Nichols Golden Bison Newsletter Winter Spring 2023

GoldenBison

CARS ON THE HILL

Charles "Skip" Colton, Class of 1961

A very cold bitter January night, a student came back from a weekend at home. He was driving a brand new Chevrolet Corvette. Less than a mile from Nichols, he hit a tree. The new fiberglass Corvette disintegrated into hundreds of pieces leaving just the chassis, engine, and seats. We took out wastepaper baskets and picked up all the pieces. The next weekend he came back to campus with a new Corvette!

I do not remember the color of the Corvette, just it was so very cold. Most of the students' fathers owned big businesses and many were given a new car! I was not one of them, had to thumb a ride to Hartford, then the bus to home in Windsor. Back then there was no highway going past Nichols, just back roads with lots of trees that student cars would bump into after a night out! I remember a Saturday night the guys were very restless and wanted to get out and do something. There must have been 14 cars driving off campus going to an all-girls college.

As you might imagine, that many boys at an all-girls college caused a stir. Yes, the police intervened and took all of them to the station. The president, James Conrad, told all of them to pack up and be off campus within six hours. They did a lot of pleading. They were confined to campus until they graduated. No, I did not go; I had a big test Monday.

A student’s car in the parking lot of Daniels Hall had the high performance engine stolen during the night. It was not discovered until the next morning when he tried to start the car.

Charlie Howe, Class of 1962

Bob Sharp '63 had a Nissan Datsun which he would race on weekends. He was given a Nissan Dealership in Connecticut, and sometime later partnered with Paul Newman to form a racing team. The Maroon Jaguar owned by Henri David '64 was a bit of a novelty on the Hill. Henri also had a fondness for station wagons as time went on. As a matter of fact, my wife Kate did a painting of his car.

Lyle Fox’s Thunderbird & Bruce Collett’s yellow Corvette were novelties. Pete Whitney’s black VW was known to find its way home, on its own, from the Country Club Restaurant late at night. My two-door white Falcon didn’t exactly qualify for any extraordinary recognition. There are many good stories associated with other Cars on the Hill, but they will have to remain untold, or revisited by someone else. My lips are sealed!! Memory Lane.

Dan Tomassetti, Class of 1964

Reminiscing about the 1961 Chevy Convertible that traversed highways on trips to Green Mountain College. At the end of the day, three of us married Green Mountain gals!

Phil Collins, Class of 1966

Phil clearly remembers the hearse that Stephen Chernock ’66 and others had for transportation. They were featured in a national magazine when they attended the 1966 Indianapolis 500 wearing their famous top hats.

Roy Garizio, Class of 1967

At the time, some students had very nice cars. I remember Oldsmobile Cutlass 442s, Pontiac GTOs and several Corvettes. I recall Professor Guimond, director of guidance and testing, had a Corvette, and would often be seen driving around the campus with his dog in the car. I had a Daytona Blue 1964 Corvette with 327/365hp. I loved that car!

I kept it until the week before I left for Vietnam in 1968. I sold it to a friend for $2,000! Now I drive a BMW M3 which is a fantastic car, but I still think about my 1964 Corvette.

Dan Stewart, Class of 1969

It was Homecoming 1967, and she was a gorgeous light turquoise blue rag top, a brand-new top-of-the line dramatically beautiful 428 Ford Sunliner. Proudly, Carl Christensen '68 pulled up directly in front of the Grecian columns that marked the entrance of Merrill Hall. Carl and the Ford from his father’s dealership in Maine was now directly adjacent to the dorm for a “broadside” of mischievous, college behavior. I recollect articles of clothing and other detritus being launched from open second floor windows, Carl’s floor.

As Carl exited this dream ride, feeling the effect of the “love” being launched at him, he paused outside the entrance to Merrill Hall and looked back just in time to see the result of not using the emergency brake nor the “PARK” transmission feature. He parked his beautiful convertible on an incline. Needless to say, a proud smile quickly transformed into a look of horror as the blue beauty, in slow motion, rolled down the path leading directly to the brick corner of Smith Hall.

As the wrecker hooked up to the thoroughly smashed Sunliner, all of Carl’s friends on the second floor continued to pour out their love (and dirty underwear?) on a completely depressed Carl.

