Nancy DuPont moved to the Northgate area in 1971, before most of the homes we now live in were built. It was a rural area with ranches, walnut and pear orchards, and a smattering of homes. Northgate High School did not yet exist.
Nancy was born in Alameda, CA. “I grew up in the fog,” she says. Her uncle would bring her to Mt. Diablo on occasion to see the snow. She fell in love with that mountain and the magic of the tree-lined streets leading there. After graduating from Encinal High School, she worked for the Oakland Tribune. She was the first woman to work in the sales department selling ads. In 1968 she married Ricardo DuPont, and with the help of his GI loan, they were able to buy a home, first in Danville and then in Northgate, the special place that she remembered from her childhood. The home had a small 2-stall barn on Castle Rock Rd. They tore down that small barn and built a new one, adding horses soon after that. Soon Nancy was giving riding lessons.
Nancy’s two children from her previous marriage, Kathy and Mark, grew up in that house and attended Northgate High School, which opened in 1974. Ricardo passed away in 1983, and her daughter began to help run the business that evolved into Castle Rock Arabians. Kathy moved to Mexico and adopted five children. One of those grandsons, Oscar, moved to California.
Nancy helped raise him, and he also learned to ride and love horses. Nancy is mostly retired from the business now, and it is run by her trusted colleague Rebeca Mendez. Over the years Castle Rock Arabians have taught thousands of kids and adults to ride and love horses. As Nancy says, “It’s hard not to love a horse. Our horses are so gentle. Most kids start with Western riding, but we also offer dressage.” They also offer summer camps, opportunities for girl and boy scouts to earn equestrian badges, and birthday parties.
Nancy spent many years involved with the Heritage Trails Association and was president for a time. She worked with the National Park Service to help establish Amigos de Anza National Historic Trail where kids could learn about and reenact Spanish parades from the Presidio to Baker Beach. The trail still exists, and more information can be found at anzahistorictrail.org. The trail runs from San Miguel de Horcasitas, Mexico through Arizona and up the California coast, ending in San Francisco. Nancy has ridden the trail in its entirety. She has also worked closely with organizations such as the Diablo Arabian Horse Association, The Equestrian Center of Walnut Creek, and East Bay Regional Parks District to further the interests of riders. She conducted group rides and taught people how to camp with their horses.
She fondly remembers the days when she and her daughter could ride their horses all the way to downtown Walnut Creek on the trail, participate in the Walnut Festival Parade, and ride back home. At 83, she doesn’t ride anymore, but walks her dogs Cody and Charlie daily, or gets around on her John Deere Gator.
“I just love this area,” says Nancy, “with the rolling hills, the oak trees, and the bubbling brooks.” And with Mt. Diablo and Castle Rock Regional Park just down the road, it’s no surprise she has nourished this love for a lifetime, including the last 51 years as one of Northgate’s originals.
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991
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