Beloved Business Owner Suffers Medical Emergency, Community Rallies To Help

CHESTER, CT — For years, Chester Gallery owner Nancy Pinney has given back to her community, from delivering Meals on Wheels to helping homebound residents during the holidays.

Now, after Pinney suffered a massive heart attack while hosting an event at her art gallery, friends and community members are rallying to support her.

Pinney suffered the medical emergency during a First Friday event at the art gallery. Two nurses attending the event provided “life saving intervention” before Pinney was taken to a hospital, according to a fundraiser.

Pinney was later transferred to Hartford Hospital and underwent surgery. She is now recovering.

As of Tuesday morning, a GoFundMe set up for Pinney had raised $30,835 from 184 donations toward a $40,000 goal. The fundraiser was organized by Moya Aiken on Oct. 3.

Donations are intended to help pay Pinney’s medical expenses and keep Chester Gallery operating during her recovery.

“At the best of times making ends meet is difficult, and keeping the gallery open can be a constant struggle,” Aiken wrote. “While she recovers from this massive heart attack, covering medical expenses and gallery bills will help keep her business running and give Nancy some peace of mind.”

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Pinney has operated Chester Gallery since taking over the business from co-founder Sosse Baker. The gallery, located in an 1860 farmhouse at 76 Main St., reopened under Pinney’s operation in August 2018. Pinney is a longtime artist, framer, and gallerist with nearly four decades of experience in picture framing, according to the gallery’s website.

The fundraiser also highlighted Pinney’s work outside the gallery, including delivering Meals on Wheels in the Connecticut River Valley and organizing a Christmas delivery for homebound community members.

"As all of (you) who know Nancy Pinney know, she is the most altruistic, generous and deeply kind person you could ever meet... Now it’s our turn to look out for Nancy,” Aiken wrote.

View the GoFundMe by clicking here.