GOLDENBISON BULLETIN
A newsletter for Nichols College alumni of the past 50 years or more
CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
SWEET EMOTION
Todd Randall ’74
September 28, 1973, Aerosmith performed at Nichols. They had already released their first hit song “Dream On.” I believe they were paid $2,000.00 for the show. I recall them arriving in three white vans and unloaded all their equipment by themselves. Quite the night! I was the dorm director in Underhill and ran the Nichols College Social Club (aka the bar under the auditorium). We normally charged 25 cents for a 12-ounce beer. Happy hour was on Thursdays, and it was 10 cents! The attendance in classes on Friday was horrible so happy hour was soon discontinued. Students were upset but Dean Quinn was thrilled.
Ed Franko ’74
I recall the band was involved in an accident on the way to Nichols and had to use some of the equipment from storage. It was a great night. I sat in the front row... maybe why I have a hearing problem now.
THE SECRET IS OUT
Dan Stewart ’69
It was a secret for 55 years! It is now time to acknowledge what Bob Kuppenheimer ’69 (Kuppy) did to bring fun and joy to the big weekends on the Hill.
As class o cers, Kuppy and I were dedicated to successfully bringing top entertainment to the Hill…and to make it a ordable for cheap college students.
The back story: Each class received funds for various social weekends. Problem: The budget never supplied enough to get the top-notch entertainment that we wanted. Solution: Get more money. Robbing a bank was never considered, well at least not for
more than an hour or two. Baking cookies, selling candy, running poker games - no, no, no. It was then, after many more agonizing meetings (all at night in Merrill Hall with Kuppy wearing his now famous plaid robe), that a daring plan was hatched one night in the wee hours of the morning. Kuppy was going to get the money…how? Kuppy had planned to approach a Nichols trustee (who shall remain nameless) who he had caddied for and ask for money! Can you imagine your college-aged caddy hitting you up for five grand so they could have fun? Yikes!
The thought of both of us getting kicked out of school was never a worry. However, it was a concern that Kuppy could earn exile for his daring plan. Did that stop him? Nah! The date was set for the critical approach.
It was tense waiting for Kuppy to return with the results. I mean we were hoping he would
return and not get thrown into some kind of prison for bold college kids. It was well after Bruce made his rounds with “sandwiches and milk” by the time he returned to Merrill. $5000!! Yes-sir! We would have chest bumped but it hadn’t been invented yet. The check hit our account right before Dr. Cross sent a message: “send Bob Kuppenheimer to my o ce.” Uh oh.
Here’s the part that never came out until now: Kuppy got his a*s chewed out! Could’ve fooled me! Did fool me! He has been ‘Cool Hand Luke’ for decades. It was only after I ran by this submission that I learned that Dr. Cross read him the riot act. Apparently, Nichols was planning to solicit a sizable donation from the same trustee. Oops. But I remember Kuppy was smooth as a cruise on Webster Lake. He never said a peep.
The rest is, as they say, history. Kuppy stayed out of trouble. He didn’t even get sentenced to go see Bea in the infirmary… which would have been enough to get out of town immediately. And I’m sure Dr. Cross knew then that Kuppy was going to be a superstar.
We did get to bring top notch entertainment to the Hill. I don’t know if Nichols ever received the contribution from our nameless benefactor.
Rick Sweet ’70
The 60’s were a di erent time. Nichols College of Business Administration was an all-male campus. The Vietnam War was about to boil over. There was a televised national draft for all males. People thought di erently, acted di erently, sometimes good, sometimes hilariously foolish.
Continued on page 2
Dudley, MA 01571
123 Center Road
Ed Franko ’74 has the original admat from Aerosmith’s concert framed in his house.
No women on campus let you dress di erently, act di erently with one another and with our professors. Nichols was a great school of business education and let’s not forget the forestry students. Nichols is great today - just di erent.
