Month: February 2017

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Memory submitted by Jon Carlsten

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
Since Abby was a few years older than Broek (b.6/5/75) we were just starting to use the Morningside Baby Sitting Coop and you were toward the end. But it was thru the Coop that we met the Nardos. Jane Lipscomb invited a pregnant Chris while they potted at Callandwolde. I think that she was carrying Micah at the time.

Memory of Mickey
Tales of Mickey Nardo
While several stories come to mind, I won’t be able to tell some because I only heard them. Other tales focus on Sharon & Abby & less on Mickey. I shall add those only with editorial approval:

1. MLK Assassination & Mickey at the ER.
Since I heard about this once, I am not qualified to tell it.

2. Pig/Chicken/Goat Roast.
While we ate frequently, I went once to witness our sour mash marinated roasters Mickey, Andy, Bob & more, do their thing. Not qualified to tell this tale either.

3. 1st PC.
Identifying a need while Sharon worked for Carlsten Associates, she asked Mickey to help us embark on our 30 year journey toward the galaxy of IT. Without Mickey, this would have taken light years for us to get on board.

4. The Printer & the Pickup (Another told tale)
The morning after an all night down pour, Mickey went outside & discovered his printer floating upside down in the back of his pickup. Unphased, he fished it out, gave it a dog-like shake, commandeered Sharon’s hair dryer blew dry this high tech piece of plastic & ink. It worked fine afterward.

5. Touring Nardo.
When Jenny & her family were living on the heal of the Italian boot, we visited the Ionian Coastal City of Nardo. Way back when, Nardo hauled in the fruits of the sea and did their best to prevent the Saracens, Ottomans & the Venetians from hauling them off to row their galleys. Today, the Nardo’s population still fishes, tend to the piers for pleasure craft, welcomes boat loads of refugees from Africa, and loyally attends Fiat’s perfectly circular track for auto testing & racing.

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Memory submitted by Sandy Steingard

When did you meet Mickey?
2011

Where did you meet him?
Follower of 1BOM

Farewell Mickey Nardo, 1 (not very) Boring Old Man

Memory of Mickey
His blog was incredibly important at exposing the corruption and distortion of data in psychiatry (and more broadly, in medicine). This contribution is invaluable. At the same time, he exuded decency. He is the psychiatrist all of us would want for ourselves and our loved ones if the need was there.

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Memory submitted by Jack Senterfitt

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
When we first babysat Abby, through Morningside Babysitting Coop

Memory of Mickey
In 1980 I was riding my bicycle home from work in downtown Atlanta and was hit by a car, almost killed, taken to Grady Hospital. Mickey came to the hospital to run interference with the doctors for Trisha, to help her make decisions on moving me to Piedmont, etc. My first conscious memory after that accident was in the ambulance when I was moved, I looked up and Mickey's face was the only thing I saw–he rode in the ambulance with me. He and Sharon kept up the vigil for the whole time I was in the hospital, visiting, Mickey talking to me about the psychological impact of such a severe physical injury, how he was going to use my case in his teaching doctors how to be more empathetic to this aspect. And after I got home, he and Andy Lipscomb came over and built a wheelchair ramp to our backdoor for me. I can still remember his laughter as he and Andy worked. He counseled me on what to expect as I healed, especially how the psychological aspect would likely eventually outweigh the physical.

He was right, of course, and when it did all come crashing down around me, Mickey came to our house late one night and stayed with me through probably the longest night of my life, helping me through this crisis and convincing me of how much I needed continuing counseling. So Mickey quite literally saved my life, like he did for so many others–and for that I'm forever indebted to him, but also to Sharon and Abby for being willing to share him and allow him to do what he did for me.

Over the years Trisha and I spent a lot of time with Mickey and Sharon–camping at our secluded spot on Lake Altoona–where Mickey built little sailboats with Todd, who was just a toddler, and then he lit the little boats so the flame's heat would propel them out into the water. Todd was fascinated, especially when it rained most of the day and Mickey convinced him that it really wasn't raining! Here was this brilliant man, one of the smartest people I've ever met, who was sitting down in the muddy shores of the lake, making little sailboats with a small child, and having so much fun doing it–pretty awesome!

In 2013, when Trisha and I were RVing around the country, Mickey and Sharon flew to Baltimore and we spent a week together visiting Ft. McHenry, Annapolis, the Civil War Museum of Medicine in Frederick, MD, the Amish country and Gettysburg Battlefield. Especially in the medical museum it was fascinating to hear Mickey's comments, as a doctor, on how the triage system developed during this war has changed so little since then. What fun it was, with Mickey's sense of humor keeping us all laughing.

So many memories of Mickey through the years, staying up all night roasting the pig for the neighborhood picnic; then the year after of my bike accident, he and Andy driving his pickup to our house and lifting me in my wheelchair up into the truck bed and driving through the park to the pig! And one recent memory, of Mickey's speech at the celebration of his and Sharon's 50th anniversary. Mickey had something humorous to say about every guest who was there, yet his comments were also subtly profound, as he described the life he and Sharon had shared with all of the people there, over the years. And as he ended it, his moving tribute to Sharon and the love they had shared, was something for the ages. Yes, Mickey was brilliant, accomplished and successful in his profession. But most of all, he was true to himself and one of the most down to earth people ever. Godspeed to you, Mickey!

