Nuala Pell served on the Hartford Foundation Board of Trustees for 19 years before retiring in 2000. She posed for this portrait in 1999. Nuala Pell served on the Hartford Foundation Board of Trustees for 19 years before retiring in 2000. She posed for this portrait in 1999.

Nuala Pell lived a remarkable life full of grace, dignity, and passion for the causes she believed in. With her passing at age 89 on April 13, the John A. Hartford Foundation has lost a former Trustee, friend, and faithful supporter of our work to improve the health of older Americans. She will be greatly missed.

A philanthropist who strongly supported the arts, humanities, and education, as well as health, Nuala and her husband, the late U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, devoted their lives to public service. Starting with her husband’s against-the-odds victory in the 1960 U.S. Senate campaign in Rhode Island and extending through his five re-election campaigns, Nuala was credited for her natural warmth and rapport with voters, as well as her wise political counsel.

Nuala Pell’s connection to the Hartford Foundation was in her blood. She was the great-granddaughter of George Huntington Hartford, who established the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, the grocery store company that became known simply as the A&P. She was the grandniece of John and George Hartford, who grew the A&P to be the first merchant to sell $1 billion in goods with 16,000 stores and dozens of factories and warehouses across the U.S.

John and George Hartford, who had no heirs, left the bulk of their estates to the John A. Hartford Foundation. Nuala’s mother, Josephine Hartford Brice, served on the Foundation’s board for 25 years, from December 1956 to December 1981. When she retired, Nuala replaced her mother on the board, serving for 19 years, until June 2000. Upon Nuala’s retirement, her son, Christopher T.H. “Toby” Pell replaced her on the board, and continues to serve.

The family of Claiborne and Nuala Pell during the 1960 U.S. Senate campaign in Rhode Island. From left, Bertie, 14; Julie, 7; Nuala Pell; Claiborne Pell; Dallas, 10; and Toby, 12.Photo from the Providence Journal. The family of Claiborne and Nuala Pell during the 1960 U.S. Senate campaign in Rhode Island. From left, Bertie, 14; Julie, 7; Nuala Pell; Claiborne Pell; Dallas, 10; and Toby, 12.Photo from the Providence Journal.

Nuala was an incredible woman. For those of us fortunate enough to know her, she was unfailingly modest, friendly, open, and self-effacing. It was clear that she genuinely liked people and would readily have a conversation with anyone. When I joined the Foundation’s staff in the late 1990s, she was the first Trustee to introduce herself to me. She welcomed me openly and made it clear how pleased she was to see the Foundation being led by a woman.

The John A. Hartford Foundation has benefited greatly from her family’s commitment and guidance through the decades and I am honored to have known her. We offer our sincere condolences to Toby and all of Nuala’s family.

In addition to Toby and his wife, Janet Pell, Nuala is survived by a daughter, Nuala Dallas Pell Yates. Two children, son Herbert Claiborne “Bertie” Pell III and daughter Julia, predeceased her. She is also survived by five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

For more information on Nuala Pell’s inspiring life, read: Nuala Pell, 89, was an advocate for the arts and humanities and Nuala Pell, Spouse And Political Partner Of Sen. Claiborne Pell, Dies.

You can also read statements on her passing by U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

And please take a moment to share your memories of Nuala Pell in the Comments section below.