Nancy Giles, wife of Bill Giles, dies at 88

Nancy Kirwin Giles of Gladwyne, Pa., passed away on Easter night (April 12, 2020) from heart failure. Nancy, 88, is survived by her husband Bill, Chairman Emeritus of the Phillies Baseball Club; three sons Michael (Nanette), Joe (Paula), and Chris (Amy); eight grandchildren Eliza, Caroline, Warren, Dana, Molly, Max, Lowell and Will; sister Joan Kirwin Acord of La Mesa, CA, niece Sue Skube and nephew John Acord.

Nancy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend who was always looking out for those in need. She was sweet, loving, caring and never had a bad word to say about anybody. Her hobbies included knitting, gardening, attending the orchestra and being active in her monthly arts and crafts group called Christmas Club for the last 50 years. She was a member of the Board of Trustees at The Episcopal Academy (where her sons and several of her grandchildren attended), was active in Pi Phi Sorority throughout her adult life, and was a volunteer with Hospice Care, comforting those in the final stages of life. Nancy helped establish Phillies Charities, which donated millions of dollars to local non-profit groups and was a matriarch in the fight against ALS, helping to raise over $19 million for the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association.

Nancy was also a devout Catholic and quite active in her church, St. John Vianney Parish in Gladwyne, PA. Nancy loved everyone and everyone loved her back. As one friend said, “Nancy was close to sainthood and she’ll get a speeding ticket on her way to heaven.”

Born in Ukiah, CA in 1932, she lived in San Francisco and then San Diego where she graduated from Grossmont High School before attending and graduating from San Diego State University. She received a graduate degree in Education from Denison University in Granville, Ohio where she met her future husband Bill. Nancy and Bill settled in the Philadelphia area in 1970 and later resided at Waverly Heights in Gladwyne.

Due to COVID-19, services will be postponed to a date TBD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002.