Grandmother, longtime Cal Poly Pomona professor, poet

Nancy Carolyn Ware, 82, died March 28 at Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, California. Born in Montana and raised primarily in Tucson, Arizona, Nancy eventually married fellow Claremont Colleges student James Ware, and together they made their home in Southern California. She was a passionate scholar, poet, naturalist, mother, and grandmother.

She brought her deep love of classical literature and the humanities into her professional life. She taught at Cal Poly, Pomona for more than 30 years, where she was instrumental in the development of the Interdisciplinary General Education Program. Founded in 1983, IGE is one of the longest-running university general education programs in California, offering students an integrated approach to exploring literature, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts.

In addition to her academic work, she was a gifted poet and active member of the vibrant Claremont poetry community. Along with her longtime partner, poet Robert Mezey, and her cherished writer’s group — which met faithfully over several decades — she nurtured a lifelong love of language and artistic expression. The natural world — birds, insects, trees, and canines — were recurring presences in both her life and her poetry.

After surviving a cerebral aneurysm in 2011, she found healing and community as a participant in Lineage Performing Arts Center’s Dance for Joy program, blending her love of dance with resilience and grace. She continued to participate in weekly classes through 2024.

She is survived by her son, Jason Ware; daughter, Rachel Ware Zooi; and her four adored grandsons.

“Her warmth, intellect, and quiet strength will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” her family shared.

The family is hosting a celebration of life on May 24, and also inviting people to honor her at online-tribute.com/NancyWare