Jim Mulcunry, Class of 1970

In the fall of 1966, freshmen were not allowed to have cars on campus, legally. The first opportunity for our group was sophomore year.

John Wheeler '70 drove up that September of 1967 with a 1967 Ford Mustang GT coupe, which he drove through his senior year. It was dark green with a tan interior. It was great on dry payment, yet awful in rain and snow. In fact, when it snowed, he made extensive use of his girlfriend Jeannie’s (now wife of 52 years) Volkswagen Bug. The Mustang provided needed transportation to Becker College (his wife’s alma mater) and Boston.

Jeff Innis '70 attempted to drive his 1965 Ford Mustang to campus that same fall to meet his roommate John Wheeler but did not make it all the way. He recalls feeling excited to be able to have a car on campus. Unfortunately, he and his Mustang hit a tree racing to get the lower bunk at the dorm. The car wasn’t repaired until Thanksgiving. He recalls that being a tough phone call to his parents, informing them that he crashed 8 miles from campus.

Rich Merrill '70 drove his 1964 Chevy Impala to the campus in the fall of 1967. He bought it from his cousin over the summer. Rich ultimately traded in for another Chevy just before his senior year.

1959 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, photo credit to RD Classics.

John Wheeler's wife Jeannie and his 1967 Ford Mustang GT coupe.

Bob McIlvain, Class of 1970

I don't have a picture of my car from Nichols but she was a 1963 Oldsmobile Cutlass, complete with a 4 barrel carburetor and positraction! (If you remember those two you are dating yourself.) I got her my sophomore year. She ran well until my senior year when things started happening. Once, going back to “the U” on a Sunday night, she quit on me in the middle of the George Washington bridge! The engine quit but the lights stayed on. I took a shot and figured it was the ignition. I reached my hand under the key area and pulled. Evidently the plug had worked its way loose and I pulled it back in. She started back up and got me back to Smith Dorm.

The next major problem with the Ghost was overheating. The aluminum block did not age well and after it overheated and that became a regularity. I even carried 2 gallons of water with me for the trips home to Pennsylvania. By the time I graduated I knew the Ghost was on her last legs. I was going into the Navy that September and managed to nurse her through the summer. One day in August I noticed the carpet under my feet was wet. I pulled it back and was looking at the ground. She had rusted through. I left for the Navy leaving instructions to have her towed away. Like most of us, I had taken a battered, used car and made it survive my college years — always to be remembered.

Greg King, Class of 1973

This is the 1949 Oldsmobile that I drove 3 of my 4 years at Nichols. I still have this car, seen here with the Nichols sticker in the back window.

Fran Keefe, Class of 1973

I drove a ’63 Volkswagen Bug I bought in 1970 for $300. Freshmen at Nichols back then were not allowed to have cars on campus. The windshield wipers didn’t work, and the car had no heat which made it hard for my roommate and I to get to hockey practice or games in Worcester. My car also had a starter issue which forced me to park it on a hill so I could pop the clutch to get it started… a real piece of junk. I drove it from my sophomore year to my senior year graduation in 1973. That car could tell some stories. I bought the car when it was white… my dad painted it Nichols green with deck paint using a brush every summer. It was great on gas and terrific in the snow as the engine was in the rear. Gas in Dudley at that time got as low as 19 cents per gallon!!

The Nichols College chapter of the American Marketing Association is a full member of the national college division and professional chapters.

The major objective of the club is to afford its members a first-hand practical knowledge of industrial and consumer marketing in free world economies. This function is fulfilled through seminars, trade shows and lectures, all available to the member through the national Association.

This year, in conjunction with the Ford Motor Company, the Association tested a new 1971 Pinto automobile. All aspects of the car’s workmanship to style design were tested. The club was on a special grant by Ford to do so and the conclusions of the club would be used, along with those of other college clubs, to improve the Pinto."

Text from copy of original photo from The Ledger, 1971.

