Obituary of Miriam Florence Nachman
Miriam Florence (Friedman) Nachman
9/21/1927-12/21/2020
After enjoying this life for 93 years, Mim (as she was known to her family and many friends) passed on 12/21/2020. A longtime resident of Lower Bucks County, in Magnolia Hills, Forsythia Gate, and Lower Makefield, she resided most recently at PennswoodVillage in Newtown.
Born in Grafton, West Virginia to Harry and Florence (Greensfelder) Friedman, Mim grew up as the tomboy sister to her older brother Stanley. Becoming an avid adult gardener and backyard birder, Mim was deeply engaged with the world of nature from an early age. During the time when women were not encouraged to pursue higher education in the sciences, she earned a chemistry degree from West Virginia University (where her father had studied engineering and law). While at WVU in Morgantown, she met and then married Milton Nachman, a US Army veteran returning from Europe after the second World War. While Milt completed his engineering studies, Mim did laboratory work in a Morgantown hospital. Upon his graduation, they moved to Pittsburgh, then Philadelphia, and eventually to Bucks County, where she provided a wonderful home for her husband and their four children. A road-trip adventure in one station wagon took the six Nachmans to Cupertino, California for what turned out to be a one-year work assignment. When the company transferred Milt back to New Jersey in 1968, they returned east in a caravan with another family, visiting national parks by day and sleeping in motels at night.
Mim loved to read, and probably checked out every mystery novel on the shelves of the Pennswood Village library at least once. She taught herself how to sew, knit and crochet—these were crafts she enjoyed for many years. Her extensive gardening successes ran to fruits, vegetables, flowers and houseplants, including a wide variety of delicate African violets. She continued gardening well into her eighties.
Mim was very involved in community life. As a lifetime member and officer of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), she supported their mission of education for girls; and she also fostered networking and continuing education for generations of women graduates.
A highly competitive bridge player, Mim enjoyed both the socializing and strategizing inherent to the game, and continued to play at Pennswood Village even after Milt gave up cards.
Mim was an amazing social networker–a skill she inherited from her mother, who seemed to know everybody in their West Virginia railroad town–holding many long term relationships with relatives and friends in her capacious memory. As Milt told their children, “Your mother is the people person!”.
In a family ceremony her ashes will be interred at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, placed alongside those of her husband of 68 years.
Mim was predeceased by her brother Stanley Friedman and her husband Milt. She is survived by her son David of Tempe, AZ; daughters Beverly of San Jose, CA, Phyllis of Lafayette, CA and Judy of Yardley, PA; 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, her niece Margaret and nephew John. Her entire family and many friends will miss her dearly.
Those wishing to make memorial donations should consider:
• AAUW Scholarship Fund, online https://makefield-pa.aauw.net/scholarships/, or by sending a check to:
AAUW Makefield Area Branch
c/o Kathy Quinn, Finance Officer
7511 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Please note on the check memo or on the contribution note that it is in memory of MimNachman.
• Pennswood Village Fellowship Fund, found at https://pennswood.org/giving
• Or an organization of your choice.