I do not remember a drama club back in the late 60’s. There was enough drama, but mostly comedy, created by the students themselves to go around. I do remember some of the memorable concerts on campus. All happened on the major campus weekends: Fall Weekend, Winter Weekend and Spring Weekend.
Women were for the most part not seen on campus. Although a stray one of two would come through just to check the place out. Girls were not allowed in your room.
So, what concerts do I remember? There was the Isley Brothers, Kenny Rogers and the First Addition, his early group, and Jay and the Americans. Lead singer Jay Black was still young enough to hit those prolonged high notes he was famous for. We all enjoyed him singing “Cara Mia.” Do yourself a favor and listen to it. They introduced one of his group members as having attended Nichols for a while. We applauded, but I don’t think many truly believed the story. After he had performed, Kenny Rogers spent time downstairs in the student bar talking with us. What a great memory.
What was the best and most memorable group to perform for us during that time? That is an easy question to answer.
If you saw the movie Animal House with John Belushi and the men of Delta House, you saw a microcosm of the Nichols personalities. Although we didn’t have Greek life, we did have dorm life, and it was loaded with its own set of characters. When the movie came out after my graduation in 1970 my wife and I were flabbergasted at the similarities to life as we knew it on the Hill.
When the movie showed the Delta House toga party band, we nearly fell out of our seats laughing. Delta House had Otis Day and the Nights. Nichols had Lonnie Youngblood and the Blood Brothers. A near copy of the movie group. We did not get on the floor and ‘gator,’ but we did the rest of the moves to “You Make Me Want to Shout.”
Lonnie and his group made multiple appearances at Nichols during the big weekends. Yes, there were more recognized groups that appeared on campus, but the genuine entertainment was when Lonnie Youngblood and the Blood Brothers would perform, and we would dance until we could not dance any more. They were the greatest entertainment group of all.
THE SQUIRT GUN
Don MacQuarrie ’69
You may recall, we had Junior Walker and the All Stars play in the Field House for, I believe, Winter Weekend, sometime in February 1969. We really enjoyed his music and the heavy saxophone numbers.
Suddenly, we notice Junior walk o the stage holding his hand over his face. I was Justinian president (student government in those years). The Justinian council oversaw spending for all student activities. I felt obligated to find out what happened. Walking backstage I found and questioned Junior about what prompted him to abruptly leave in the middle of his concert. He told me someone in the audience was shooting him with a squirt gun! Junior was really upset and threatened to stop the performance. I had a suspicion who it may be and went back out to the audience area. After checking around we found the o ending party. I crushed the plastic gun above his head. I can remember water falling on his finely coi ed hair. We assured Junior it should be fine for the rest of the evening. He graciously returned to the stage and completed the concert. He was rest assured that no further liquids would be flying his way. Junior was the consummate professional! Every time I hear one of his tunes on an oldies station, I additionally think of a squirt gun. If you are wondering, the o ender was not one of our ’69 classmates!
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VAN-DELS
A compilation of notes from Hunt Coracci ’67
The Van-dels was a band formed in the spring of 1964 consisting of Nichols College students. The 5-piece outfit included original band members Bob Howe ’67 as lead singer, Hunt Coracci ’67 on drums, Ray Munn ’66 on guitar, Chuck Piazza ’67 on piano and vocals, and Ed (Curley) Hryzan ’65 on bass. In the fall of 1964, Curley needed to drop out so Rick Britton ’67 was added on guitar and Munn moved to bass. In the fall of 1965, Jay Robinson ’69 rounded out the now 6-piece outfit on guitar.
The group performed mostly at (other) college dances, or mixers as they were called in those days and a few fraternity parties (several at UCONN). The song list included many popular tunes which they adapted to match their own arrangement style. They were considered and American rock n’ roll band rooted in the 50’s era.
