Author: Abby Nardo

Posted on

Memory submitted by Jack Senterfitt

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
Babysitting coop

Memory of Mickey
After their University Ave. house, Mickey and Sharon moved to a house on Rock Springs Rd., basically right behind our house. Their house sat right on top of a hill and in a curve, a surefire recipe for traffic accidents. One day Mickey and Sharon were sitting out on their screened in porch relaxing, when there was a pretty serious accident on the road in front of their house. Mickey, dressed in his “weekend finest”, his ponytail protruding from a do rag on his head, his earth shoes, and shorts, I think, immediately went out to offer first aid and assistance to a woman who was injured. By the time he got out to the road, some other onlookers had gathered, but Mickey went right to the woman and started assisting. Apparently one of the onlookers was a bit taken aback at the sight and said something like “Hey get out of the way, she needs a doctor.” When Mickey said he was a doctor, the woman looked at him incredulously and said: “You CAN’T be a doctor!” What a hoot!

Posted on

Memory submitted by Jack Senterfitt

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
Babysitting coop

Memory of Mickey
Here are some more random memories of Mickey:

Mickey the Mathematician: Before he decided to become a doctor, Mickey was a mathematician–and this knowledge and expertise never left him. When Jeremy was at Grady High School, I undertook the job of rebuilding the signboard by the entrance to the parking lot on 10th St. It was a Saturday afternoon and I had this long board on sawhorses in our driveway, trying to duplicate the curved arch that was on the top of the sign. Not being possessed of any king of artistic ability, I was struggling to make both ends of the curved arch appear at least somewhat symmetrical. About that time, Mickey and Sharon drove up to drop something off for Trisha and when I expressed my frustration to Mickey, he said: “Here, let me have your pencil and your ruler.” He proceeded to do some quick calculations and measurements, and came up with a formula to exactly copy one end to the other–voila, a perfect match!

Mickey the Artist: Lots of folks have posted about Mickey’s coloring, or making dolls, etc., but he was also quite a talented artist. I remember when Clint Deveaux was running for a judgeship in Fulton County, he did not have any yard signs. So Mickey got some signboard material and drew an incredible head shot of Deveaux, turned it into a yard sign and posted it in their front yard!

Posted on

Memory submitted by Jeff Gray

Where did you meet him?
1BOM

Memory of Mickey
Rest in Peace Dr. Nardo. Your life will serve as guidance to our son who is currently pursuing his medical education and eventual career in the field of psychiatry. Your obituary will be read by our son whom will learn about your concerns about various psychiatric drugs. Your life and experiences serve as guiding light for others that will follow in helping the mentally ill. Thanks to Dr. Allen Frances of Twitter for introducing us to Dr. Nardo.

Posted on

Memory submitted by Maureen Klesmer

Where did you meet him?
Atlanta

Memory of Mickey
Dr. Nardo was a good man, a brilliant psychiatrist, and someone who earned the respect of his vast network of colleagues, friends and others who knew him.

He made a difference in countless lives in countless ways, including mine. I will remember him with deep respect and a debt of gratitude.

I extend my deepest sympathies to Dr. Nardo’s family, friends, colleagues, and others who mourn his death. He has left behind a lasting legacy and may his memory be for a blessing.

Posted on

Memory submitted by Diane Wells

When did you meet Mickey?
2005

Where did you meet him?
Jasper, Georgia

Memory of Mickey
Reading all of the stories about Mickey makes me wish we had known him longer. “Don and I are so sorry for your loss.” Those words can’t begin to express the reality of how we feel, but they are the words we have. Mickey enriched our lives in many ways – mostly just by BEING Mickey but also by sharing his time and talents with us. He volunteered to “fix” the Mountain Steward’s web page, which turned into over a decade of “fixing” it. He introduced us to Bob Wells when he insisted that Bob come up and learn about the marker trees. That led to Mickey, Bob, Don and I traveling around Georgia, Arkansas, and Missouri filming those trees. Don and Bob would hike off into the wilderness and Mickey and I would wait by the car. Our conversations while waiting allowed me to began to see a bit of the amazing man everyone knew he was. Mountain Stewards would not be the Mountain Stewards of today without all of Mickey’s contributions.

The second story I want to share is short. Because of Mickey – who said to Don “Do not pass go! Go to the hospital now.” I still have a husband. I know Don was near death after 13 solid days and nights of horrible hiccups after he returned home from having his appendix removed. Mickey came up to the house (about a 14 mile trip), prescribed some medication, drove into town to pick it up and then drove back up the mountain to deliver it. It took several times and a couple of days before Mickey found the medication that worked. And, Mickey just kept driving up and down the mountain until Don quit hiccuping. (I should probably mention here that I had a broken leg and could not drive) Mickey’s concern, compassion, caring (and words that other have already used) were evident in our lives and, I believe, in the lives of everyone he met.