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Memory submitted by Woody Harriman

When did you meet Mickey?
1960

Where did you meet him?
At University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Memory of Mickey
Mickey has had a special place in my life since one morning in early September of ‘60, when he showed up at my digs at U.T. out of the blue, disguised as any other, ordinary, freshman. My name had been on some volunteer resource list given to freshmen, and Mickey had come to have me look over his essay for tomorrow’s English class. He pulled a paper out of the back pocket of his Levis, and I read it through. I then looked at him again, suspicious that my leg was being pulled. But Mickey just sat there on my front steps and looked at me thru those big, black-framed glasses. So I read the essay again: a little clumsy here, a grammar error there, to be sure. But it was nevertheless one of the best freshman English papers I’d ever read. We immediately became fast friends. and remained so the rest of his time in Knoxville.

Decades later, while watching "Amadeus" at the movies and hearing an amazed Salieri say, “This was no composition by a performing monkey,” I suddenly recalled that September morning and I burst out laughing, and I wanted to jump up and shout at Salieri, “Hello my brother — I know how you feel!” My wife Boodles looked at me like I had lost my last brain cell. I had a smile on my face for the rest of that day.

Ever since I met him, not a week has gone by that I haven’t thought about Mickey and his formidable gifts — his fierce work ethic, his startling intuition, his good sense, and most of all, his commitment to helping others with his big heart, all overlaid with an exquisite sense of humor. He was unique in my experience, and he’s been my hero for over 55 years now. I loved that man. We're all going to miss him.

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Memory submitted by Jenny Carlsten

When did you meet Mickey?
1978

Where did you meet him?
Sharon and Mickey are friends of my parents

Memory of Mickey
It has been years since I have seen both Sharon and Mickey, but they were fixtures from my childhood. When I was a child the mothers were always the people most ingrained in my brain, of course there were fathers who stood out, but some of them, who are no longer present in my life, have faded from my memory. Mickey had such a presence, I may have been a little afraid of him as a child, but I also remember thinking that he was a funny guy. I remember his voice most distinctly and the twinkle in his eye. I know that he is missed, his passing had an effect on me that I would have never imagined and he wasn't part of my everyday woodwork. Sending you all lots of love and light.

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Memory submitted by Ann W

Where did you meet him?
Only know him through Abby's posts!

Memory of Mickey
I only know Mickey Nardo through Abby's posts about him on Facebook. It's clear to me that he was an extremely smart, compassionate, creative and unique individual that touched many lives and is continuing to do so. He had to be so satisfied and fulfilled to have all of his family around at the end making sure his needs and desires were understood and met if possible. I think my favorite moment that I read about was Mickey using the laser pointer that Christian rigged for his glasses to tell everyone that he wanted to hear CCR! And Abby knowing that he wanted the Ike and Tina Turner version and the dance party that followed. Talk about making the most of the moment!

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Memory submitted by Elizabeth Hosch

Memory of Mickey:

The conversations and stories shared on Facebook (and beyond) are the kinds of routine and profound insights that I have used to "meet" Abby's Dad (aka Mickey) over the past 13ish years. Though we've never met in person, it's always been clear that individual thought and expression were paramount to him, what makes life life. Cheers to this life, living on in so many ways, that Abby's Dad encouraged so fully. "Never accept an invitation to go crazy."

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Memory submitted by Chris Wells

When did you meet Mickey?
1974

Where did you meet him?
Morningside

Memory of Mickey
Mickey and Sharon were among my parents' best friends, so he was a regular presence in my life. We'd take walks through the neighborhood and end up at their house. Mickey would invariably be tinkering with something–a homemade computer, a homemade printer, a recipe, a gadget, a half-built boat in the basement. And as he did, he'd tell stories and crack jokes–always with a twinkle in his eye–and still somehow manage to ask questions about me, and what was going on in my life, in a way that displayed genuine interest, no matter how interesting my answers. He was one of a kind, and we were all lucky to have him in our lives.

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Memory submitted by Victoria Davis

When did you meet Mickey?
2001

Where did you meet him?
Eric Lupfer, Mickey's nephew

Memory of Mickey
I was having a very difficult time dealing with some family issues and Mickey had a long phone conversation with me that helped not only in the moment, but for the duration. His advice is still at the top of my emotional toolbox. He was very kind and insightful, and I very much appreciated him taking the time to help me in this way. I wish I had been able to spend more time with him–Eric and I will miss him. Thanks for the opportunity to share, Abby!

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Memory submitted by Bob Fiddaman

When did you meet Mickey?
2012

Where did you meet him?
Through our blog work

Related link: “Clues” from 1boringoldman.

Memory of Mickey
I always found Mickey approachable. He often mentioned my research on his blog and we emailed occasionally in regard to Paxil (of which he wrote about a lot). We corresponded a lot about ghostwriter, Sally K. Laden, a subject that Mickey was very compassionate about (amongst others)

His work with RIAT and his ability to crush data and disseminate it are, and always will be, legendary.

His 1boringoldman website was a place I visited regularly. His posts would generate a lot of comments, respectful ones at that – the reason being Mickey was a respected man by not only me but by others across the world.

Love, light and peace to Mickey and his loved ones.

You, sir, will always be a legend.