Photo courtesy of CBS

I am beyond excited to share the news that sports commentator, Jim Nantz and his sister, Nancy Hockaday, have joined A Life Well Fed, contributing a favorite family recipe from their mother, Doris Nantz. Even if the Nantz name doesn’t ring a bell, you’ll likely recognize Jim as the voice of CBS Sports, covering some of the country’s most celebrated sporting events for nearly 40 years.

 

The Nantz family story is all too familiar. As I read Jim’s interview with the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s, and his book Always by My Side: The Healing Gift of a Father's Love, Jim’s story hit close to home. In 1995, their father, Jim Nantz, Jr. was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 66. For the next 13 years, they experienced what millions of Americans go through every day: the emotional toll of caring for a loved one suffering from this devastating disease. And just like our family, Jim relied on his mom and sister Nancy to oversee the care of his father in the same way our family relied on my sister Lori to oversee the care of our mom and dad. In 2011, Jim founded the Nantz National Alzheimer Center (NNAC) in partnership with Houston Methodist to honor not only his father but also as a tribute to his mother, Doris, and sister, Nancy, for their tireless dedication to the caregiving of his dad. Doris Nantz passed away in 2022. She will always be remembered for her lively spirit, and love for her family and life. 

 

Jim’s voice will always evoke the memory of my father’s love for sports, his passion for the game of golf, and the traditions we have established over the years with friends and family gathered around the television on one of the most special Sundays of the year—Masters Sunday. It is these memories that remind me—living A Life Well Fed is as much about finding a connection with those we love as it is about the meals we share.