Made Us Better Through His Friendship, Caring, and Humor

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. A sunset, a mountain bathed in moonlight, the ocean in calm and in storm — we see these, love their beauty, hold the vision to our hearts. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

— Helen Keller from We Bereaved Daniel Cheng ’23, a beloved member of the Senior Class, died November 8, 2022. His sudden loss came as a terrible shock to the school community, prompting an outpouring of grief and deep, lingering sadness. Daniel died of an extremely rare congenital heart defect called ARVD/C, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy; his condition was not detected or diagnosed, in part because it is not able to be uncovered in a routine physical or a single test. Doctors told his parents and the school that patients with the condition “can be without symptoms and then progress to a fatal abnormal heart rhythm in the span of seconds.”

The Cheng family wished to share this: “In our grief, we are left with memories of the many ways Daniel contributed to our community and made all of us better people through his friendship, caring, and humor.”

Daniel joined Norfolk Academy as a sixth grader, and from that moment, being a Bulldog became a cherished part of his identity. He studied German, and he participated in the German Exchange during the summer of 2022. He loved that trip, which was one of the first foreign trips that students could make after the pandemic. While a quiet student in class, traveling evoked his curiosity about and enthusiasm for German places, history, and food.

Daniel participated in robotics and was a member of the Sci-Fi Club. He had studied piano for many years and was the pianist for the Upper School Band. In that group, his ability to be a team player truly showed. Everyone in the band appreciated his witty humor, and his jokes helped bond the ensemble. More than that, he was an inspiration to the other instrumentalists through his caring personality, willingness to learn, and love of music. His style of musicianship showed his character: He never sought the spotlight; rather, he just wanted to make everyone better, and he did.

Daniel’s mother said he loved the way that Norfolk Academy felt like a real family. Daniel, our brother, will always be in our hearts.

Teacher Embodied Kindness

Nancy Shults Flippen, 89, the only child of John Brooks Shults and Eleanor Finley Shults, died peacefully on February 11, 2023. She was born in Hope, AR, and reared in the HopeTexarkana area. Following a stellar high school academic career, she entered Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA, where she met her husband-to-be, James H. Flippen Jr., on a blind date.

After two years at Randolph-Macon, Nancy transferred to Washington University in St. Louis, where she was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with an A.B. degree. She later earned a master’s degree in the humanities from Old Dominion University.

Shortly after their marriage, Nancy and James moved to Norfolk; as he began law practice, she taught English at Norview High School. When her children came along, she stopped teaching but engrossed herself in civic affairs, including work at the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach thrift shop and service as a docent at both the Chrysler Museum and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In her later years, she served as a Mobile Meals volunteer and hospice worker.

In 1978, Nancy began teaching English and history in the Middle School at Norfolk Academy, where she served for 22 years. She was instrumental in the development and expansion of the ninth-grade speech program and the literary magazine. She was one of the first teachers to collaborate with fine arts for teaching Shakespeare’s plays, which Dance Master Elbert Watson recalled as a joyful, exciting experience. She received the Middle School award for teaching excellence.

Pat Hume, who started her long career at NA as an English teacher in the Middle School and, like Nancy, coached cheerleading, recalled her as “a role model. Her manners were impeccable, and she was so kind. She also had a great sense of humor.” The two shared a passion for grammar and for introducing women authors into the curriculum. In those years, Ms. Hume said, the school was still adjusting to the 1966 merger of Norfolk Academy with Virginia Beach Country Day School, and Mrs. Flippen was a strong advocate for treating young women as equals.

Gary Laws, who served as director of the Middle School, said Mrs. Flippen understood the importance of rules and structure, but always treated all students with the utmost compassion. “She was concerned with all of the things the Academy holds dearest, like integrity, kindness, helping others,” he said. “That wasn’t just near and dear. That was who she was and what she lived.” ◆