Goodnight Mickey, we shall remember you with love and miss you greatly.

Posted on

Memory submitted by Micah Lipscomb

When did you meet Mickey?
1975

Where did you meet him?
Morningside

Memory of Mickey
At my father’s memorial service, Mickey shared a deeply moving account about my father. I went back and listened to this to hear my dear friend Mickey’s voice. Mickey shared a story about something his mom taught him.

Mickey said: “I was about five and I was planning my life and telling her [Mickey’s mom] all these things I was going to be. And I asked her what she thought. And she said, ‘I think I just want you to be a kind person.’ I thought about that for about five years and then I went back and asked her what that meant. Because I thought she meant be good, and I couldn’t bring it off. She said, You know where you treat everyone like they’re the same kind you are, that’s what kind is.”

Mickey attributed this kindness to my father, but I think his mother was proud of Mickey because he too was a kind and good person. This trait of Mickey was best shown in his magic with children. He had a special gift to relate to children on their level and make them feel special. I think this was rooted in his profound empathy for others. He accepted who people were and could relate to them. When you were talking with Mickey, you knew he cared about you. I have warm memories of playing with Mickey as a child, and it was always a treat to bring my son to visit with Mickey. We often left his house with some toy that Mickey gave Owen. Mickey lived in the moment with others. What better thing can we ever do with one another?

Mickey was fun. At the annual Egg Roast our family hosted, an award was given out every year called “the Six Flags over Mickey award.” This was started after Mickey gave rides on the dirt road though our farm in his jeep. It was a rutted out muddy road and Mickey broke an axel on his jeep. Sure it was probably reckless, but damn it was fun to be a passenger as his jeep careened through the mud.

After my father passed away, I realized I never learned all my dad knew about bar-b-que. Despite sitting around the fire every year with my dad, Al, Mickey and others, there was a lot I didn’t know. I was thankful that Mickey could share some of his wisdom with me. He will always be on my mind whenever I bar-b-que. The most important thing I learned from Mickey is to be yourself. Mickey was unique and did not conform to other people’s expectations of him. I loved him for that.

Posted on

Memory submitted by Dan Joslyn

When did you meet Mickey?
1989

Where did you meet him?
At a party with Susan Shelton

Memory of Mickey
Mickey, when I met him, was a whirling-dervish as he was cooking for thirty at a party for analysts and their families. Always able to do several things at once, we talked for a while. A good listener with caring eyes, as I recall. Over the years, we talked about everything from the Civil War to Buddhism. But the thing I appreciate most is he told Susan 26 years ago that it was “Okay” to marry me. After I proposed she checked with Mickey. So without Mickey there would be no Susan in my life (smile). We have a collective love of Mickey that is a wonderful thing indeed… many bows Mickey for enlightening my life.

Dan Joslyn

Posted on

Memory submitted by Tim

When did you meet Mickey?
1983

Where did you meet him?
Atlanta, His office at GMHI

Memory of Mickey
There are few days that rest in my mind as perfect, but the one sailing with Mickey is one of them. I am one of those poor individuals who love sailing but have trouble with wind speed, wind direction, angle of the sail, which rope (line??) goes where. What my father used to call “common sense”. So it was with some anxiety that I set off with Mickey. Miracle of miracles, all the lines were color-coded, so instead of “haul up the mizzenmast, let go the poop line” it was “OK, pull on the red line, let go of the blue one. Duck and cross over to the other side” My first and only time enjoying sailing without it being spoiled by a cloud of worry over what I was supposed to do. Mickey could always put people at ease.

There are many ways I admired and loved him. Other memories come rolling back, but this is the one I remember the best.

Posted on

Memory submitted by R.K. Oliver

When did you meet Mickey?
2012

Where did you meet him?
Abby’s Place

Memory of Mickey
I only met Mickey two or three times when he was in town to visit Abby, but I heard a lot about him from her. From my experience, he was somewhat quiet, though I heard he was often outspoken. He was generous; I think he picked up the check for the whole table. It was clear that, while being his daughter was at times difficult, Abby really admired, respected, and loved him.

“I was sitting there, reading my bible…”

Posted on

Memory submitted by Mike T

When did you meet Mickey?
2011

Where did you meet him?
his blog

Memory of Mickey
One of my children had severe behavioral problems in grade school/ secondary school, and I had to deal with researching all the medicines they gave him or wanted to give him. (He is doing better now) Mickey’s blog was one of the shining lights of real science for those of use who are not steeped in biochemistry & medical data analysis, but can get by — and need more unbiased information to help the ones we love. I will miss Mickey.