Author: Abby Nardo

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Memory submitted by Connie

When did you meet Mickey?
1971

Where did you meet him?
RAFLakenheath

Memory of Mickey
After being station together @ RAF Lakenheath for 3 years and returning home to different areas of the US, several couples decided in 1975 to have a long weekend reunion in Nashville. That weekend began a tradition of annual summer vacations each August (to accommodate Mickey’s schedule 😊) with our growing families in tow. Little did we ever imagine what wonderful trips, stories and destinations would result in the following decades. We are still taking those trips albeit back to only the original adults (with an occasional child or grandchildren showing up)! This group became dubbed TGE (Thursday Gastronome Extraordinaire) after the name we gave a dining group of 4-6 couples who ate together at restaurants within driving distance of base the last 6 months before we returned to the US for residencies.

I am going to attempt to post some photos of Mickey during this part of his life because it has meant so much to our family to have known him and shared these moments together.

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Memory submitted by Jean Gora

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
In Atlanta through mutual friends, Bob and Rosemary Wells

Memory of Mickey
I would hear stories about Mickey from time to time from Bob and Rosemary Wells, and I became a big fan of his exploits as told by them. Two come to mind. The first was his attempt to build a boat in the basement of his house on East Rock Springs Road in Atlanta. I understand that the boat was to be quite large, maybe big enough to travel on the Mississippi. To move it to Jasper, he had to take the door frame off his Atlanta house. Once in Jasper, the boat grew even larger. An edifice was built to house it. Jasper is not close to a navigable waterway. The logistics of moving it from Jasper appeared likely to be ever more complex. I was filled with admiration for someone who was willing to build a boat without caring a great deal about where it would ever reach a body of water where it would float. The task was more important than the final product. Over time, Mickey’s interest shifted in other directions. I understand that a storm finished off the boat at some point.

The other exploit of Mickey that I know about was his effort along with Mountain Stewards and others to geocode the locations of bent trees used by the native Americans as trail markers. As he geocoded the locations of more trees, he became aware that they lined up, in effect indicating trails, often trails leading toward water. This effort allowed Mountain Stewards and cooperating Indian tribes to recover parts of their history that left no written records. We were hiking the same mountains at the same time and were always on the lookout for trail trees. Maybe Mickey’s psychoanalytical mind drew him to this effort — his belief that an important reality can exist below apparently miscellaneous events. It was and is a wonderfully inspired way of looking at the world. I’ll miss him.

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Memory submitted by Mary Nell Podgorny

When did you meet Mickey?
1986

Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey at the Lipscomb farm, Shiloh, Georgia.

Memory of Mickey
Foremost in my memory is an image of Mickey and Andy and God only knows who all else at the Lipscomb farm. They would be huddled together chewing the fat, but mostly enjoying each other’s company.

One year at the annual Egg Roast there was a contest for the men to show off their legs. Their identities were shielded from view of the female judges with a large sheet of some sort. All manner of legs were competing for the top votes in various categories. Mickey won Prettiest Legs, hands-down.

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Memory submitted by Dan Yang

When did you meet Mickey?
2012

Where did you meet him?
1BOM

Memory of Mickey
I started reading 1boringoldman.com around 2012, as I was finishing my child psychiatry training. I was struck by Mickey’s wonderful ability to delve into the nuances of research with a critical eye that I did not often see elsewhere. He inspired me with his tenacity in going after the truth, his dedication to his profession even after he “retired,” and most of all, his decency as a human being and doctor.

Over the past 5 years, I looked up to Mickey as a role model and fount of wisdom. I corresponded with him via email and the comments section of his blog, and he was always kind and encouraging. Though I never got to meet him in person, I’m deeply saddened by his passing, and I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the Nardo family.

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Submit A Post About Mickey

We will be creating a hardback book for ourselves with posts about my father/Mickey/Dr. Nardo. All of the posts on this blog will be in that book. I hope you will feel inspired to share about him. We love photos, stories, memories, and stories Dad told, but you can share anything you want. If you have special links you’d like to add, you can do that, too. Thank you for being a part of this project.

