Nancy Elaine Ditmer, 74, of Wooster, Ohio passed away on May 1, 2024, after a sudden illness. Nancy was born on January 22, 1950, to C. Arthur and Esther Bridgman Ditmer in Piqua, Ohio. She is survived by her sisters Jean (Darryl) Smith of St. Marys, Ohio, and Judy Ditmer of Piqua, Ohio. Her niece, Diana (Alex) Trautner and their children, Sophia and Teo of West Orange, New Jersey, and nephew, Cory Smith of Columbus, Ohio also survive her.
Nancy was a 1968 graduate of Tippecanoe High School. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education in 1972 from Capital University and a Master of Arts in music education from the University of Iowa in 1982. She completed all coursework for a Ph.D. in music education at the University of Iowa. Nancy was a music teacher at the Arcanum Butler Local Schools from 1972-1980, and at Versailles Exempted Village Schools from 1980-1981. In 1984 she began her tenure at the College of Wooster. For the next thirty-five years, Nancy taught band, music education courses, and conducting at the College of Wooster until her retirement in 2019. Passionately committed to music education, Nancy served the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) throughout her career. She was editor of TRIAD, the official publication of OMEA, and served as president of OMEA. She also completed a two-year term as president of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) from 2012-2014. Nancy was the founder and director of the Wooster Music Camp, a summer instructional experience for middle and high school students. She presented workshops, and served as guest conductor and festival adjudicator throughout the United States. Nancy was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award from Capital University. She received the Distinguished Service Award from OMEA and was designated a Lowell Mason Fellow by NAfME.
After retirement, Nancy was a helpful resource to local school music programs. A member of Zion Lutheran Church, she was active in their various musical groups. She enjoyed playing in the Ashland Community Band. Although trained as a flutist, Nancy loved improving her skill on the clarinet with the community band.
As a music educator, it is hard to fathom the scope of Nancy’s impact and influence over her long career. Although she will be sorely missed, her contributions will live on through the many lives that were touched by Nancy Ditmer.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 301 N. Market St., Wooster with Pastor Marty Jacobson officiating.
For those unable to attend, the services will be livestreamed on the following platforms: https://www.youtube.com/@ZionLutheranWooster/streams or at https://www.facebook.com/ZionLutheranWooster
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Give a Note Foundation 4000 W 106th St., Ste 125-164, Carmel, IN 46032, Zion Lutheran Church, 301 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691 or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Nancy will be so missed by her neighbors on Renwood Drive. She always waved to me & made a priority to always greet my daughter followed by asking how she liked school! Nancy always had the best stories. I’ll miss talking with her and waving to her as she rode her bike!
I was fortunate enough to attend Wooster Music Camp for 6 years and then come back for two years as a staff member. Nancy was an amazing teacher and woman. She made an impact to so many who will carry on her legacy.
I am one of Nancy’s many students. Suffice it to say, Nancy changed my life. When I look back on my time in school, Nancy will always be my band director. As a band director myself, I hope I can have one tenth the impact that she did on music education. I am so grateful to her for the many lessons learned during my time at Wooster, but also the lessons she continued to teach me in the many years after graduation as she transitioned from caring educator to trusted mentor and close friend. She will be missed.
i am one of Nancy’s many former students who owe so much to her for her support over the years. Nancy was my first mentor and later became a good friend as our paths crossed including my teaching at the Wooster Music Camp for 18 years. Her legacy will live on in the hundreds of students she inspired and music educators she supported both as a professor and leader in OMEA and NAfME. May she rest in peace.
I was one of Nancy’s friends from high school (Tipp City OH). We played together the high schoolband and also in the NCR Band in Dayton for 3 summers. After my father, Stewart King, our band director, passed a few years ago, Nancy took on the care of his clarinet and flute, and shared it with her sister jean. We stayed in touch through the years, and I made it a point to see Nancy and the Scots band whenever they came through the Chicago area. She will be missed.
I was one of Nancy’s students in the Music Education program at the College of Wooster. Her teachings and wisdom serve as a constant guide to me today even though I am no longer in the music classroom. Nancy changed my life by becoming an advisor and mentor and friend. When I work with young people and teach I often think of the way she addressed a group of students, with respect, with compassion, and with high expectations – and I try my best to carry this through my work. My memories of being in the Scot Band endure: the (well deserved) ribbing for being a Trombone player, the wonderful variety of the music we studied, the fun moments on tour (I will miss her bus announcements!) and the way she modeled respect across generations toward her students and especially toward her predecessor, the late Dr. Stuart Ling. She taught and modeled what it meant to be excellent and humble with what you do. She will be deeply missed!
Nancy will truly be missed by all on Renwood. I’m so thankful to have had such a kind and helpful neighbor over the past 18 years. Your love of music will definitely live on by all of those that you’ve taught. Rest in peace 🤍🕊🎼
I was one of hundreds of students impacted by Nancy in my time at Wooster. I had tough decisions to navigate with my instrument, major, etc, and she was always there to share wisdom and truly listen.
I appreciated as a non-music major how we were treated equally, and that all she ever cared about was that you try your hardest. She taught us about professionalism, being on time, and how to work together as a team.
Thanks for trusting me to watch your cats, and for always stopping and saying hi, and remembering me even years after I graduated. But most of all, thank you for the incredible program you built that not only shaped us into better people, but gave us friends for life.
Rest easy, Nancy. We will miss you.
