Nanci Aiken 1944 - 2024

Nanci Ruth Aiken of Bingham, New Mexico passed away on October 23, 2024 at home surrounded by her family.

Nanci was born on May 13, 1944 in Brookfield, Missouri to Drs. John and Louisa Aiken, and was the youngest sibling of Donald Aiken, David Aiken and Diana Haney, nee Aiken.

Nanci attended the Radford School in El Paso, Texas, graduating at the age of 15. At 16, she started college at Penn State and later transferred to the University of New Mexico, pursuing a degree in architecture until she met and married Donald Earl Weaver on May 5, 1962. They had five children, all surviving their parents: Tracy Weaver, David Brett Weaver, Dawn Elizabeth Weaver, Stephanie Weaver, and Rana Weaver.

While raising her children, Nanci returned to college at the age of 30 to earn her BS in Microbiology from the University of Maryland, MS in Chemistry from New Mexico Tech, and PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of New Mexico. One of her proudest accomplishment was earning her PhD and the title of Doctor. She went on to be a Post Doctoral Fellow in the Radiology Department at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and an exchange scientist at the Hopkins-Weismann Institute in Rehovot, Israel.

Nanci had many accomplishments in the field of science conducting and presenting many important studies worldwide. She was a pioneer in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and a researcher in the vital field of cancer research, a disease which ironically took her life.

Her expertise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to obtaining the worlds first MRI pictures of single neurons (sea slug L7). This paradigm shift impacted the lives and careers of many and paved the way for the first MRI images of mammalian neurons.

Nanci went on to be a Research Professor in phospholipid research at the Fox Chase Cancer Center and a Research Professor in breast cancer in the Dept. of Biochemistry at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

After retiring from science, Nanci founded and directed a virtues based free public charter school, The Children’s Success Academy, in Tucson, Arizona which was designed for children with behavior issues. She designed a nutritional program, The Nurtured Body, for the students as an alternative to drug treatment based on her life-long passion for good nutrition and disease prevention. She was immensely proud of her students, most of whom came to her with serious behavioral problems, having been expelled from other schools, but later became known as the most well behaved children in Tucson, by all who came in contact with them. This was another of her proudest achievements. Nanci was tireless in her community service. She served on the Governing Board of the El Rio Community Health Care Center in Tucson for 14 years.

After many years of hard work and dedication, Nanci retired from the The Children’s Success Academy and returned to New Mexico to be with her family. She started The Lady Ranchers Lunch Group in Bingham, bringing together a community of women. She also served on the Socorro Hospital Board of Trustees for 8 years.

Nanci was also a devoted Baha’i and very active in her community. Her work and devotion in all areas of her professional, spiritual, and community service activities, impacted many other people’s lives for the better.

Nanci was also “Nana” to 9 wonderful grandchildren: Daniel Paul Cases, Alexander Weaver; Kylie Jo Kwiatkowski Bushey; Taylor Cases; Chad Kwiatkowski; Grant Aubuchon; Zachary Cases; Cameron Cases Narboe; and Meg Louise Aubuchon.

Nanci loved to talk and could talk to anyone. She made many friends everywhere she went. She is respected and loved by her many lifelong friends from school and work and she is well loved by her children and grandchildren.

She was surrounded by loving family and friends upon her transition from this life, all of whom will miss her dearly.

Nanci was buried at the family cemetery.