Category: Atlanta

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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 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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.