GoldenBison b
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A newsletter for Nichols College alumni of the past 50 years or more
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Vol 2 Issue 1: Winter/Spring 2021
Oktoberfest through the eyes of a Bison Sit back with a nice German lager, a salted pretzel, and some festive oompah music and enjoy a trip to Oktoberfest with expert tour guide, Bruce Underwood ’70. Bruce Underwood has traveled with his high school best friend Gil to the Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich, Germany, on 25 occasions. He shares stories from his experiences and tips for Golden Bison who may decide to embark on their own Oktoberfest adventure, post pandemic. It all started in 1992 at a dinner party when I exclaimed, “Would anyone like to go to a real beer party?” That’s all it took; we started planning our first trip to Oktoberfest.
and land in about seven hours. So that’s my first tip: fly direct if you can. The Munich airport is about 45 minutes outside of downtown, and the train and buses are easy to find and navigate.
On our first trip in 1993, we luckily found a local fellow who had been attending since 1982. He offered his guidance and even spent time with us at the Fest, acting as a tour guide, which was so helpful. The first trip was a lot of fun but not without its challenges. We used airline coupons to save a buck, which we thought was a great idea, but traveled from Hartford, CT, to Dulles, Washington DC, to Heathrow to Frankfurt, and finally to Munich, which proved to be exhausting! It took us over 16 hours to arrive. We did have fun, though; we met a gal who almost decided to ditch her plans and join us. No such luck! Even the travel mistakes become fond memories. Once we accidentally got on the wrong train and ended up in Budapest! As we have gotten older and wiser, we discovered that flying directly to Munich is best. We take off from Boston’s Logan Airport
We generally arrive a few days prior to the start of the Fest and meet up with the friends we’ve made over the years at the Central Train Station in Munich. It is a great place to people watch! The Fest attracts visitors from all around the world; I often wear Red Sox or Patriots gear and it strikes up conversations. Since we have been going for so long, our friend at the first available beer kiosk now sets up a special table for us to meet — that’s always our first beer of the trip. My friend Gil and I have made friends from all over the world and the United States; reuniting with them is one of the things I look forward to most. Thanks to the Fest, I have met a group of firefighter friends from Philadelphia, as well as
friends from Wisconsin, Maryland, North Carolina, and London. We also make sure to meet up with our “beer girls,” the servers in the beer tents at the Fest. We have gotten to know them over the years and have exchanged contact information. We buy them lunch the day before the Fest starts; the next day they have a table reserved for us! This is so valuable — over 8,000 people try to get into the tents at once. There are reservations needed, except if you have a connection! We look like real VIPs when everyone is crammed in trying to find a table and anxiously awaiting their first beer. We pre-pay our first round and have our beer on opening day as early as 12:02, just two minutes after the start of the Fest. My second tip: become friends with the beer servers!
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BOSTON MA
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GoldenBison
PERMIT #5732 PAID US POSTAGE NON-PROFIT ORG
Oktoberfest – continued from page 1
The Fest always starts on the Saturday two weeks before the first Sunday in October. If you haven’t been before, you want to get there for that first Saturday morning to see the parade that kicks off the festival. Beautiful Clydesdale horses decorated with silver, brass and leather pull wagons full of beer kegs and women dressed in tradition garb alongside marching bands. Each wagon represents a local brewery on the way to their designated beer tent for the festivities; there are about 12 beer tents and even one wine tent. We like to go to the Hofbrau tent, which we have always found to be the liveliest. The Fest officially begins when the Lord Mayor of Munich taps the first keg at noon. He goes from one tent to the next banging his mallet to open the kegs. The marching bands enter the tents, and the party gets started. Let the games begin! The tents are always packed, especially on opening weekend. Imagine a rowdy British soccer crowd after a game or a Red Sox game getting out on Marathon Monday; it is that busy. Once seated at your beer table in your tent, you are given a menu of all sorts of goodies like Bavarian pretzels, pickles or rotisserie chicken cooking on spits. Eating can be a challenge because it is so crowded you can barely move. The best way to get up is to stand up on your bench, walk down the top of the table, and jump off at the end! Beer is served in giant 1-liter steins — don’t even think about asking for another size! When we started in 1993, we were there from opening until 10 p.m. helping the servers clean the tables, stack the benches, and get ready for the next day. We were so young then! Now, we leave at about 6 p.m. That’s enough for us! If you aren’t fond of crowds, I recommend attending on a weekday; it will still be lots of fun.
