A dozen or so townspeople gathered in the Duck River Cemetery on a sunny Sunday afternoon in October to share stories about Elizabeth Tashjian, remembered fondly as “The Nut Lady.” 

At a small reception following the graveside ceremony, nut-shaped cookies were served by Old Lyme resident Judy Archer, who had initiated the campaign to place a grave marker on Tashjian's final resting place.  Archer expressed her thanks to all who had contributed to a lasting tribute to the Nut Lady.

 

Miss Tashjian was the founder and curator of The Nut Museum, an Old Lyme landmark that was located in her Ferry Road home for many years.  Born in 1912, Elizabeth Tashjian achieved national recognition when she performed her Nut Anthem (“Nuts are Beautiful”) on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show.  She died in 2007 at the age of 94.

 

Archer had discovered during a cemetery walk that Miss Tashjian’s gravesite was not marked by a stone.  In a small notice in the Town’s newsletter, Judy asked for the community’s support to secure a headstone for Miss Tashjian’s final resting place.  The response was immediate.  Each of those gathered at the site had helped in some way, including Phil Trowbridge, who donated the stone from his Arena Stoneyard.

 

Sufficient funds remain from the donations to fund a scholarship in Miss Tashjian’s memory, which will be awarded to a 2010 Lyme-Old Lyme High School graduate in need.