Celebrating Pine Islanders: Nancy Cote
Nancy Cote said she would describe herself as a “mangrove girl,” explaining that she traveled here, put down roots and will do whatever is necessary to keep the island together.
“Mangroves tend to grow where they need to hold something together, so I think I identify with the mangrove because it holds the island together like the people who want to help,” Cote said.
Although Cote’s husband, Tom, is originally from Pine Island, she said they came to live here after he finished his duty in the military in 2009. For Tom, the idea of coming back to Pine Island was an easy decision. For Nancy, she explained, the island grew to be home as she began volunteering at the Beacon of HOPE.
“When I started volunteering and saw the way the community really comes together, I knew that this was home. I also learned about the needs of the islanders — people em-powering one another and learning the language of a new country — as I saw when I was in California. I saw that it wasn’t as established here, it was just roots, but I really took to helping the Spanish-speaking community learn English. That’s when I said this is where I belong, there are people in this area who need to be empowered and need to know that they can create a change, and I want to help with that,” Cote said.
When it comes to her best strategy to help the island, Cote said what has worked for her off the island is proving tried and true here as well.
“I have worked in non-profits, and also I’ve worked in a lot of places that empower people to receive services, and I think bringing that knowledge home to Pine Island is what’s going to transform the Beacon and get it into the 21st century and really help islanders become competitive off island,” Cote said.
She insists her love for the island can be found in her ability to help those who live here to be ready for what they might encounter if and when they leave Pine Island.
“If you live on Pine Island, you are a special person — someone who thinks and acts differently, and sometimes it’s a really big disconnect for people,” Cote said.
Many islanders, she said, who have had to move off the island have gone through the struggle of trying to become a mainlander. Although Cote doesn’t want to see people moving off-island who have no desire to leave, she said, if they find they have to leave, she wants to be one who will help them learn what they can expect to find out there and she wants to be the one to help empower them to deal with it.
For anyone unfamiliar with Pine Island, Cote said she would have to explain that it’s one of the most unique places on earth.
“I live in the country’s last small town. I live in the country’s last community of neighbors — people who help each other — no questions asked,” Cote said.
Her greatest wish for Pine Island is that the people who live here would continue in the same spirit of helpfulness that has given the island its name of neighborly affection.
“I wish that Pine Island would remain the same. I wish that the people who move here would help each other without question — I wish that the spirit of helping your neighbor would never die,” Cote said.
Nancy Cote. PHOTO PROVIDED