The Isley Brothers 1968
The Happening 1968
JR Walker & The All-Stars 1968
Ben E. King 1969
Jay and the Americans 1969
Lonnie Youngblood 1969
It all started in Bazzie’s. Hunt recalls that he and Bob walked into the student union one winter day and saw Chuck at the old piano playing the standard C5 chord progression. Bob immediately sat down and started harmonizing and the trio instantly realized the foundation of band had formed. It took a while to come together. In the spring of 1964, Ray and Hunt had been playing in a jazz/ dance band with Mike Brophy ’66, who was very talented on the keyboard. It wasn’t until a few months later that the original 5-piece came to be. The name Van-del was not their title at first. Sometime later, the group met Nancy (last name pronounced vandell), a charming female student that booked bands for Anna Maria College. She left such an impression on Chuck, that he suggested the band’s new name.
Then-football coach Mike Vendetti enjoyed music and therefore allowed them to store their instruments and gear in the basement of the auditorium. It took all of three cars to transport the equipment o -campus to perform. A highlight for the group was opening for The Shirelles at Wheaton College in 1965.
Their first paying job was at Mercy High School in Portland, Connecticut where they played several times over the years. In the early days, they also could be found at the Rol-a-Drome in downtown Webster. The only place that paid the group with a check at the end of the month was Endicott College. All other ‘gigs’ presented cash at the end of the night. An average job brought in $125 per performance, which they split evenly.
In the spring of 1966, the group recorded a 45rpm record at a studio in Worcester at a rate of $35 an hour. Out of the two hundred song list, they selected “The Lonely Sea” by The Beach
Boys because it was a great slow-dance song and very popular at the time, and “Shop Around” by Smoky Robinson and the Miracles. Chuck was a big fan of Smoky. Five hundred copies were produced and were either sold or given to family and friends. Hunt still has his original and had recently seen one on eBay!
As time passed, bandmates Joe Price ’67 (fall 1964) and Tom Ellis ’68 (fall of 1966) became o cial members. Hunt left the band after Christmas in 1966. By June of 1967, the Van-dels were no more. The band left a great impression on the Nichols community even though they ironically didn’t perform on campus.
As recent as the fall of 2023, a friend of the Bison group was able to resurrect the Van-del sound through his part-time gig at the WRTC radio station at Trinity College, near Hartford, Connecticut. So, the next time you hear “Shop Around” on the radio, stay tuned to learn the artist.
Tom O’Brien ’70 recalls playing the notable Oscar Madison in the Drama Club’s production of The Odd Couple in the spring of 1969. Nick Stiassni played Felix Unger.
Picture shows members of the Drama Club from the 1969 yearbook.
Hunt Coracci seen here at his home in Vancouver, Washington, with his 1967 Gibson Hummingbird guitar.
The Shirells 1969
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition 1970
Sha Na Na 1971
Rita Coolidge 1972
Aerosmith 1973
Bandmates from left to right: Chuck Piazza, Rick Britton, Hunt Coracci, Bob Howe and Ray Munn.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Ed Cohen ’68: Talking about the world of business
Ed Cohen ’68 says he can draw a straight line from Nichols College through his 45-plus-year successful career in marketing and public relations to his current role hosting a global TV talk show. From parsing case studies in classes with Professor Ernie Phelps to getting his first taste of publishing by writing for The Bison newspaper, Cohen asserts, “Nichols proved to be the foundation, the ticket to ride.”
The ride has had some twists and turns along the way. Still unsure about what he wanted to do after graduation, Cohen donned “a blue suit, white shirt and tie,” and sold municipal bonds. He worked for a chain of movie theaters, recommending to the owner which films to run. (He recalls having to convince the owner to run the movie “Woodstock,” which became the unlikely hit of the year and earned Cohen a promotion.)
He ultimately discovered his calling in creating and producing content that connects business professionals around the world. In the 1970s, he founded both Comarketing Partners, a public relations agency; and GlobalBusinessnews.net, a media company that publishes and presents news and information on a range of topics, predominantly in employee acquisition, development, and relocation.
