Nancy Chapa, 77: TWA Flight Attendant, Owner of Pancho Villa’s
Obituary
Nancy June Harman Chapa, 77, of State College, PA, passed away on Wednesday January 1st, 2021 at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. Nancy, and her husband, Israel Ibarra Chapa, had made the move to Reno, Nevada in early December 2020 to live out their remaining years. The move also brought them closer to their son, Christian, and his two children. Nancy was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas where her father worked as an attorney and her mother began a career as TWA's first flight attendant and later became a registered nurse.
Nancy attended the University of Kansas where she was a cheerleader for the Jayhawks basketball team and member of the Delta Gamma sorority. She then moved to NYC where, following in her mother's footsteps, she became an international flight attendant for TWA. She began her career in 1966 and retired in 2001. She loved flying internationally and spent most of her career flying to Spain which was her favorite destination. She met her husband, Israel, in Manhattan, New York where he worked as a maitre d' for a local Mexican restaurant, Fonda la Paloma. The restaurant environment would play a pivotal role in their lives. In 1976 they opened Pancho Villa's, a popular Mexican restaurant in Westport, Connecticut. The business afforded them the luxury of raising a family in the nearby town of Wilton.
Pancho Villa's became a fixture in Westport, winning numerous awards, and operating successfully for over 25 years until Israel's retirement in 1995. While employed as a flight attendant, Nancy worked to elevate the restaurant's status and reputation among locals. Whether it was serving and entertaining their loyal customer base, or creative contributions to the restaurant's historical décor, Nancy was instrumental in the success of the business.
Nancy often referred to Israel as "my Mexican", and their marriage lasted nearly 52 years! Nancy is survived by her sister Judy, beloved husband Israel, daughter Nicole, son Christian, and three grandchildren: David, Sebastian, and Samantha.
A celebration of life service will be held for Nancy on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 at 12:30pm at Greenland's Lodge, 3462 Birmingham Pike, Alexandria, PA 16611. For any additional information on the service, or interest in attending, please email Nicole and Christian at the following email address – "nancyjchapa@gmail.com."
Tires, Rims Stolen from Car at Westport Railroad Station; Police Investigating
A vehicle was reported yesterday as having its wheels and rims stolen from it, with the car being found balancing on top of small rocks. The vehicle was parked in Westport Railroad Station’s Lot 3, which is off of Ferry Lane, and parked near the collection of rental vehicles owned by a nearby company. The Westport Police Department said that they received the report yesterday of the theft, and that it’s currently under investigation. Photo by JD. Dworkow for WestportLocal.com.
Motor Vehicle Accident Involving a Bicycle Slows Traffic
A motor vehicle collision was reported just before 1:30 this afternoon in the area of Post Road East and Crescent Road, near Roseville Road. First responders were dispatched to the scene, where a bicyclist has been reported as involved. No information has been released.
Letter to the Editor: “No More Swimming at Grandma’s House”
To the Editor,
Seniors knew from the outset that they were the highest risk, greatest potential and actual casualty of the pandemic. As they waited for the vaccine that would come a year into our plague, they tended to be the most cautious and reluctant to engage in any interaction. It wasn’t fun for anyone.
By the middle of last summer, though, most tennis courts and golf courses opened, with or without restrictions/advisories regarding COVID contraction. At least three or four of the Condo Associations in Westport, including Lansdowne, waited until mid-June of this year to allow tennis and pool play.
Upon reopening, the Lansdowne Association followed the “good news” with a slight caveat to property use- “No guests” at either the pool or the Tennis courts would be permitted under any circumstances. Mind you, there are two men and possibly two or three women who use the tennis courts and own their condo. What little use there was of the courts was dependent upon guests to fill out Doubles games.
The pool situation will get some use from owners who swim regularly and will swim happily alone. BUT, the primary use of the pool, as it would be at any senior condominium, is the invasion of the grandchildren, particularly the younger set, who love to show grandparents how they can backstroke and float and freestyle a lap or two.
What type of resolution is this, exactly? To prove they are serious, the association has provided employment of a security guard, who shows up rain or shine, to make sure all swimmers and tennis players are eligible to partake.
Apparently, the condo associations are concerned that visitors will contract COVID at Lansdowne, sue the association, and drive them into bankruptcy. So, first, one must contract COVID roughly during the time that the visit took place, and then prove that the only place they could have contracted the virus was when they visited Lansdowne.
I googled this very topic and couldn’t find a single suit, let alone a successful suit, of a Covid Positive claim against a Condo Association for facilitating transmission. In the meantime, seniors who have survived COVID, and in many cases look forward to and crave family visits, at last, must find suitable alternatives for their family.
The people who revel in the use of wonderful amenities, a major factor in their purchase, are the ones that are deprived now. Picture the grandparents telling their adult kids, “Wow, we survived, can’t wait to see the little ones, but tell them to leave their bathing suits home.”
This is a form of Elder Abuse. Younger owners in younger developments with these amenities would never stand for this treatment, and their associations, like the Association at Lansdown know this. They are taking advantage of their less mobile members, and as a resident up until this year, I can tell you they are heartless, intractable, and indifferent to the criticism.
Michael Lubell
Former tenant at Lansdowne, Westport
Current Resident of Norwalk, CT