"front: J. Zeeman, A. Baer, P. Harlamon, D. Phillips, W. Bassett, C. Mulcunry back: D. Basile, J. Palazzo, F. Noonan, W. Maher, R. Coleman, J. Zacks

SHADOW HAWK –SUPER TERRAIN VEHICLES

Part Sports Car, Part Race Truck, Part Fighter Jet

Late in 2000, in the throes of 2008’s financial upheaval, Dan Stewart ’69 took a job as chief marketing officer (CMO) of the Shadow Hawk Division of James Engineering in Brookfield, Colorado. The “division” consisted of James “Jim” Richards, president and chief engineer, and his son Scott, vice president of engineering. Jim was a car guy and old hot-rodder and engineering genius. Jim really stepped up his game as reflected in his vision of the world’s first Super Terrain Vehicle (STV) — the Shadow Hawk.

Shadow Hawk had outrageous capabilities, at least in Jim’s specifications and expectations. Thinking outside the box generated novel engineering solutions that drove the projected performance: top speed at 150 + mph, novel fossil fuel engines with exceptional mileage, and alien-monster-like ability to climb walls. It soon became apparent that the lack of any prototype was a severe handicap. More than that, a fatal condition.

As a mere division of James Engineering, Shadow Hawk had no separate funding. Vehicle prices ranged from $1 million to $3 million which was a tough sell with no example to even touch. James Engineering saw manufacturing orders shrink to dangerous levels. This, plus the suffering from the economic disaster of 2008, meant there were no funds for a prototype. Even though he was CMO, Dan was also tasked with securing funding and investors. “When you get one to drive, let me know,” was the typical objection, often followed by, “We will consider investing once we see a prototype.” They needed the funding to build the prototype. And so, it went. Recognizing that he had to take a different approach, Dan put together a plan for added exposure and distribution. It also became apparent that he needed a little bit of thinking outside the box.

A highlight of his tenure was a trip to Hollywood to do a commercial for the United States Army. Dan recalls after Jim Richards finished up a full-sized wood mockup, they loaded it up pre-dawn and set out to Tinseltown, a straight through effort. The video was done in a huge sound studio. “The inside looks at how Hollywood does it was a treat making the whole effort worthwhile.” says Dan.

To be continued in the next Golden Bison Bulletin.

Marriage and friendships lead MacNair to honor wife’s memory with a new scholarship

In October, L. Donald (Duke) MacNair ’66 established an endowed scholarship in honor of his wife who passed away in June 2022. The Gayle Slater MacNair Endowed Scholarship, which will support a female student majoring in finance, is not only memorable, says Duke, “but earned on my wife’s behalf and her love for Nichols and our friends.” He reflects on his life at and after Nichols and his marriage, which he describes as a “Nichols-inspired event.”

I was born in the Bronx and lived in New Jersey where I learned of Nichols from Jerry O’Connor, owner of a family supermarket in our hometown of Berkeley Heights and a graduate of Nichols when it was a junior college. He was aware of my sorted (nothing illegal) academic background, but he also had faith that I would find success in sales and believed Nichols was the answer if I was to continue my education. Fast forward to one big hiccup; I forgot to take finals one semester and my GPA of 0.20 earned a good-bye, Duke. But, like all the great ones, I reapplied and was awarded the comeback of the year, earning honors! It was without question the right path to take.

Upon returning home, I worked in the electronics industry. After being vice president of sales at TDK Corporation for five years, I assumed a similar position for a small offshoot of Pioneer Electronics because an office opened only miles from my home. Five years later I joined the mother company. I retired 30 years later as sales director.

Gayle was an accomplished artist. We enjoyed many trips to Paris and Florence, as well as many extended visits around Europe and the United States. During our later years, we entered the world of cruising which took us through Alaska, parts of Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, Spain, Sicily, Croatia and many Western islands.

The third Saturday in September 1965, my wonderful friend Phil Collins ’66 joined me at a local watering hole and announced he had met my perfect mate while on a recent road trip to Green Mountain College. The next day, I was introduced, met Gayle Slater and off we went to Bernardo’s Tap Room, a local bar/restaurant. The owner’s son, Joe, also went to Nichols. That was the start of a relationship that flourished, and I soon realized it was a serious bond which resulted in engagement and marriage upon my return from Vietnam in 1968.

