December 2006

Nancy Mason Wallace - Class of 1982

Nancy is the daughter of Pat and “Moose” Mason of Greenwich. After graduating from GCS, she attended Dartmouth College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government in 1986. After Dartmouth, she spent three and a half years working in Boston, Massachusetts as a case manager in sheltered workshops for dually diagnosed mentally retarded adults. She relocated to Tallahassee, Florida in October of 1990 and for a year and a half, worked as a Teacher Certification Specialist for the Florida Department of Education. Nancy next enrolled in law school at Florida State University, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1995. Following her second year of law school, she began working for a firm called Katz, Kutter & Alderman, which was purchased in 2004 by her current employer, Akerman, Senterfitt Law Firm. At present, Nancy is an attorney/shareholder specializing in real estate law, helping to develop residential subdivisions. She also practices health care law. Nancy enjoys the people she works with and notes that she “feels very lucky to be in the position that I am in.”

Nancy Mason high jumping in her GCS days

Recalling her GCS years, Nancy notes: “From 7^th grade on, I didn't have a lot of free time. There was school, sports, music and homework every day and on weekends. When I wasn't doing those things, there was skiing and church activities. When I got to college, I was used to a busy schedule and not having a lot of free time. I had learned to use my time efficiently and not waste a minute. In high school I was particularly interested in cross country and track and field. (Editor’s note:  Nancy still holds two GCS Indoor T&F school records: high jump and 800M relay). I still follow and am proud of the accomplishments of the recent and current GCS teams. My coaches were my mentors. Mr. Craig Roods and Mr. Matt Jones were very important to me. I spent a tremendous amount of time with them and remember them being present at some of my best and worst moments. They were respected teachers, coaches and friends. I also will never forget Mr. Tom Holmes, who was my favorite teacher. He taught 10^th grade English and computer science. I remember playing Asteroids and learning BASIC in a room on the Jr. High wing.”

In respect to qualities for success in the legal field, Nancy notes: “It is important to work hard, have thick skin, a good sense of humor and not take yourself too seriously. It is also important to be a good writer. I heard a great quote the other day, attributed to the late “Sixty Minutes” television newsmagazine correspondent, Ed Bradley – "I always found that the harder I worked, the better luck I had."

For a person as reflective as Nancy, some of her memories are bittersweet and offer wisdom to present students. “I regret not being a better friend to more people when I was in high school. I recently dreamed about a girl that I graduated with. Her circumstances were challenging, she didn't do well in school and was not someone that my group of friends associated with. While we never intended to be unfriendly, I think that we sometimes looked down on people. I'm not proud of this. If I could do it over again, I would be a better friend to all of my classmates, particularly those less advantaged or less mainstream, and I would encourage my friends to do the same. I’m in a better position now to realize that all of my classmates had a lot to contribute.”

Nancy also reflects upon career choices and her continuing love of young people and athletics. “If I had to do it all over again, I might want to be like my old friend and classmate, Duke Beck, and teach physical education and coach.” Through my daughter, who ran track and cross country, I have been able to continue some involvement with high school sports.

Nancy lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her three children: Carla (18 years old), CJ (11) and Blaise (2). She has two siblings- Scott Mason (GCS Class of 1978) and Susan Mason (GCS Class of 1980).