Ronnat “Nattie” Grogan Trainer, 91, of Chapel Hill, NC and formerly from Virgil, NY, Malvern, PA and Johnstown, PA passed away peacefully in her home Monday November 26, 2018. Those lucky enough to know Nattie enjoyed her gracious open door, her passion to learn and share knowledge, her willingness for a spirited conversation and her powerful laugh. That spirit will fondly be remembered and greatly missed.

Nattie was the daughter of Florence Krueger and Patrick Joseph Grogan. Born November 2, 1927 in Johnstown, PA, Nattie shared a wonderful upbringing in Johnstown’s Westmont borough with her siblings John, Patricia, and Miriam, all predeceased. After graduating from Westmont Hilltop High School, Nattie then graduated in 1949 from Seton Hill College, Greensburg, PA. Seton Hill’s educational philosophy is “to think and act critically, creatively, and ethically as productive members of society committed to transforming the world”. She lived that philosophy throughout her life.

Growing up in Johnstown, PA, Nattie’s family summered in Stone Harbor, NJ, where she met her future husband, then Stone Harbor lifeguard, Richard “Dick” Trainer, Jr. They married in 1953. Starting and raising their family in Pennsylvania, they settled in Virgil, NY in 1970. Dick died in 1972, leaving Nattie to nurture her love for living in Virgil and all that her spirit for the great outdoors offered to her and her family. She enthusiastically enjoyed walking in the woods, skiing the Black Diamond trails at Greek Peak, and sitting on the deck listening to the birds.

Once Nattie’s children moved away she headed south and “retired” in Chapel Hill, NC. True to her spirit she became heavily involved in learning and traveled around the world with Duke University’s Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement (DILR) now known as Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). She met many of her friends in the region through this program.

Nattie is survived by her six children; daughters Dornan Trainer (Richard Serth) of Church Road, VA; Joan Trainer (Hugh O’Doherty) of Medford, MA; Carin Trainer of Brewster, MA; and sons Rick (Pam) Trainer of Ludlow, VT; J. Scott (Cindy) Trainer of Austin, TX; and Tom Trainer (Jeanne Segal) of Bethesda, MD; her eight grandchildren and one great grandson. She loved each of her children, embraced their activities and was always very welcoming to all their friends.

Nattie’s family intends to have a memorial event in early 2019.