Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Kruper

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiatives, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work, however, would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our volunteers. In this series of profiles, we meet some of the people who give their time to make Phipps possible.

Volunteer Nancy Kruper began taking Botanical Drawing classes at Phipps nearly five years ago and continues them to this day. “The instructors are wonderful and I enjoy the camaraderie of the students of all ages,” she says. Nancy’s mother was an avid gardener which is where she inherited her passion for flowers! After retiring from a 45-year career as a Director at UPMC Health Plan two years ago, she began volunteering at Phipps. “I am very proud to serve as a volunteer at Phipps and firmly believe that it is one of Pittsburgh’s greatest cultural treasures,” Nancy remarks.

A Pittsburgh native, Nancy currently lives in Upper St. Clair with her husband and their two dogs. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Nancy holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nursing. Her hobbies include drawing, gardening, swimming, cooking, traveling and reading. Nancy describes her recent travels saying, “I was very fortunate to be able to visit both the Chelsea Flower Show in London and the Cotswolds this year, and both have served as inspiration for the colors and design of my own art and outdoor spaces.”

Lately, Nancy has been serving as a greeter in the Welcome Center. “I love greeting our guests as they walk through the door, and I try to offer them a little preview of what they can expect to experience as they tour the Conservatory. I am always happy to answer questions or snap family photos to help them commemorate their day at Phipps,” she says. Before that, she often volunteered in the Tropical Forest Panama, introducing visitors to the thriving ecosystem of plants and animals, including poison dart frogs.

Nancy observes many visitors eager to see Dale Chihuly’s hand blown glass pieces, especially the stunning chandelier in the Welcome Center. “We are very fortunate to have a total of seven pieces of his work on display throughout the Conservatory. As Pittsburgh’s stature as a top travel destination for world class museums, art and culture continues to grow, I hope that we will welcome even more visitors to Phipps,” she concludes. Come say hello to Nancy in the Welcome Center during your next visit to Phipps!