Leona F. Nady Memorial Music Scholarship was established by her nieces and nephews in 1997 to help young people pursue a career in music. 

Miss Nady was born in Jefferson County on Valentine’s Day 1904 and graduated from Fairfield High School with the class of 1922.  She graduated from Parsons College in 1927 and received a Bachelor of Music Degree, with special areas of study including music, organ, and French. While at Parsons, she was a member of Elzivir Sorority. Later, this organization became affiliated with a national sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, of which she was a contributing member.

Upon graduation from Parsons, she taught piano students in Fairfield for a short time, finally leaving and moving to Chicago, intending to continue teaching. She soon discovered during the Depression years there was not much of a market for piano lessons. She entered into employment with Commonwealth Edison, and so enjoyed her work that she remained with Con Ed until her retirement at age 65 in 1969.

While she had always traveled the continental US, she began to travel abroad to Europe making several trips abroad. In 1989, after living for 55 years almost in the heart of the city, she returned to Iowa. She died August 3, 1991, at the age of 87 ½ year.

Although her love of music was deep, even deeper was her interest in and caring about young people. It is with the knowledge of this interest and caring that this scholarship has been established.