Our sister publication – The Paper – offers a pair of interviews each month with interesting folks who live here in Coweta County. This month, one of those interviews is with the recently-named Coweta Woman of the Year – Nancy Mader.
Briefly describe yourself and what you do.
I am on the board of directors of Southeastern Assistance in Healthcare which is an all-volunteer fundraising board that assists cancer fighters and their families with non-medical financial stressors due to their fight. I am also the Advocacy Chair for the Atlanta affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. My passion for changing the story of pancreatic cancer is due to losing my daddy, aunt and grandmother to this insidious cancer. (She will never say this, but Nancy was also named the 2017 Coweta Woman of the Year at the recent Power of the Purse fundraiser for Coweta Community Foundation).
Best piece of business advice you’ve received.
Always do what you say you are going to do and always give it 110%.

If I had it to do over …
I would have gone to medical school.
You are going on an extended solo trip. What three albums and three books would you take?
I love music so three albums is a tough one, but most likely it would be Delbert McClinton’s Live from Austin (most of the songs will make you dance in your seat), The Eagles Live, and Boz Scaggs Greatest Hits Live (more mellow). Books would be anything by Mary Alice Monroe, Judith Keim, and/or Nancy Thayer for light reading.
Tell us one thing about yourself that few people know.
I loved horses when I was very young. I would draw them all the time and gallop around trying to imitate a horse. Could I have possibly wanted to be a horse? Ha!!!
You are hosting a dinner party for six. What five people, living or dead, would you invite and why?
First and mostly importantly would be my Daddy. He died too young and I feel that there are so many things that I would like to ask and share with him. Second would be my fraternal grandmother because I never had the opportunity to know her at all as she died before I was born. Third would be my maternal grandfather because we shared so many educational-type things together and I would love to work one more algebra problem with him. Fourth would be Cissy Hass because I would love to be able to see that beautiful smile once again and fifth would be Eva Cassidy because hopefully she would sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow for us.
Name an as yet unfulfilled dream.
The dreams of a reliable diagnostic tool for pancreatic cancer as well as a cure!
If you weren’t doing what you are, you would be.
A doctor.
Your go-to food.
Salmon. I love it!
Favorite movies(s).
Lots, but loved Dirty Dancing and Ethan Hawke
Dogs or cats?
Cats.
Your favorite quote and why.
“Can’t never could” because my Daddy drilled that into my head.
Name something that you are extremely glad you did or accomplished.
Being a voice for pancreatic cancer to honor my Daddy’s legacy but also for all those who have lost the battle, those who are in the battle and those that will face the battle.
What advice would you give your younger self just starting out on their own.
Don’t think that going to medical school was impossible. After all “Can’t never could.”