For Nancy Cole, co-founding the Or Ami Village was as natural as being involved in Jewish organizational life. This was the legacy passed on to her l’dor vador (from generation to generation) from her grandparents, German-Jewish immigrants, who upon arriving on the shores of America, helped found the synagogue in New York in which Nancy learned to love Judaism. That deep legacy of community leadership instilled in her a keen sense of her Jewish heritage and the responsibility to give back and care for others. 

Building upon undergraduate degrees in sociology and psychology and a Masters in Social Work, Nancy discovered that as one of only 3 Jews in her class, she possessed the unique ability to educate others about Judaism and to provide care for those in need. 

In Ventura, California, Nancy became involved with Jewish Family Service, ultimately serving as President of its Board of Directors. Under her leadership, JFS provided emotional, financial, and legal support, sponsored senior luncheons, founded a Senior Peer Counseling program, and cared for Soviet refugees. Subsequently, as President of Jewish Federation of Ventura County, she increased programming, learned about fundraising, and strengthened her commitment to Israel. She cherished building community with local synagogues, clergy, and leadership to attain shared common goals. As president of Temple Beth Torah, Nancy gained inspiration from the Jewish communal leaders and volunteers there. Their work deepened her Jewish identity and her core values of caring, giving back, and tikkun olam (repairing the world). While her career began with medical social work, Nancy’s passion for the past 25 years has been working with seniors in her own business, Nancy Cole, Eldercare, where she helps seniors navigate the aging process.  

With her lifelong commitment to community leadership, it should come as no surprise that six years ago, as a new partner at Congregation Or Ami, Nancy met with Rabbi Paul Kipnes to see how she could make a meaningful impact at Or Ami. That meeting led to a partnership with Judy Friedman and Rabbi Beth Lieberman and the founding of Or Ami Village, a vibrant community for people 55 and better. This new venture sustained congregants through the isolation of the COVID quarantine and created relationships that developed into extended family. 

Nancy’s great pride and joy are her family – son Jeremy and his two boys, Emery and Austin, and her daughter, Janelle, and her husband, Joshua, and their two boys, Avery and Levi.