Bold statement: Nancy Kroll’s life was a masterclass in passion, perseverance, and the transformative power of sport. And this is the part most people miss: her impact extended far beyond the green, shaping a community that will remember her for generations.
Nancy Kroll, a golf champion and longtime East Greenbush educator, died at 62 after a 17-month battle with cancer. She recently belonged to Pinehaven Country Club and was supported by a devoted circle of friends, neighbors, and caregivers—many of them fellow golfers—throughout her illness.
A Rotterdam resident and veteran teacher in the East Greenbush Central School District, Kroll built a legendary record in Capital Region golf. In 2018 she secured her seventh NEWGA championship, surpassing Mary Jo Kelly’s prior mark of six titles. Jane King, president of NEWGA, described Kroll as “an amazing presence in women’s golf in our entire region,” noting the golf community had lost a very special person.
Kroll’s victories spanned decades. She first claimed titles in 1987, 1988, 1992, and 1996, then returned after a 15-year competitive hiatus to win again in 2015, 2017, and 2018. The 31-year span between her first and last titles remains a record in the sport.
A vocal advocate for women’s golf, Kroll participated in both competitive and social leagues. Reflecting on her career, she told the Times Union in 2018 that NEWGA “means a lot” to her and emphasized the importance of keeping the organization strong and bringing new players and former members back into the fold. Across her career, she recorded 10 holes-in-one and competed in landmark events such as the first USGA Team Championship and the NYSGA Amateur Series finale. She also captured the Schenectady Women’s Championship in 2017 and 2018, representing Schenectady Municipal Golf Course within NEWGA.
Kroll learned golf from her father, Edward Kroll, a 42-year golf professional at Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown and a longtime member of the PGA. He earned his Class A title in 1955 and achieved various local and national golfing milestones. He passed away in 2013 from Alzheimer's disease at 83. The following year, Nancy won the New York State Golf Association’s Women’s Senior Amateur Championship at Kanon Valley Country Club in Oneida, a victory tinged with memories of her father’s guidance and influence.
Her colleagues and friends remember her as a devoted mentor and generous competitor. PGA professional John Souza, who has known Kroll for over two decades, credits her ability to uncover new strengths as a key to her late-career successes. “She was molded by her dad, and we crafted smart ways to leverage her growing strengths,” he noted. Souza also praised her as one of the region’s best women amateur golfers and described Kroll as genuine, kind, and supportive of others.
Carolyn Mancini of Binghamton Country Club, a frequent partner in two-person events, recalled how their friendship evolved after a shared victory in 2014. Mancini highlighted Kroll’s lifelong love of golf, effortless swing, and the friendships she formed along the way. She also noted their shared love of the film Moonstruck, which became a lighthearted bonding moment between teammates.
Kroll left Cooperstown as a high school junior to study and play golf in Florida, attending Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Rollins College in Winter Park, and Florida Atlantic University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education. She later earned a master’s in special education from The College of Saint Rose and began teaching at Howard L. Goff Middle School. Since 2007, she taught special education in the East Greenbush Central School District.
In a district statement, East Greenbush acknowledged Kroll as a beloved educator dedicated to students with special needs, and expressed condolences to her family and colleagues. She is survived by her sisters, Louise Anne Kroll of Cooperstown and Kathryn Kroll of Oneonta. A spring celebration of life is planned.
Joyce Bassett, a freelance sports columnist for the Times Union who focuses on women and girls in sports and golf, notes Kroll’s enduring legacy in regional golf and education. Her reporting reflects a life well-lived, marked by championship titles, mentorship, and community spirit.