Nancy will always be remembered as one of Wooster’s finest citizens: a dynamic and demanding music educator, a generous and gracious friend, and an incomparable band director.
My wife and I met Nancy only a year ago as new members at Zion Lutheran. She talked me into to picking up my tenor saxophone after almost 50 years and introduced me to the Ashland Community Band. I enjoy playing again because of Nancy’s encouragement. Nancy was a special person to many and we miss her immensely.
Nancy had a true gift for comforting those who are mourning. When my father passed away during my senior year at CoW, she reached out to me and checked in a few times to share her own stories of loss and words of encouragement. I was already done with my time in the Scot Band and wouldn’t be sitting under her as a student anymore, but she let me know I was not forgotten. My peace and wellbeing still mattered to her. The quote “people may forget what you say but they will never forget how you made them feel” rings in my head when I think of her. I’ve long forgotten her exact words she shared, but her care and concern for my heart sticks with me to this day.
Not only was Nancy a special colleague and friend, but also a leader at the state and national levels.
Her clock collection was the original TikTok.
We will all miss her.
I was very saddened to hear the news. Nancy generously served on the Give A Note Board of Directors for several years and was a support to me both personally and professionally. Sh fiercely advocated for equitable access to music education, and I know she mentored and inspired many, many, many students over the years. I’m grateful to have known and worked alongside her. Sending my heartfelt thoughts and condolences to her family during this difficult time.
Nancy—- I will miss you! Thank you for everything you have done for music education for the young and not so young! Thank you for being a great friend and believing in me as a clarinetist! Thank you for all the talks we had about our cats! Thank you for your willingness to always help people and for your kind heart! It has been an honor to call you my friend! I will miss seeing you ride your bike around my neighborhood in the summer! I will miss you, my dear friend…. All the thank yous I can think of are not enough…. You definitely made my world a better place, and the music world will miss you always!
We are sending thoughts and prayers to the family—-
Diana and Gary Kobs, members of the Ashland Community Band
Nancy was indeed one of the nation’s finest music educators. Her outstanding work as President of the National Association and the Ohio Music Education Association are a testament to the high respect that so many had for her as a distinguished teacher and educational leader. We will long remember her as an individual of high integrity who has left a lasting impact on both Ohio and national music education.
My years as a student at the College of Wooster (Class of ’69) preceded Nancy’s time there. But as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, NJ I had the opportunity to welcome Nancy and the Band on two separate occasions. Each time was a joy. She conducted with a positive spirit and an obvious love for both the music and her students. She brought the best of Wooster into the concert and never failed to express enormous gratitude for whatever was given to her. She was truly an outstanding ambassador for the College, a mentor for many and someone who became your friend as soon as you met her. I am grateful for all she did for so very many. Without question the music of her life will never end.
Nancy was a tremendous and dedicated music teacher who gained the respect of countless educators. She will be missed and her legacy will impact many.
I always enjoyed working with Nancy at The College of Wooster, to which she gave so much of herself–to her students and the larger community. I wish she had had a longer retirement.
I became close with Nancy during my time as an employee of Capital University and we stayed in touch for years. I will miss her dearly. She had a generosity about her of mind, soul and spirit and it manifest in everything she did. She touched countless lives and left a beautiful legacy through her teaching, performance and humor. Rest in peace, Nancy. I am honored and blessed to have known you. My condolences to her family and friends. She loved you.
I had the privilege of getting to know Nancy after our daughter Leanne, who is a music teacher at Norwayne, moved across the street from her several years ago. Aunt Nancy attended many family gatherings and became one of the family. After my husband and I moved to Wooster on the street after theirs, Nancy and I would ride together to Leanne’s school music programs which I enjoyed very much. I always looked forward to the pictures of her cats Leanne would send me when she was feeding Nancy’s cats when Nancy was away. Neither one had to worry about their cats while away because they helped each other out. Nancy will be very much missed as a neighbor and also part of our family.
Nancy was my very first flute teacher, through the pre- college program at Capital University. I went on to be a professional flutist and music educator, and credit her with my ability to sight read as well as keeping me moving ahead in music. My condolences to her family and friends.
I am sadden and heartbroken of the passing of my dear friend, Nancy Ditmer. She was an inspiration to so many because of her leadership, dedication and passion for music education. Nancy and I became very close through our work with NAfME and we would call each other about every three weeks to catch up. I have made a couple trips to Wooster to visit and she would come to Nebraska. We already miss her dearly. Our condolences to her family and friends.
Nancy was a true friend. We spoke almost every week and enjoyed conversations about friends, organizations, music, and even politics. My wife and I referred to Nancy as Gorgeous, too. Yes, Too, not Two! There is a great, funny story behind how Gorgeous came into being, and Rita and I will continue to share that memory. It is always sad to lose a friend. I choose to remember the many good times, conversations, and plain old fun that came with our getting together. We will continue to hang the scot dress Christmas ornament each year. I will miss those moments. To her family, I extend my most sincere condolences. Heaven just added a fine new flute player to the band! May my dear friend rest in peace!
We only met Nancy twice in her lifetime. We have come to know her better by all the beautiful and heartfelt tributes. A gifted individual, an accomplished individual, a caring person. An exceptional woman. But we know her as a loved member of a family we love and cherish deeply. We grieve with them and for them.
It was a privilege to work with Nancy at Wooster, and I am grateful for the many years of friendship . She was a wonderful teacher and her passion as a music educator touched the lives of many. She leaves a remarkable legacy .