Upon graduation I was drafted and spent two years with Uncle Sam, one of which was in the sunny, warm, humid jungles of Vietnam. On our floor at Budleigh in our senior year, we had a commander of SEAL Team Two and two Vietnam tours, an aviator with mission upon mission in his F4 over Vietnam. Add to that two Marines, five Navy men, five Army guys, and one Secret Service agent who was killed in the line of duty. That makes 15 Nichols fellows on one dorm floor. John Jablonski ’66 earned the Distinguished Service Medal, a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. John had a reserved space in Webster at the town cemetery. Maybe drop by, send flowers, or contribute in John’s name; it will make you feel good. John was killed in action on a reconnaissance mission on 8 August 1968 at 14:30 hours. On 8 August 1968 at 15:00 hours, Sgt. Duke MacNair boarded a plane leaving Vietnam on the way back to the world.

Without question, we were very fortunate to have met each other and be together. And while no trip is perfect, ours was indeed a full trip. Our son J.D. graduated from Pfeiffer University and has offices with Re-Max in the Charleston area. His wife is a nurse at Medical University of South Carolina. My grandson Houston graduated from The Citadel and spent a year at the London School of Business. He will be married in May.

I would be remiss if I did not mention a few Nichols items that have always held a position in my mind. At the top of my list are the friendships that I truly enjoyed then and even more so now. This includes the unique friendships enjoyed by the wives of our Nichols group. It is exceptional to think that many of our classmates also enjoyed long unions (ours was almost 55 years), and in many cases with greater longevity than we had shared.

Be proud of your association with Nichols, be proud of your efforts, take good care of yourself and fulfill your obligation in taking/sharing care of

your family.

Donald ‘Duke’ MacNair and his MacNair, pictured here with his wife, Gayle.

GOLDEN BISON UPDATES

1957

Class Champion: Kent Tarrant

413-566-5130

kent100@charter.net

Nichols was a different place than today when we first showed up on the Hill in the fall of 1955. The Korean War had recently ended, the government GI Bill for a paid college education was just kicking in and Conrad Hall was the new building on campus. Nichols was a junior college then and the all-male student body was comprised of many veterans along with a significant number of Cuban students as the revolution had not begun. We didn’t know it was at the time, but 1957 was to mark the end of Nichols as a two-year school. For many of us, two years of college would be enough while others were to go on to four-year schools.

A special camaraderie developed in our two short years. Our 50th reunion in 2007 presented an opportunity for us to get together and give back by funding an endowment for scholarships to a student(s) already there. Over the years, our class was never noted as big financial supporters of the college, but the scholarship endeavor would give us the chance to shine, and shine we did.

We are proud to report a total of 28 scholarships awarded and a running balance of $118,720.42. The endowment is designed to last our class’s lifetime...long live the Class of ’57.

1962

Class Champion: Charlie Howe charleskatehowe@gmail.com

After shuffling back and forth from New Jersey to Florida for the past 25 years, we decided to sell our Florida home and stay permanently in Surf City, Long Beach Island. We are looking forward to the winter months, and hopefully do a getaway in February. To our friends and former classmates, Kate & I wish you health and happiness in the year ahead. And as a reminder, to support your favorite Nichols Fund is still important even after 60 years. BISON PRIDE

1964

Class Champion: Dan Tomassetti 413-567-0085 papa.wadur@gmail.com

1965

Class Champion: Rick Blankley

610-430-1483

tango12rick@aol.com

Great to hear from Phil Fuller. Phil graduated from the Forestry Program in 1963, immediately transferred to the Business School, graduating with us in 1965. Soon after graduation, he joined the Navy, and successfully completed officer training. It had been a lifelong ambition to become a pilot; he successfully completed pilot training. Phil remained in the Navy for eight years obtaining the rank of Lt. Commander. Along the way, Phil married his wife, Sue and parented two daughters.

Phil then decided to put his Nichols business degree to work and became a successful manufacturing representative, as in that

Donn Bleau ’72 and his wife Shari enjoyed a Danube River cruise. Pictured is their time in Budapest. They spent over 3 weeks touring several European countries.

Mark Alexander ’72 enjoys driving and showing his Triumph. In college he had a ’68 TR250. These days it’s his restored ’61 TR3A. He always wears his Nichols hat!

