Niskayuna- Nancy E. Gold, 78, passed away on Wednesday October 16, 2024 at Ellis Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born in Schenectady, she is the daughter of the late Morris and Belle (Hershkowitz) Gold.

Nancy was an artist and illustrator, and the owner of Tough Traveler. She was a passionate advocate for US manufacturing and trade policy, and cared immensely about the future of the United States as a place where we make things. She loved art of all kinds, especially sculpting, painting, cartoons, and animation. She enjoyed swimming, kayaking, spending time with her family and many friends in the community, and would work tirelessly to help her customers and relations of all kinds solve any problem they had.

Nancy was a graduate of Linton High School and Barnard College, then went on to be a cartoonist for the Boston Herald. Her animation “Hide and Seek” was featured on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, then 25 years later the show filmed in the Tough Traveler factory to demonstrate how her bags were made.

Nancy’s art won many awards including a CINE Golden Eagle for “The Lady Sings,” Classic Telly Awards for “The Bear Goes Ice Skating” and “Chalk Test,” and The “Spirit” Award for her Tough Traveler animated commercials. She had a lot of fun making art of all forms, and appreciated the art others made, especially her children’s. Tough Traveler’s bags were included in many feature films and television shows, but the thing she was most proud of in her products is how long they last and that so many people will continue using them every day for decades to come.

Nancy is survived by her children; Guy (Catrina), Kit (Michael), and Umber (Brian); and her grandchildren, Oliver and Felix. She was pre-deceased by her husband Mark Goldstein. She loved and was loved by her family, friends, employees, and strangers she just happened to start talking to.

Funeral services for Nancy will be held on Sunday October 20th at 10:00 am at Agudat Achim Cemetery, 100 Mt. Stuart Rd. in Rotterdam.