Ariel Xu ’28
Oct 16, 2026
“A free spirit,” Tom Heefner ’57 said, describing his late wife, Nancy Horton Heefner.
Known for her vibrant sense of humor and passion for travel, Heefner traveled around the world to enrich both her art and her teaching. Following her early retirement at age 49, she spent much of her time exploring Europe. Science and mathematics department member Jim Malone remarked, “It was a real shame to lose her early to cancer.”
Now, years after her passing in 2001, the Annual Nancy Horton Heefner Memorial Art Show continues to bring artists together at Mercersburg Academy’s Cofrin Gallery in her honor. The event is a non-juried exhibition, welcoming community members, town residents, and student artists across a variety of media to display their work.
During her 22-year tenure at Mercersburg Academy, Heefner served as the head of the Fine Arts Department for seven years, teaching art history, drawing, and ceramics. Beyond the classroom, she remained deeply invested in preserving local history, serving as vice president of the Mercersburg Historical Society and the co-editor and driving force behind The Tuscarora Reader. She designed the book, completed in 1999, to introduce fourth graders to the rich heritage and stories of the Mercersburg area.
“There should be a copy in the library,” Thomas Heefner noted with a smile. “If not, I’ve got about a couple hundred copies.”
Malone fondly recalled Nancy Heefner’s playful nature on campus, sharing a memorable story involving student football player John Garrett. After catching Garrett playfully rocking her parked electrocar back and forth, Heefner decided to pull a lighthearted prank of her own. The next day, as she drove across the campus football field, she pretended the vehicle was broken and malfunctioning.
“She pretended like the car went back and forth as if he had broken it,” Malone laughed. “Just to scare him into thinking he broke it. That will always stick in my mind. She was a very, very positive influence on so many young people.”
Though Heefner passed away more than two decades ago, her presence remains deeply felt throughout the Mercersburg community, not only in the memories of those who knew her but also in the physical spaces she left behind. In the Burgin Center for the Arts, a second-floor office bears her name, serving as a daily reminder of her dedication to the arts program.
Through the annual memorial art show, new generations of creators can share their work in the community she helped shape. The exhibition bridges Mercersburg’s past and future, Mercersburg the town and the Academy campus, ensuring that her passion for artistic expression continues to inspire others.
Looking at his wife’s name on the gallery wall, Thomas Heefner reflected quietly on her selfless nature and love for community art. “She would be pleased with the art show, even if her name wasn’t on it.”