To his clients, Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, Cohen provides “access and introductions,” helping HR departments that manage the technical and logistical aspects of relocating employees, which can include travel, housing, family, financial, and legal matters. For 30 years, he did that by orchestrating live conferences and workshops in places like New York City and London. Then Covid happened.
The last two meetings he produced in 2020 were on February 25 in New York and on February 27 in DC. “On March 1, poof, no more meetings. The business was shut down,” he says. “It was crazy and actually fearful.”
Drawing on his media experience of producing a radio talk show on which he shares global business insights through interviews with authors, business leaders, and innovators, Cohen pivoted to TV, using the Zoom and YouTube platforms, to continue to serve his clients.
“I needed to re-invent, reskill and upskill myself,” says Cohen. “I looked at old TV news shows like Huntley and Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters and how they talked to the audience, how to look at that little green [camera] light and not at something else…It took a lot of practice and a lot of trial and error.”
He sought the advice of his guests, many of whom are business coaches and public speakers, and learned the best way to engage an audience is to keep the tone and the gestures conversational, not scripted. In short order, he made the transition.
Now, with 900 broadcasts under his belt, Cohen has built an extensive network, often using the LinkedIn platform to connect.
He produces three shows a week, sometimes four, five or six, but that’s the breaking point, he says, because of the amount of preparation that is required for each show: “The secret sauce is preparation.”
He shows no signs of slowing down. And retirement? “I don’t have the time,” he quips. He is excited about upcoming projects that include a show featuring relocation experts from countries such as South Korea, China, Japan, and the Philippines that will help extend his Asia Pacific reach and a return to New York City to produce a live conference focused on psychological safety in the workplace for the London multinational bank, HSBC.
Despite the demands of his busy schedule, Cohen recently volunteered to serve as the 1968 class champion for Nichols. Beyond his experience in class and on The Bison, Nichols represented the countryside to this Brookline native. “I was blessed that Nichols took me in because I needed a place to nest and grow up a little, or a lot,” he says. Nichols was a “safe haven,” particularly against the backdrop of the tumultuous Vietnam War when conflict also raged at home on many college campuses. “Young people getting killed, violent protests…Nichols didn’t have any of that, thankfully, and it was like freedom,” he states. As class champion, Cohen aims to encourage personal “storytelling” to inform and reconnect and establish a communication channel across generations.
(See page 5 for more of his story.)
CLASS OF ’65 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Rick Blankley ’65
Justin Laporte ’26, seen here in a promotional photo for his first professional boxing match.
One of the true pleasantries of my position as Class Scribe (or “Champion” as the alumni & advancement o ce likes to call us) is the honor of meeting and writing about our current class scholarship recipient. The folks in the alumni & advancement o ce arrange lunch on the Friday of homecoming weekend in Lombard Dining Hall, or should I say ‘facility’ as it is a far cry from our former dining hall. This year’s recipient is Justin Laporte ’26, a day student from Millbury, Massachusetts, who currently resides in Worcester. He is a sophomore finance major with a minor in artificial intelligence. Justin is a United States Marine Corps veteran and therefore appears both physically and mentally mature when compared to the typical sophomore student. What really knocked me out (not a pun) is that Justin is a professional middleweight boxer! This past August, he won his first professional fight in Worcester – a first round TKO – sending his opponent to the canvas twice prior to the referee stopping the fight. Wow! Through all this, Justin maintains a 3.70 GPA.
I believe it is safe to say that Justin is the first Nichols pugilist. Afternoons are normally spending training at the gym in Worcester. He never allows his boxing to interfere with his academic pursuit. His is a scholar and a gentleman. Eventually, Justin desires a career in real estate. If his athletic career is successful, it may result in him holding real estate, not so much as an executive in the field. Justin is academically impressive, and well-versed. I believe he was a wise choice as the recipient, and I encourage you to support our class of 1965 class scholarship so more deserving young people have a chance at success.
