Nancy Willenbecher Dickinson ’56

Nancy Willenbecher Dickinson ’56, of Leeds, Mass.; Aug. 12. After graduating from Brown, she earned a master’s in fine arts from RISD and began welding, carving, and casting bronze life sized sculptures. She had a series of shows across western Massachusetts. In addition to her art, she also had a small business named Tiddly Products Inc., which manufactured doll-house-sized goods for toy stores and retail outfits. But she was known to most as The Acorn Lady because of her project, The Acorn People. She built an entire community based on acorns and nature, which included dioramas and photography of her creations. In 1985 she received the Hitchcock Center for the Environment photography award and in 2005 The Acorn People were showcased on the WGBY TV show Making it Here. Over the years she donated several of her displays and dioramas to schools, libraries, and museums. Her work can be viewed at www.nancydickinson.net. She is survived by two daughters, including Nina Lesher ’81; three sons; two daughters-in-law; two sons-in-law; 12 grandchildren; a brother; and brother-in-law.