Nina Pykare

1932–2023

Nina Coombs is a pseudonym of Nina Coombs Pykare, Born Dec. 27, 1932, to Edwin Charles Coombs and Grace Sharpnack Coombs, Nina graduated from Bazetta High School, Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Kent State University with a Ph.D.

She worked as secretary for the religious studies department at Cleveland State until she left to write full time. She was an accomplished writer of over 50 novels under various pseudonyms. During her career, she taught the Writer’s Digest Correspondence Course in novel writing classes at the Kent State branch and the YWCA. When her students did not want to stop meeting for classes, they started the Warren Writer’s Group, which is still functioning today.

She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Warren, where she helped with the community lunches and served on many committees. She was instrumental in beginning a recycling program and the annual offerings of letters for Bread For the World, an organization focused on helping the hungry.

Nina loved horses and dogs. She enjoyed time with her family, reading, crocheting baby blankets and watching old movies on TV.

Books