At lunch, my wife Ellen and I were joined by a delightful group of both faculty and sta members, including Len Harmon, assistant professor of marketing, and Susan Veshi and Brent Broszeit, both from the advancement o ce.
Ed Cohen ’68 seen here promoting his global talk show.
GOLDEN BISON NOTES AND UPDATES
1957
Class Champion: Kent Tarrant
413-566-5130
tarrantkent@gmail.com
1962
Class Champion: Charlie Howe
609-494-5450
charleskatehowe@gmail.com
A humble note of apology to my classmates, for not keeping you up to date on class news. A lot has happened during the past year, and thanks to the alumni o ce, you have been kept well informed as to what is happening on the Hill. Nichols continues to grow and succeed due in part to an outstanding board of trustees, and the continuing presence and dedication of sta and administrators. Congratulations to newly appointed president Bill Pieczynski as the new president as well as the promotion of Susan Veshi to vice president for advancement. They are the heart and soul of the Nichols family.
Let’s move on. Thanks to all of you who have continued to donate to the various funds and activities. For those of you who may not have known we lost my roommate Peter S. Whitney last year. I was fortunate to talk with him in the hospital about two weeks before he died, and we had one hell of a conversation going down memory lane. Thanks to Pete Judd for representing his Nichols family at the celebration of life. Paul Zimmerman, hosted about a dozen Nichols folks in New Hampshire in September, including Cal Hills. Rene Langevin was welcomed as a special guest at the Football Champions Reunion held at the first home game of the season. My wife Kate & I sold our house in Florida a little over a year ago and are living full-time in Surf City, New Jersey. I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you.
Charlie
1964
Class Champion: Dan Tomassetti 413-567-0085 papa.wadur@gmail.com
Dr. Sanford (Sandy) Barth recently retired from his final position as a professor of Health Care Financing at Je erson University and Medical College in Philadelphia. He had written two volumes; one a book on the History of Health Care in the USA, and another that is more of a manual on Continuous Process Improvement in Health Care. His attributes his career to Nichols teaching him how to achieve academically as he progressed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, a Master of Science in Finance and Health Care Administration, and a Doctorate Degree in Heath Policy.
Sandy and his wife, Sandra, recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary
Ed Mazzetta reports that his grandson is enjoying his freshman year on the Hill. Ed is seen here with his grandson Max Smith ’28 and daughter Karen (Mazzetta) Smith ’89.
1965
Class Champion: Rick Blankley 610-430-1483 tango12rick@aol.com
Hey ’65er’s! I would love to hear from you! A sobering thought – United States white male life expectancy in 2021 was approximately 77.0 years. Thus, many of us are living on borrowed time! So please let me hear from you. Until next time, as always.... thanks for the memories!
1966
Class Champion: Phil Collins 703-627-9924 pecollins10@aol.com
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of setting a course record at the Dudley Hill Golf Course, Phil Collins hosted his own contest at the 45th annual alumni golf tournament in July. Phil challenged himself and took drives from the par 3 at the third hole for all 18 foursomes. The group that preceded his best shot received a handsome supply of Titleist golf balls. Phil had some help from classmate and friend Henry St. Cyr who accompanied him for the day.
1967
Class champion needed!
Please contact Chrissy Manzi at chrissy.manzi@nichols.edu or 508-213-2218 if interested.
Mark Scolnick and his wife Irma are very involved in Rotary. They have led three mission trips to Honduras where they build a house, paint schools, install latrines and water filter systems. They recently went to Ghana to review possible projects for our Rotarians. Mini reunion in Oro Valley, AZ with Bill
1968
New! Class Champion: Ed Cohen 619-787-3100 publisher@globalbusiness.media
Soon after graduation, in Boston, I joined the U.S. Army Reserve within a specialized medical unit - thoracic surgical. It was a fouryear obligation. After six months of basic training, I was taught how to be an operation room technician. The doctors that guided me were surgeons, recently graduated from the Harvard Medical School, and were based at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Children’s Hospital. The commanding general of the medical division was also a surgeon, also based at the same hospitals. The unit worked at various US-based hospitals, including Boston and Washington. This experience changed my life.
