Nancy Corwith Hamill Winter

Nancy Corwith Hamill Winter, a visionary conservationist, passionate equestrian, and lifelong student of the world, died peacefully on February 27, 2026, while spending time with her beloved horses and friends in Aiken, South Carolina. She was 83.

Born on March 9, 1942, in Illinois, Nancy grew up in Wayne exploring local fields and forests with her family and friends from the Wayne-DuPage Pony Club. She attended the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, Skidmore College, Bennett College, and George Washington University, where she studied Asian languages and cultures. In the early 1960s, she taught English in post-war Japan, an experience that deepened her commitment to cross-cultural understanding. Nancy went on to build a distinguished career as an equestrian competitor, coach, and breeder, coming close to earning a place on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Equestrian team. She was deeply involved in therapeutic riding and in mentoring young competitive riders and the next generation of elite eventers. One of her proudest accomplishments was owning and breeding No May Moon, the 2025 Connemara Sport Horse of the Year, trained and ridden by her longtime partner Allison Springer.

An enthusiastic and conscientious traveler, Nancy embraced journeys across the globe with preparation, an open heart, and an adventurous spirit that drew others to her. She formed authentic connections and lifelong friendships wherever she went, while holding special places close to her heart: the native prairies and burr oak savannas of Illinois, the rolling fields of Virginia in riding season, snowy peaks in the Rockies, Alps, and Himalayas, and her favorite trout streams. Witnessing the loss of cherished natural areas inspired her lifelong activism to conserve farmland and wildlife habitat. She provided leadership and generous support to The Nature Conservancy’s Illinois Chapter, the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, the Equine Land Conservation Resource, the Teton Regional Land Trust, the Bhutan Foundation, and many other organizations. In her later years, she formed meaningful relationships with leaders of the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Native Americans who shared her deep land ethic.

Nothing brought Nancy greater joy than time spent with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Known as “Nana,” she loved sharing her wisdom, humor, and experience, and cherished gathering everyone under one roof filled with laughter. She is survived by her children, Ethan Hamill (Anne) Winter of Saratoga Springs, New York, and Sylvia Corwith Winter (Aaron) Baggish of Woodstock, Vermont, and Buchillon, Switzerland; her brother Jonathan Corwith (Nancy) Hamill and sister Elizabeth “Betsy” Corwith (James) Bramsen, both of Barrington, Illinois; six grandchildren, Owen, Savannah, and Kendall Winter, and Izzabella, Emmitt, and Flynn Baggish; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren. She is also survived by her former husband, Wallace Winter of Grayslake, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Corwith “Corky” Hamill and Joan Birnie Smith Hamill of Wayne, Illinois. Nancy’s kindness, generosity, collaborative spirit, and steadfast commitment to the land and its people touched countless lives and will endure for generations.