Ethelanne Oyer Vulgamore

Ethelanne Oyer Vulgamore (“Nan”) passed peacefully on April 11, 2026 in Albany, New York. Named after her two grandmothers, she grew up in Waverly, Ohio, and lived a life rooted in music, spiritual depth and a deep curiosity about the wider world.

Nan studied music education at Denison University and Boston University, laying the foundation for a lifelong devotion to music—not only as an art, but also as a way of connecting people across cultures. Though formally trained, she remained always a student of the world, continually learning from the places she lived, the people she met and the traditions she encountered.

Her life carried her beyond the United States to Heidelberg, Germany and Beirut, Lebanon, where she deepened her appreciation for unique cultures. She also immersed herself in American roots traditions, studying folk music in Berea, Kentucky and later traveled to Russia with People to People International, further expanding her global perspective. Nan was also a longtime member of the P.E.O. sisterhood.

Professionally, Nan was a beloved music teacher in Ohio at both the elementary and junior high levels. She brought imagination, warmth, and creativity into her classrooms, producing memorable concerts and performances that left lasting impressions on her students and their families. For her, music education was never just about notes and rhythm – it was about joy, expression and fellowship.

She married Dr. Melvin L. Vulgamore in 1957, and together they built a life shaped by education, service, and shared curiosity. During Melvin’s tenure as President of Albion College, Nan shined as the gracious “first lady” of the college for fourteen years, offering her gifts of hospitality and kinship to both the college and the town.

At home, Nan’s gifts took another form. She had a profoundly welcoming and engaging spirit, inviting others into her home with warmth and grace. She delighted in sharing poetry and music, in intimate settings where people felt seen, nourished and connected.

Her inner life was equally rich. Nan nurtured an evolving spiritual path throughout her life, participating in retreats, study groups, travel, and contemplative practice. She became a certified labyrinth facilitator through Veriditas, guiding others in reflective and spiritual journeys. She explored the Celtic spirituality of her ancestral roots and made pilgrimages to sacred places, including the Isle of Iona in Scotland – experiences that shaped her understanding of presence, mystery and belonging.

In her later years, she found great joy in the simple rhythms of daily life in New London, New Hampshire. She tended her garden, delighted in the dragonflies that gathered in her backyard, and remained a devoted member of her community, participating in Music and Memories at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

She is survived by her daughter Allison Vulgamore (Donald Fox), of Saratoga Springs, New York; her daughter Sarah Vulgamore (Scott Townsend), of Troy, New York; her granddaughter Abigail Zurbrick (Jeffery), and great-granddaughter Melanie June, of Cary, North Carolina; and her grandson Samuel Evans (Taylor Botham), of Denver, Colorado.

Her life was a quiet yet resonant offering – woven of music, curiosity, friendship and spirit. Her essence will linger in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Nan was preceded in death by husband and will be laid to rest in Old Main Street Cemetery in New London, New Hampshire, next to her beloved “Mel” in a private family gathering.