Click on this photo of Mickey to submit your post.

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Memory submitted by David Hacker

Where did you meet him?
I did not meet Mickey

Memory of Mickey
I am sorry to say that I did not get to meet, Mickey. But I did meet Sharon and Abby at the hospital. As I listened to them I was hoping I would get to meet him. I have read a few of his blogs and noted that he was a man who loved people. I admire that he was about justice, something near to my heart, and was not afraid to make a strand. I appreciate standing up for those who have no voice and exposing the lies in his field. I love the fact that he impacted Abby to so the same. When I met Sharon and Abby in the waiting room at the hospital I could tell that they loved him deeply and his values were true in them. I would have loved to be part of their evening, family time as I know the richness of love would have been the underpinning of intelligent and provoking conversation. I am glad that his writings live on and his values in others. God bless the Nardos! May God surround you with his comfort and peace.

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Memory submitted by Chris Carlsten

When did you meet Mickey?
1976

Where did you meet him?
Pig Roast/coop

Memory of Mickey
Mickey was our computer mentor. He built his own pc when you couldn’t buy one affordably and he seemed to know everything about them. If it hadn’t been for Mickey and Sharon Carlsten Associates would never have entered the computer age. He suggested we get our first home computer, a compaq. I wrote a novel on that thing, taking it with me on a retreat at pine mountain to finish it. That would never have happened without him.

He also mentored our parenting. When we were stumped, we called Mickey for advice. When Broek, at 10, hated Girl Scout camp and begged for us to pick her up and bring her home, we called Mickey. He said, “Don’t rescue her.” So she stayed, the weather cleared and she rode horses and made friends.

I think he was that witty and wise counsel for so many people. He made himself available and was both patient and unfailingly kind.

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Memory submitted by soulful sepulcher

When did you meet Mickey?
2006

Where did you meet him?
Blogging world

Memory of Mickey
I discovered a very articulate commentator on various psychology based blogs such as “Pharmalot” as the mysterious “Dr. Nardo”. I added his comments soon thereafter in links to my mental health based “question authority on Pharma” blog. Over many years after that we had many discussions via blogs and emails. He is (was) a great person and I want to thank him for all he has done with detailed information and discussion. Rest in peace our dear friend.
-Soulful Sepulcher blog

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Memory submitted by Susan Shelton

When did you meet Mickey?
1981

Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey (Dr.Nardo then) when I was in med school

Memory of Mickey
I first knew him as a teacher, the most unique and inspiring teacher I had in med school. He later became my analyst and as I’m sure hundreds have already said he saved my life and changed my life in ways I can’t begin to describe. Actually I could describe them, but it would be way too personal. He saved my relationship with my then boyfriend, now husband and encouraged me to do practical things like get a fifteen year mortgage rather than a thirty year one. Most of all he was a role model for what a psychiatrist should be. He is indelibly a part of the fabric of who I am.

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Memory submitted by Martha Porter Hall

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
We met him through the Lipscombs

Memory of Mickey
Our son, Beau Hall, took his first son Justin to the Lipscombs’ Easter Egg Hunt at Flint Hill in 1988. His wife, Laura, couldn’t come. Palm Sunday that year was March 27. Justin was born on December 2, 1987, so he was three and a half months old. On Palm Sunday morning, Beau had run out of formula. I suggested that he fix Justin a bottle with tap water and instant nonfat dry milk, which was what I supplemented my breast milk with for Beau and his sister Adelaide when they were babies. Beau fixed a bottle and gave it to Justin, who promptly turned red and developed a rash and started crying. We were so lucky; the party included Mickey, Vern, and Jane. Mickey gave Justin Benadryl, that made quick work of the allergic response, and I guarantee we’ve had Benadryl in our house ever since. Mickey gave loving, quick and effective care to Justin, Beau and – for the lord’s sake – me.