True Friendship: Amy Bernstein and the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation
Amy Bernstein
HOUSTON – (By Michelle Leigh Smith for Realty News Report) – On September 7, 2001, Nancy Owens, a beloved and respected figure in Houston real estate, lost her courageous 20-year battle with breast cancer. One of her final wishes was to dedicate a significant part of her legacy to fighting breast cancer and supporting research toward a cure.
“She didn’t want others to have to go through what she went through,” says Amy Bernstein, who co-founded the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation with several of Owens’ colleagues.
That wish became the foundation’s mission. “Nancy was my mentor and my best friend,” Bernstein says. Bernstein, a long-time top producer in Houston real estate and leader of Bernstein Realty, is also a recipient of the John E. Wolf Award, given to those active in their industry who also give back to the community. “‘Never let a deal die in your court’ was one of Nancy’s favorite expressions,” she adds. “I think about that every day. I learned the importance of balance in life and the value of colleagues.”
“Nancy taught me a tremendous work ethic,” Bernstein continues. “She reminded me daily what integrity truly means.”
“In 2001, Nancy’s close colleagues and I wanted to honor her memory and raise funds to support breast cancer research,” Bernstein explains. “We initially called it the Nancy Owens Memorial Foundation; it is now the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation (NOBCF).”
Since its founding, NOBCF has raised more than $2 million to fund public charities that provide education, care, and research aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer. The foundation’s 17th annual luncheon was scheduled for October 22, 2018 at the Hilton of the Americas, with Grammy Award–winning musician and breast cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge as the featured speaker. RSVP at NancyOwens.org.
“I feel like we are getting closer to a cure,” Bernstein says. “The word cancer is always frightening, but now it often marks the start of a fight, not the end. There has been tremendous progress in breast cancer treatment. I truly believe that if Nancy had been diagnosed today, she would still be here to speak about it. We are diligent stewards of the funds: we carefully research and select the doctors and projects that receive support, and each year the progress we hear about motivates us to continue carrying Nancy’s torch. We all have day jobs, but seeing the positive impact of the money keeps us going.”
“Cancer touches almost everyone’s life—whether through a personal diagnosis or through someone close to them,” she adds. “That includes caregivers who support patients through treatment. If we keep raising funds and supporting research and care, I believe a cure will come. That’s what drives me. Nancy was the epitome of grace: a dedicated professional and a true friend. She was a legend in the real estate industry. Her memory lives on through both her work and the foundation.”
Owens battled breast cancer for two decades. She grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 with a B.S. in Interior Design. She moved to Houston in 1976 and began selling residential properties with John Daugherty Realtors. In 1981 she co-founded Turner-Owens Properties and later sold that company in 1986 to start Nancy Owens Properties. After facing a recurrence of breast cancer in 1992, she returned to John Daugherty Realtors as a broker associate to simplify her life.
“Nancy often said, ‘When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,'” Bernstein recalls. “With very few exceptions, she found something good in people and in situations where others might have retreated.”
During her illness, Nancy received support from many friends and colleagues, including Gloria Moorman, the Hon. Bonnie Hellums, Candy Caspersen, Cay Dickson, Lynn Mather, Cheri Fama (president and COO of John Daugherty Realtors), and numerous other thoughtful and loving friends from the real estate community.
Bernstein, known for her tireless work ethic, teaches her agents the importance of prompt follow-up. “I do my best to respond to everyone who calls,” she says. “It’s about making the most of every day.”
The NOBCF also presents an annual Spirit of Courage Award to honor extraordinary bravery in the face of cancer. In 2018, Wendy Bernstein received this recognition.
Previous foundation donations have supported the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine.
NOBCF’s recent grants include the following:
A donation to Baylor College of Medicine funded the purchase of equipment that analyzes circulating cell-free tumor DNA. This technology helps physicians and scientists identify genetic aberrations in primary tumors and metastatic lesions.
A gift to the Houston Methodist Research Institute’s Department of Nanotechnology supported research on a small implant—about the size of a grain of rice—designed to deliver immunotherapy directly into tumors to treat triple-negative breast cancer (NDES).
A contribution to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center funded research on activating a patient’s immune system to fight cancer, enabling the start of a clinical trial assessing vaccination in patients with early-stage breast cancer to evaluate their immune response to the tumor.
Since its inception, the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation has donated over $2 million to institutions and programs including the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, the Department of Nanotechnology at Houston Methodist, immune therapy research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
