Nanette Rich, long-time Wilton resident, passed away peacefully on December 13 ^th after a year-long battle with cancer.  Nanette was born February 16, 1930 in Orange, New Jersey to Ada M. (Wimmel) and Claude V. Offray. She was raised in Summit, New Jersey and graduated from Kent Place School in 1948, where she captained the field hockey team and earned first team all-state honors.  Young Nan was an avid equestrian and especially loved boating, water-skiing and fishing in Long Island sound near her Huntington home.

After graduating from Bennington College in 1952 with a B.A. in English Literature, Nanette moved to Manhattan taking work as an executive assistant at the J. Walter Thomson ad agency prior to becoming a food and restaurant critic for Cue Magazine.  While on a Cue assignment, Nanette met John D. Rich who was then selling fine French wine.   In 1957, John and Nanette eloped to St. Thomas, USVI and remained together for 56 years until John's death in 2013.

The couple moved from New York to Wilton CT in 1962, to an heirloom apple orchard at 90 Olmstead Hill Rd, with two babies, Karen and Douglas; Bryan would arrive 2 yrs later.   After the 50-tree orchard was restored, the Riches hosted the now legendary apple-picking parties (aka: Chevaliers des Pommes) for 20 years until 1987. The party was not only a celebration of nature's bounty and friendship, but also raised money for the church and boy-scouts.    Nanette lived in Wilton for 60 years where she was well-known and appreciated for her numerous civic contributions which include: president of the Wilton School District PTA; Vestrywoman of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Volunteer for Wilton Senior Center; Stage Manager at the Wilton Playshop during its "Cabaret" heyday in the 1970's.

Nanette and John sought the island life-style and lived in St. Thomas, USVI during winters until Hurricane Marylin devastated the island.   Nanette enjoyed travelling extensively in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, South America and North Africa.  She particularly adored France, from where the Offray family originated and Nanette maintained strong ties to her French relatives.  Nanette loved a good road-trip and was driving herself to visit friends in Cape Cod and family in Washington D.C. into her late 80's.

In the 1990's and early 2000's Nanette could be found behind the counter at the Open House gift shop, which she co-owned.  Nanette served on numerous committees and boards - her generous contributions of time, expertise, and can-do spirit helped make Wilton a strong, healthy community as it grew from a small rural village to the bustling town it is today.

Nanette continued her life-long passion for competitive bridge and was recruited by a thriving, caring, local bridge community which sustained her following John's death and on-line during the pandemic.Nanette was blessed with a powerful and good life force, huge heart, and warmth, which she shared through sparkling brown eyes, easy laughter, and a beautiful smile.  She will be dearly missed by her many friends and acquaintances, and especially her family.  Nanette is survived by daughter Karen (Carlsbad, CA), sons Douglas (Lake Oswego, OR) and Bryan (Washington, D.C.), and four grandchildren: Tyler, Corey, Ariel and Aragon.

A memorial service and celebration of life in Wilton are planned for June 2022. To offer the family online condolences please visit www.boutonfuneralhome.com