Thursday, October 1, 2026
“It’s a story of the ‘best laid plans,’” said Nancy Howard, in remarks about how a somewhat improbable and impromtu career led her to become Rockville Centre’s deputy mayor — and the guest of honor at the Sandel Senior Center’s Women’s History Month Luncheon on March 7. The luncheon is one of director Dr. Cyd Charrow’s favorite events, where local women of significance, who have grown women’s history in the village, are recognized every year.
“I was going to be a graphic artist. That was it,” Howard said, but after graduating from Parsons The New School for Design, it didn’t quite turn out that way. In fact, after landing a few freelance jobs as a commercial illustrator, Howard took a job with Macy’s to bring in a steady income — and she never looked back.
Howard ended up in what used to be known as “personnel,” first staffing Macy’s Bayshore store and then heading up management training for associates from all over the country in the chain’s Herald Square flagship store. “It grew into a passion,” she said, “something clicked.”
One thing led to another and she was sent out to help open new stores. Next, she became a recruiter, finding the right people for the right jobs.
She got tapped to recruit for the investment banking firm Salomon Brothers, and went to work in downtown Manhattan. “Talk about a glass ceiling,” Howard said. The environment on Wall Street was relatively unregulated at the time, and Howard said she was proud of ultimately managing to implement management training for traders and the practice of annual performance reviews, making respect and dignity for everyone part of the daily conversation there.
By then Nancy had married her high school sweetheart, Dave Howard, and the couple moved to Rockville Centre to raise their four children. The daily grind of a commute to a full-time job where management wasn’t entirely sympathetic to the needs of a mother juggling priorities, and the fact that her husband was doing well, led Howard to decide to stay at home with her kids.
She got involved in volunteer work, joining the PTA, the Council of PTAs, the Booster Club. And she never thought of doing anything in the political arena — until she met Fran Murray.
“Fran Murray and I must have led parallel lives,” Howard said, “him for St. Agnes school and church, and I for the public schools.”
When her name came up as a possible candidate to run on the RVC United Party ticket, Howard had lunch with Murray, whom she had never even seen.
“I found him to be warm, loving, devoted and fun, but a workhorse. I decided to hitch on to that pony and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. We have lots of plans,” Howard said.
“I’m blessed that it’s worked out so great. I’m honored to be here. I’m privileged and appreciate the support you’ve given me and I pledge to continue to work hard for the village,” she told the room full of attentive seniors, adding, “My role with the village has become a great job, but it wasn’t in my plans.”
