Remembrances of Mickey, AKA 1 Boring Old Man, AKA Dad.
When did you meet Mickey?
1956
Where did you meet him?
McCallie School
Memory of Mickey
It's sad to "lose" a friend from my youth, but I'm a better person for having known him. We probably didn't agree about things much in later years, but we remained friendly. His perspective on things made me stop and think… that was very valuable to me.
When did you meet Mickey?
2014
Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey through Abby.
Memory of Mickey
I had heard so many stories about Mickey. When he and Sharon came over one Thanksgiving morning for brunch, it was as though they had visited our house a hundred times before. Mickey was thoroughly engaging with everyone in the house – one year he charmingly engaged Nora with coloring, a different year he had a wonderful conversation with my mom about the psychological burdens of deeply religious people. Our thanksgiving brunch with the Nardo family had become a special tradition, and I was so sad this past year when both my family and Mickey were too unwell to have our little celebration.
We will set a place for him this November.
When did you meet Mickey?
2011
Where did you meet him?
His blog
Memory of Mickey
In 2005 I was encouraged to resign from my research study coordinator position at UT Southwestern after I reported principal investigator Madhukar Trivedi for ethical misconduct. I was despondent and reached out to Bob Rubin, who introduced me to Barney Carroll. Bob Rubin and Barney Carroll were my lifelines through some difficult times. In 2011 Barney Carroll introduced me to Mickey Nardo. Mickey investigated my complaint and published his findings on his blog. His analysis of what I experienced in the world of academic clinical research helped me to recover and move on to a career in regulatory services.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey and his wife Sharon in Austin during the “TMAP trial” which involved Madhukar Trivedi and his mentor John Rush. Even though the drug company settled before Trivedi and Rush appeared in court, the trial brought attention to the questionable activities of academic researchers at UT Southwestern.
When did you meet Mickey?
2009
Where did you meet him?
I met Mickey in an art group here in Jasper
Memory of Mickey
I just enjoyed being around him! He had an easiness to him that made you relax and comfortable to be yourself around him!
When did you meet Mickey?
2006
Where did you meet him?
China Trip
Memory of Mickey
I was on the Great Wall of China. I saw a woman crumple down on the ground and ran over to see what was the matter. I thought maybe she was dehydrated so I gave her some water put cold cloth by her neck and fanned her with my fan. She revived. It turns out we were all on the same China trip group. That was how I met Sharon. Later on I saw her and she was with this guy and I walked over and the guy said “thanks for saving my wife.” That was Mickey.
Sharon and Mickey became our best friends on the trip. There were signs in the airport that said “no smorking”. My travel partner and Mickey would always get away to “smork”.
Having this lovely couple as friends on this trip and being like minds with us was great. So glad I got to hang out with this wonderful couple.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.