Gift 
Nancy Wagoner
Nancy Wagoner looks forward to Tuesdays because that's her day to volunteer as a docent at the Zoo. She says, "When I taught school, I looked forward to the weekends (even though I loved my job); now I look forward to Tuesdays when I get to go to the Zoo!"
When Nancy retired from teaching preschoolers, she was delighted to find a way to combine her love of the Zoo and desire to continue inspiring children. "I hope I have had some influence on the people I interact with at the Zoo, especially the children. I want them to see the joy I have when I show them an animal or a biofact. And I hope my passion for our environment and the part we all can play in keeping it healthy for all, animals and people alike, is something they will remember-especially the 3 R's: recycle, reduce and reuse."
Loving the Zoo is a family affair for the Wagoners. Nancy, her husband Robert "Bob" and their three children and five grandchildren have enjoyed the magic of it for generations. Bob said the Zoo was his childhood playground, having grown up within walking distance. Nancy recalls riding Miss Jim the elephant as a small child, and now directly experiences every Tuesday what an asset the Zoo is to the community, visitors, and the animal collection. Nancy said, "The Zoo has been the crown jewel of Forest Park for a century. We are proud to support this institution that our family has enjoyed for years."
Nancy and Bob are longtime Marlin Perkins Society members, Zoo Parents Program donors, and Heritage Society members. Of their legacy gift, Nancy says "Our future bequest hopefully will continue the legacy of the Zoo for those who will come after us - not only our children and grandchildren, but many generations to come as well as for people we don't even know."
