Hanley is embracing her life’s next act. “I think everyone is very happy for me,” she said. “My friends, and even some of the doctors from Barrow, have told me that they can see my happiness.”

With a background in science and a past career in executive management, Ron Eriksson ( far left ) shares many of Hanley’s interests. The couple is shown here with Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed and his wife Amanda at Evening on the Diamond, which supports the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. Each year, the Lee T. Hanley Community Leadership Award is given at the event. like I’m doing this for both of us,” she said. As Nancy nears the seven-year mark from Lee’s passing, she is moving forward with her life, just as he hoped. In fact, she has some very big news. A little over a year ago, a friend from Scottsdale Bible Church cajoled Nancy into going on a blind date with a fellow parishioner, a widower originally from Chicago named Ron Eriksson. “Both of us were gnashing our teeth, like why am I doing this?” Nancy said, but they met for lunch and have been dating ever since. Like Nancy, Eriksson had enjoyed a long, happy marriage, having been wed for 52 years before his wife passed away. Together, they joke, they boast a collected 100 years of marriage. And now they plan to marry each other. “This is a really happy chapter. Both of us never expected this,” Hanley said. “But we share all of the important things and we’re both just floored that it happened.” The happiness is palpable as Nancy shares pictures of Ron and talks about plans for their new life together. “We’re able to experience this and feel this happiness together, which is God-sent and inspired,” she said. “We talk about his wife Bonnie, and we talk about Lee. We share that in order to come closer.” Nancy is quick to point out that her philanthropy in honor of Lee will go on, and she will continue to have an impact on the Valley and its charities. It all goes back to the trifecta of faith, family and philanthropy that she has built her life upon. “Because if you don’t have those, in my world, you don’t have anything," she said. MAY 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 25 COVER STORY CONTINUED