Nancy G Giles

Nancy Gene Giles passed away on July 28, 2024, the day after celebrating her 80th birthday with many of her friends and family. She was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1944 and is a graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. Nancy started her career as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, and later became the first female Deputy Sheriff in Westerville, Ohio. In the mid-‘70s, she moved to Largo with her daughter, Mindi, to work for the Jack Eckerd Corporation in loss prevention, where she was ultimately promoted to a regional leadership role. Nancy left Eckerd in the ‘80s to start her own company evaluating retail customer service, security, and quality across the state of Florida. She later worked for the Home Shopping Network as a manager, and eventually found her true calling and passion working in the non-profit space at Parc. She continued to pursue non-profit work and finished her career as Chief Innovation Officer of HEAVENDROPt within Evergreen Life Services. Nancy eventually retired in her mid-70s but remained extremely active and involved in the local non-profit and networking communities.

Nancy was an author of two books about her time as a police officer and deputy: “The Accidental Deputy” and “Police, Love, & Understanding.” She enjoyed presenting and speaking with groups about her books and time in the force. Nancy loved travelling and networking and was fortunate to have spent four months cruising around the world early last year. She made numerous friends from around the world and often hosted sessions on the ship to discuss her books. She was also well-known and respected in the Largo and greater Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Clearwater area for her networking abilities and charitable work. She even coined her own phrase to describe her networking method, “Bar Marketing”. There was nothing Nancy loved more than meeting new people and making mutually beneficial connections with her friends and business contacts. Nancy was a kind, generous, and supportive friend to all, and her daily sunrise pictures on Facebook will be missed.

Nancy is survived by her daughter, Mindi Thomann, son-in-law, Chris Thomann, and their three grandchildren, Emily, Ethan, and Eric.

Nancy’s family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 21st from 2-5pm at the Bayou Club (7979 Bayou Club Blvd., Largo, Florida 33777). They will be serving beer, wine, and appetizers. If you can please join them and help raise a glass to Nancy to toast her amazing life. Dress is casual. Please email [email protected] if you plan on attending so the family can get an accurate headcount.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to one of the following non-profit organizations that Nancy was closely associated with:

• Florida Veterans Coalition - https://floridaveterans.org/donate/ - Brings financial, emotional, and regulatory assistance to Veterans and their families throughout the state of Florida.

• HEAVENDROPt - https://els.givecloud.co/fundraising/forms/VZE29KDR?utm_source=qr - All HEAVENDROPt products are handmade by the people served by Evergreen Life Services with developmental disabilities and Veterans with disabilities. Products are made in the US out of recycled military parachutes.

• Area Agency on Aging of Pasco – Pinellas - https://www.agingcarefl.org/donate1.html - Provides resources and programming to more than 50,000 seniors, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities annually.