reception to follow. Family and friends are invited to attend.