Victoria Christine Nanos

Victoria Christine Nanos was first and foremost, an artist. She carved out that niche for herself in the womb or shortly thereafter. As the second of four children born to the kind-hearted, beautiful, and artistic Helen Fotou Nanos and the always unpredictable and creative, William Basil "Bill" Nanos, she took just enough genetic material from both to forge her own unique identity.

As a child she was precocious about art, using crayons and clay to manifest her visions. Vicki's earliest influences were the Greek Myths, Grimms' Fairy Tales, and Arabian Nights and you can see glimmers of those interests reflected in her art.

A painter, a sculptor, a watercolorist, a jewelry maker, a mixed media artist and sometimes a photographer, Vicki used a variety of media bring to life the images she saw in her head. It was what she called her MacGyvering skill, using whatever was at hand to create something beautiful and meaningful.

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, Vicki spent her formative years in New York City attending Art & Design High School and then graduating from Hunter College with a BA in Fine Arts and an MA in counseling. She moved to Lake Mary Florida over 30 years ago to take a position as college counselor at Seminole Community College. An artist in everything she did, Vicki used her creativity to assist students trying to find their way in the world. To that end, she co-wrote the book, The Hero's Journey, a college course book that is a roadmap to help students find their true path to follow. She also met some of her dearest friends at Seminole who became her cherished Florida family.

Vicki was always inquisitive about the BIG questions in life and she studied Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Native American culture, astrology, philosophy and other traditions to understand how they answered those questions. Vicki's art was inspired by the things she learned studying these traditions.

A conversation with Vicki might start out about something seemingly innocuous such as the rising price of duct tape (an absolute necessity in her world) and five minutes later you'd be talking about the meaning of life. Duct Tape. Life. There is a connection!

Vicki loved her family fiercely. Aunt Vicki welcomed each new addition to the family with unbridled joy. She loved her nieces and nephews Elura, Emily, Caitlin, Megan, Chloe, Tyler, Luke, Franklin, Ceci, Annalise, Hazel, Jada and Noemie so dearly and was always excited to hear about their burgeoning paths in this complex world.

Not satisfied to just flex her creativity in art, she tried her hand at drumming, belly dancing, roller blading, racquetball, learning the mandolin and guitar as well as taking a stab at learning Russian.

Vicki was curious, independent, gentle, beautiful, strong, wise, funny, sarcastic, stubborn, kind, creative, spiritual, fierce, soulful, compassionate, open minded, an avid cat lover and she had a wicked sense of humor.

Vicki was loving aunt, cousin, niece, godmother. A good friend. A great sister. A true character.

Gone too soon, everyone who knew her is devastated knowing she had so much more to do and learn and share. She will be sorely missed by her siblings Mark, Dorothy and Chris, all her cousins, and friends.

Kukla, Debbie L. and Vicki shared a special friendship and these wonderful women were there for her when she needed them. We are eternally grateful.

And we would be horribly remiss (and Vicki would come back to haunt us) if we neglected to mention her four fur babies: Bodhi, Mika, Fiona and Noula. Thanks to Debbie W., whom Vicki met her first day on the Seminole campus, her fur babies are all together and safe.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Vicki's memory can be sent animal shelters or The Florida Sculptors Guild. You can also just buy a box of crayons or a set of paints for someone you love.

A favorite quote of Vicki's: "The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."
To share your memories of Vicki, please visit the guestbook below.