Nancy Caffyn

Who was Nancy Caffyn?

Nancy J. Jacobson Caffyn was an American politician who served as the Mayor of South Windsor, Connecticut from 1977–79 as the 3rd Barnstable District representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1999–2001.

Caffyn grew up in East Hampton, Connecticut. Her father, Arthur Jacobson was a member of the Connecticut Senate. At the age of 21 she married United States Air Force cadet Allan Caffyn. After his service the couple moved to South Windsor, Connecticut where she served as the town's mayor.

Following her divorce, Caffyn moved to her summer home in Mashpee, Massachusetts. From 1991 to 1999 she was a member of the town's Board of Selectman. In 1998, she was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, succeeding five-term incumbent Thomas Cahir who ran for Barnstable County Sheriff instead. In 2000, Caffyn was voted Legislator of the Year by her colleagues. After one term in the house, Caffyn decided not to run for reelection, choosing to spend more time with her family and concentrate on her health.

Caffyn died on May 26, 2010 following a thirteen-year battle with cancer.