GOLDEN BISON UPDATES

capacity he only had two people to report to, himself and his wife. He and Sue are now retired, and home is in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He further states during his Navy and business career he has had residence in six states. He and Sue have been married for 56 years and they have three grandchildren.

He has very pleasant memories during his years at Nichols. He was a proctor at Conant for two years. He recalls replacing Mike Gilroy ’64 on his dry-cleaning route his senior year and knew who the “clothes horse” students were. He and his buddies spent many weekends on “Lake Chug” and became friends with many of the locals. Phil states he is blessed as a result of family, his business and Naval career, and his time at Nichols. Again, what a pleasure to hear from Phil.

During Homecoming 2022, we had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy lunch with our current Class of 1965 Scholarship recipient, Megan Brown. Also with us at lunch at the Lombard Dining Hall were my wife Mary Ellen, Bill Pieczynski, VP for advancement, Susan Veshi, associate VP for advancement, and Brent Broszeit, assistant VP of development. Meg is a senior at Nichols, majoring in corporate finance, with a minor in economics. Meg recently married her husband, Pete, an Army PFC currently stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Meg is in the National Guard, also a PFC. Her hometown is North Brookfield, Massachusetts.

Our class could not have had a more talented recipient; she is a leading student in her class.

Although her husband is far away, she looks forward to the day they will be reunited. Meg is more than well on her way to graduation this coming May. With a brilliant academic position at Nichols, her vibrant personality, obvious intelligence, and an astute busness maturity well beyond her years, she is more than prepared for success. Meg’s future business target is in cybersecurity, hopefully in Washington. A current phase heard on campus is “Nichols is on the move!” Megan is a prime example! College President Glenn Sulmasy presided over the President’s Society Dinner in October, honoring Dave Lombard ’65 and his lovely wife Susan. The dinner venue was the new, and very impressive Lombard Dining Hall. The building is truly remarkable, spacious, sensibly appointed, and gorgeous! A far cry from our days on the Hill. Most importantly, the food is more than just good.

The evening was devoted to Dave and Susan with a re-dedication of the facility. Dave spoke from the heart. Dave and Susan (a Colby graduate) have done so much for Nichols. They have donated time and treasure to our alma mater. We, the Class of 1965, are so fortunate to have had Dave as a classmate. Without question, where would Nichols be if without Dave Lombard? Dave is a devout, true son of Nichols!

Until next time, again, thanks for the memories!

1966

Class Champion: Phil Collins 703-627-9924 pecollins10@aol.com

1969

Class Champion: Robert "Kuppy" Kuppenheimer 4627 Tremont Lane Corona del Mar, CA 92625-3130 rkuppy@gmail.com

1970

Class Champion: Jim Mulcunry mulcunryjl@charter.net

1972

Class Champion: Mark Alexander mark1alex12@gmail.com

1973

Class Champion: Jay Reese wjayreese@gmail.com

Mark Alexander ’72 and Norm Edelson ’71 catching up.

CLASS OF 1972 50TH REUNION

UPCOMING EVENTS

44th Annual Alumni Golf Tournament

Dudley Hill Golf Club at Nichols College

Dudley, Massachusetts

July 22, 2023

Homecoming Weekend

September 29-30, 2023

UPCOMING ISSUES OF THE GOLDEN BISON

Do you a have a story to share that involves the Nichols College Fire Department?

Do you have an idea for a feature story in an upcoming Golden Bison Bulletin?

Send your thoughts to Chrissy Manzi ’ 92, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement Chrissy.Manzi@nichols.edu

Have you retired but have since picked up a new and interesting career? We'd love to hear your story.

Contact Susan Veshi, Associate Vice President for Advancement, at 508-213-2227 or susan.veshi@nichols.edu for a chance to be featured in the Nichols College magazine.

Attendees included Brian Bigelow, Paul Gauvin, John Davis, Larry Ford, John McClutchy, Ed Donahue, John Hill, Henry Wainer, Mark Alexander, Mark Love, Ed Glasgow, Jeff Berselli, Kent Wahlberg, Jack Zacks, Donn Bleau, and President Glenn Sulmasy. Some classmates are pictured here presenting a check in the amount of $100,000 for the Class of 1972 Scholarship Fund.