Dan Tomassetti and Henri David watched the football game together from the Bison Suite during homecoming weekend. These classmates celebrated their 60th reunion!
Shaughnessy ’69, Sam Bailey ’67, Jim Jackson ’69 and Hunt Coracci ’67.
GOLDEN BISON NOTES AND UPDATES
Years later, on Memorial Day, I was in Washington and took time to intentionally “walk the Vietnam Wall.” I walked the wall looking at the many names and recognized a Nichols classmate as I recall as Ronhe had a Corvette and he and I went for some fast rides down through the rural backroads of campus.
Ed and Jo Ann, his life partner of 28 years. Frederick (Dana) Tschirch became a Navy lieutenant helicopter pilot from 1968 to 1972. He worked at Jewel Case Corporation for 1973 to 1986. He started his own business making jewelry packaging as Dana Manufacturing in Providence, Rhode Island which closed in 1997 after most of the industry went overseas to southeast Asia. He worked at the Boston University Corporate Education Center for computer and software training and pasted his last exam for an MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) and after 3 years, he and his wife moved to Huntington, New York on Long Island. He worked for the town of Huntington for 11 years as the Network and Systems Coordinator/Administrator. Dana retired in August of 2012.
Je Gould and wife Laurie recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Je Gould shared: Most of my career was spent in various business development roles culminating in China for years in a joint venture with the Chinese central government having had our signing ceremony in the Great Hall of the People. It was an incredible business and cultural experience that I was able to share with Nichols students last spring. My wife Laurie and I just celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary which all began as a married student my senior year at Nichols living in Durkey’s apartment at the edge of the campus. Just great memories which prompted me to grow up and get serious about our future. We have 3 kids, 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren
which is such a blessing as our family is so close. I am proud to be part of a threegenerational Bison family. My father Phil (Gould) ’42 and oldest daughter Sally (Riggio) ’94 are both Nichols graduates. I commemorated this accomplishment in 2006 with the Gould Generational Scholarship Fund. I am very proud of our college and extend my sincerest gratitude to all that support the Nichols Community.
1969
Class Champion: Robert “Kuppy” Kuppenheimer 4627 Tremont Lane
Corona del Mar, CA 92625 rkuppy@gmail.com
Classmates Bill Shaughnessy, Rick Whitman, Tom Hall, Lee McNelly, Rob
Kuppenheimer, Don MacQuarrie, and Alex Gottfried celebrated their 55th class reunion during homecoming weekend. They are seen here attending the Athletics Hall of Fame Brunch.
1970
Class Champion: Jim Mulcunry mulcunryjl@charter.net
Burt Corkum and Tom O’Brien celebrated their 78th birthdays in July with friends at The Kittansett Club in Marion, MA. Left to right: Mike Esposito (honorary Bison), Linda Tucker, George Tucker, Kate Corkum, Goldee O’Brien, Burt Corkum, Gerry Peña, Tim Danahy ’71, Cynthia Esposito (honorary Bison), Tom O’Brien.
1971
New! Class Champion: Don Allison donallison@comcast.net
Reach out to Don and share what’s new!
1972
Class Champion: Mark Alexander mark1alex12@gmail.com
Bob Winslow shares that he and his wife Liz recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have two sons and six grandchildren. Bob had a long career teaching at the high school level in Belfast, Maine. In addition to teaching, Bob coached the swim team and is still active in the program.
Paul Gauvin and wife Patti recently went to Germany for their son Bryan’s wedding and enjoyed an authentic German Oktoberfest in Munich. The entire family then traveled to Venice, Italy for vacation.
Donn Bleau toured Scotland over the summer, pictured here on the Swilcan Bridge at the Old Course, considered the oldest and most iconic golf course in the world.
