Nancy Wyche Morgan, 64, education professor

Nancy Wyche Morgan, 64, a Philadelphian who moved to St. Croix seven years ago to take her dream job as a visiting professor at the University of the Virgin Islands, died of organ failure Friday, May 1.

Dr. Morgan was stricken while swimming, lost consciousness, and died later at a medical center on St. Croix, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The university posted on its website that Dr. Morgan was "deeply loved and will be missed dearly."

In 2008, Dr. Morgan became visiting associate professor of education at the university's St. Croix campus. She spent the ensuing time training preservice teachers and graduate students as well as participating in faculty and community life.

Born in West Philadelphia, Dr. Morgan grew up in West Mount Airy. She graduated in 1967 from Philadelphia High School for Girls and majored in education at Cheyney State College, where she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Upon graduation from Cheyney in 1971, Dr. Morgan became a special-education teacher for the Philadelphia School District. She was committed "to recognizing, celebrating, and developing the gifts in all children," her family said in a tribute.

For a time she worked as an assistant to John F. Street when he was a city councilman and later when he was mayor of Philadelphia.

Dr. Morgan earned a master's degree from Arcadia University and was proud of completing a doctorate in education at Hofstra University.

In 1975, she met and married Robert B. Morgan, and the couple then had three children. She juggled family, further education, and community involvement, which was always important to her.

A busy reader and writer, Dr. Morgan promoted literacy for people of all ages. Her favorite pastime in recent years was spending time with her grandchildren when she came to Philadelphia for visits.

She is survived by sons Robert and Samuel; daughter Lyndsay; three grandchildren; two brothers; and three sisters. She was divorced from her former husband, who survives.

A funeral will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, 610 Summit Ave. A viewing is from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial is private.