April 24, 2025
Nancy Amidei, senior lecturer emeritus with the University of Washington School of Social Work, died peacefully at her home on April 8th after a long battle with blood cancer.
Nancy was a pillar of the social work community, spending her life and career speaking up for poor and disenfranchised communities. Nancy joined the School of Social Work in 1992 and served as a faculty member for 16 years, teaching courses that explored the role of political advocacy as a tool for promoting social justice. She was a founder of the Partnership for Youth, an effort to provide shelter, food, clothing and health care for homeless youth in the University District; as well as the Civic Engagement Project, offering advocacy training, workshops and resource materials about how to engage in working with elected officials.
Nancy famously carried a bag of chocolate to share everywhere she went, and those who knew her were not surprised when her advocacy had a food-related twist. Back in 1981, Nancy’s leadership helped defeat the Reagan administration’s push to classify ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches. Nancy devised a clever public education campaign that involved placing ketchup packets on congressional desks with a message encouraging representatives to eat their vegetables.
Her quick wit, great storytelling, clear insight and experience with the legislative process helped her educate, motivate and inspire people into action to impact the areas that most affected them. Nancy was a fixture in Olympia, working with lobbyists, legislators, officials and advocates as she constantly advocated for needed change.
Nancy’s Advocacy 101 course brought together faculty, staff and students at the UW School of Social Work to learn about and confidently engage in the legislative process. As one of her former students, Shelby Mooney, shared: “Nancy changed my life. I used the advocacy skills she taught me throughout my professional career, including my work at the Union for homecare, healthcare and social service workers.” Before the easy access of information through the internet, Nancy also wrote weekly “legislative alerts” to inform everyone about how and when to get involved.
In 2015, the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance named an annual award in Nancy’s honor: the Annual Nancy Amidei Movement Builder Award, recognizing advocacy that builds access to safe, healthy, affordable homes in Washington. A list of Nancy’s many awards during her lifetime are listed below along with selected media links.
Prior to joining the ranks of academia, Nancy served as deputy assistant secretary for legislation in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, staff director of the U.S. Senate Selection Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, and executive director of the Food Research and Action Center. She was also a Peace Corp volunteer in Nigeria from 1964-1965.
Michael Spencer, dean of the School of Social Work, observed “Nancy had a special energy that made you want to follow her. She would embrace you, lead you to where you wanted to go, and show you how to make a difference in the areas you cared about.”
In Nancy’s own words upon her retirement in 2008: ”Use your voice, be an advocate for the things you care about.” As social workers and citizens during a troubling time in history, remembering and honoring Nancy helps guide us in our journey and reminds us how much one person can make a difference.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will be announced soon; sign up here to be notified when the details are finalized. To share a memory or photo, you can post on this Facebook page or send a note to friendsofnancyamidei@gmail.com.
Awards
- Distinguished Alumni award at the University Michigan School Social Work, 1984
- Special Achievement Kenny and Marianne Rogers Hunger Awards, 1984
- Alumna in Residence, University of Michigan Alumnae Association, 1985
- UW Outstanding Public Service Award, 2008
- UW Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award (Nancy was the inaugural recipient)
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Social Workers NASW-WA Chapter Washington state chapter, 2022
Selected Media