Mark Alexander was recently elected President of Triumphs Around the Chesapeake, an allBritish antique sports car club.
1973
Class Champion: Jay Reese wjay.reese@gmail.com
Je Innis, John Wheeler and Jim Mulcunry enjoying their annual gathering at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Seen here with spouses Patricia, Jeannie and Linda.
GOLDEN BISON NOTES AND UPDATES
1974
Class Champion: Rob Keating keating@echoes.net
Update from Robo: My family and I live on a beautiful farm in northeastern Pennsylvania. I have lived there for over 50 years. We grow almost everything we eat. We pay attention to what we buy as to reduce the amount of landfill material. We hang laundry on a clothesline weather permitting, and in the colder months, we hang the laundry by a woodstove in our kitchen. We do not leave lights on that are not serving an immediate purpose. We use compost to fertilize our garden, and we start most of our plants from seeds of our produce. Every night at dinner we eat something from the land. We have apple, plum, peach and pear trees. All of this started with Dr. Richard Valle and the ecology class at Nichols College.
I am and have been involved in our township for over 22 years on recycling and annual cleanups. To make it easier for people to dispose of tires, refrigerators, TVs, old carpets, etc. The environment and its protection have been a constant in my life.
My wife, Sarah, puts up to 64 quarts of San Marzano tomatoes, applesauce, hot peppers and peach, plum and grape jelly each year.
ord Township, PA.
1975
Currently looking for classmates for 50th reunion committee! Join John Ma eo, Marc Emmi and Dave Hale and help get the word out!
Kevin Parker (seen above on campus during his time at Nichols) shares: I retired in 2018 after an enjoyable career using my accounting degree. I have had the opportunity to live and work for extended periods of time in the United States, Australia, and Canada as a public
accounting, internal auditor, and as a small division controller. My wife Linda and I have two grown children, all of us living here in Colorado. I am very thankful for my time at Nichols and keep in touch with several alumni on a regular basis.
Do you recognize any classmates?
Interested in helping Nichols keep classmates connected? Become a class champion!
If you don’t see a class champion listed for your class year then the job could be yours! Not too much heavy lifting and a lot of fun.
Contact Chrissy Manzi ’92 at 508-213-2218 or chrissy.manzi@nichols.edu
NICHOLS COLLEGE CHANGED MY LIFE
At first, Nichols was a challenge for me. The prospects of “flunking out” were real at that time. If I did, I knew I’d get drafted into the Army, and the jungles of southeast Asia would be awaiting me. That was a motivating possibility.
Botany with Professor O’Keefe, dendrology with Dr. Mathieu, silviculture with Dr. White, and accounting with Professor Katori set the stage and shaped my professional career. The upperclassmen in the Forestry School were friends and mentors. I later blossomed as a varsity athlete, alongside teammates on the woodsmen’s team.
Nichols accepted me as one of theirs and introduced me to opportunities that have forever changed my life. So, when I was asked to consider pledging a gift from my estate to the Colonel Conrad Society, I was honored by the request.
–Jim Jackson ’69
About the Colonel Conrad Society
The Colonel Conrad Society is named for James L. Conrad Sr., the founder and father of Nichols College, whose legacy of promoting an education rooted in business experience has endured for nearly a century.
Membership is extended to individuals who have notified Nichols of their estate plans and provided supporting documentation. Learn more about ways to make a planned gift at alumni.nichols.edu/ways-to-give/
Making a planned gift to Nichols or including the college in your estate plan supports countless opportunities for continued growth. Scan QR code or visit alumni.nichols.edu/donate/
Rob, his wife Sarah and their children, Tyler and Isabel, sitting on their newly rebuilt stone wall on their farm in Cli
Jim Jackson ’69, seen here with his family after receiving the Dave F. Lombard ’65 Outstanding Alumnus Award in May 2023.
HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2024 RECAP
Front row, left to right is Carol Keating, Everett Shepard, Tom Shaw, Bill Collins, and Jim Priscaro. Back row, left to right is Jim Franko, Peter Lynch, Hank Keene, Court Trimble, Kurt Harrington, Kurt Grimmelmann, Jack Healy, Robo Keating and Hardy Littleton.
On Friday, September 20, a celebration was held in Daniels Auditorium. As what is now a tradition over homecoming weekend, members of the Golden Bison community welcomed newbies from the class of 1974 to commemorate their 50th reunion.
Over sixty alumni and guests collected in the Eaton Foyer and began to reminisce and catch up. The group was thrilled to see Dr. Richard Valle*, emeritus professor of ecology, in attendance. As co-chair of the reunion committee, Robert “Robo” Keating ’74 addressed his classmates. He marveled at his reunion with Valle and shared how much he influenced his decision to become a farmer. “Dr. Valle impacted my life in a way that few others have. His ecology course changed my life. He led me to believe that the environment, and its protection is my dearest concern (other than my family). If we can’t leave a healthy earth to our children and grandchildren, then we have failed dramatically. At the reception, I told Dr. Valle my favorite nickname within our family, was given to me by my niece Greta: Nature’s Brother. He lit a candle in my soul, and it still burns brightly today.”
Carol Keating ’74 represented what was the first group of female graduates in the college’s history. Keating shared memories about collecting submissions from “all the guys” for The Bison newspaper, of which she was the editor. Dillon Schaefer, son of the late Eric Schaefer ’74 attended the dinner. Eric was student government president and considered the “leader” of their class. Dillon seemed grateful to have met his dad’s classmates and even got to see the famous Budleigh Hall.
GOLDEN BISON BULLETIN
Volume 5, Issue 2: Winter 2025
’25
Nichols College P.O. Box 5000 123 Center Road Dudley, MA, 01571-5000
Alumni O ce 508-213-2423
8 AM-4:30 PM. M-F http://alumninichols.edu/ alumni.o ce@nichols.edu
The Golden Bison Bulletin is published by the alumni o ce at Nichols College.
The class of 1974 met their fundraising goal and secured $50,000 for the Class of 1974 Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund’s first scholarship recipient and entrepreneurial student Kaiden Keddy ’27 was in attendance. The room was also filled with over a dozen members of the class of 1969, celebrating their 55th reunion. The group acted like pros, donning custom hats as they enjoyed an evening with friends of nearly six decades. Bob Keller ’69 remarked on interacting with students while having breakfast in Lombard Dining Hall. He was genuinely impressed with their enthusiasm for learning.
On Saturday, classmates met for breakfast, attended classroom demonstrations, engaged in campus tours, watched an exhibition scrimmage with the men’s basketball team and enjoyed a fantastic view of the game from the VIP Bison Suite – complete with complementary lunch and impressive bloody mary bar. The weekend concluded at the cozy Wellsworth Hotel in Southbridge with another cocktail reception and dinner. It seemed like a perfect way to end an active weekend. Robo reiterated his experience, “I highly recommend to the class of 1975 and classmates both before and after, that they come home to Nichols for these Golden Bison events.”
*Dr. Valle died on November 9, 2024, after a brief illness. In addition to attending homecoming events, Dick was thrilled to join Les Brooks and Ed Warren at the investiture of President Pieczynski on October 18. Additional details will be shared in the upcoming issue of the NC Magazine.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Alumni Game Saturday, February 1, 2025 Nichols in Naples Annual Florida Gathering Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2025 September 26 & 27, 2025
Celebrating class years ending in 5 and 0.
Interested in other alumni events? Reconnect with classmates by scanning the QR code or visiting alumni.nichols.edu/events/
Carol Keating ’74 represented the first female graduating class at the Golden Bison Dinner in September.
Everett Shepard ’74 receiving the coveted Plaid Pants Award at the 45th Annual Alumni Golf Tournament in July. The Plaid Pants award was a ectionately named after Dick Sche er ’63.