After a long day enjoying libations in tents, it’s critical to stay at a hotel within walking (crawling) distance. The last thing you will want to do is sit on a train for an hour! The most important item to book is your hotel accommodations, at least a year in advance. We stay at the Jedermann Hotel, just two blocks from the festival grounds. When I leave the hotel each morning, I walk around the fairgrounds for five miles, seeing all the activities of cleaning and preparing for the day ahead. I also recommend pacing yourself; going to the Fest everyday can be a lot. There are so many great attractions to tour in the Munich area that I would recommend checking out. September and early October is a beautiful time of year in Munich — like fall on the Hill at Nichols College, warm days and cool nights. First, you should absolutely explore the German Alps; Zugspitze is a beautiful mountain and the tallest peak in Germany. You can take tram rides to the peak to see the incredible views. Another site to consider is the Dachau Concentration Camp, a sobering but important visit to remember this dark history. You can also visit Kehlsteinhaus, also known as Hitler’s Eagle’s nest. It is on top
A message of special thanks from Eric Gobiel, Athletic Director
of a very steep mountain, so you have to take a special bus made for the incline. This was Hitler’s fortress during WWII. I found it very chilling, like an evil lair you would see in a movie. While there make sure to check out nearby Berchtesgaden, a beautiful alpine ski village. Other fun local attractions to consider include the Viktualienmarkt, where you can find local food and enjoy an outdoor beer garden, the Deutsches Museum where exhibits explore science and technology from their origin to present day or Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world. Breweries worth a visit include, the Hofbrauhaus a 400-year-old brewery and the Kloster Andechs Brewery and Monastery where monks have been brewing beer since 1455. I had said that I wanted to go to the Fest once, but Gil keeps me going every year. There is always a new reason we should go, and here we are 25 years later. Spending so much time at the Fest has enriched our experience. We’ve made so many nice relationships, we don’t feel rushed, and we can enjoy our time and say, “We’ll get to that next year.” It is great comradery to spend this time with friends. I have too many good memories from these trips to even name a favorite. I’ve even met a couple of fellow Nichols College alumni at the Fest — what a small world! I look forward to the days we can get back to traveling. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed my musing of the Fest adventures. If you’re interested in planning your own trip, I’d be happy to connect. Prost to my Nichols College friends! Here’s hoping for a brighter 2021 when we can all get back to the comradery and joy of travel. Bruce Underwood ’70
GAME
CHANGER
With the initial goal met and roughly two weeks left in the Blitz, I then challenged our Bison community to ATHLETICS BISON BLITZ help us reach a new goal of $75,000. To our complete amazement, by campaign’s end that goal too was shattered, and a total of $86,500 was raised! Add to that the matching support of $50,000, and the grand total grows to over $136,500 for our Nichols athletics programs!
This past September, our athletics department held the second annual athletics Bison Blitz fundraising campaign. The campaign began with a goal of raising $35,000 to support our overall student athlete experience and provide programs with additional funding for things such as equipment, assistant coaches, guest speakers, and spring break travel. With this original goal in mind, we were approached by an extremely generous donor who offered to match the first $35,000 raised! Within that first week, that goal was met and with the support of a second incredibly generous donor who contributed an additional match of $15,000, our goal was raised to $50,000! To our surprise and with your generosity, that mark was hit within the first two and a half weeks! To say we were in awe of this amazing support and to think we would have hit this threshold by mid-month is an understatement.
To this day, I am still in awe of the incredible display of support and generosity from the Herd, and I cannot thank you all enough! This kind of support from our alumni, families, fans, staff, and faculty is beyond inspiring and shows how many people are truly invested in Nichols athletics. On behalf of the athletics department, I thank you all for making this a record-breaking year and can’t wait to see you back on campus very soon! 2
Downsize Your Home, Not Your Joy
Like many strong businesses, the idea for Generations on the Move, Inc. stemmed from personal experience. In 1996, while Kim McCarthy ’92 was involved in the relocation of her father from New York to Massachusetts to be closer to family, she searched, unsuccessfully, for a service to help him pack up his home and prepare him for the move. Years later when helping her mother with the same situation, she discovered “move managers” and thought, “This is what I want to do and bring to my community.” “I graduated from Nichols; I can do this!” That same night she and her husband, fellow Bison Chris McCarthy ’92 MBA ’97, came up with a name and business plan and the next week contacted their local Chamber or Commerce. Since its inception in 2007, Generations on the Move Inc., has helped over 700 clients downsize and move to new homes. Through McCarthy’s own experience, she understands how challenging and overwhelming the process can be. Her team works with empathy and compassion as “daughters for hire” to come up with a move plan, coordinate movers, dispatch donated pieces, measure the destination space (ensuring all items making the move can fit!), pack and then unpack items for the new home. For our Golden Bison readers, McCarthy offers several tips to consider when downsizing. First and foremost, take time and make a plan. “Downsizing is not something you decide to do on a Friday and start your move on Monday,” McCarthy says. “Start planning as soon as possible. The sooner you make a plan, the more control you maintain, empowering you to enjoy the best years of your life.” She recommends giving yourself at least a year to plan your move. Second, start small. Moving for anyone can be overwhelming and especially so if you have spent a significant amount of time in
your home. “If you have a lot of items in your home and don’t know where to start, I always recommend taking on one small project,” she shares. “We say, ‘Just start with a drawer and let yourself feel accomplished when this task is completed.’” In addition, McCarthy advises, “If you don’t have a lot of extra items in your home then we recommend a good place to start is in the attic or basement. This typically isn’t a living space and is likely full of items you don’t use daily. It ends up being a storage space. If you haven’t looked at an item for six months, a year, 10 years, then it is an easy decision to let those items go.” Third, evaluate what items in your home truly bring you happiness. “When I work with a client, part of my job is to find out what motivates my client and brings them joy. These are the items we prioritize in the new home,” says McCarthy. “Recently I worked with a client who loves to paint. I recognized how much joy this brought her and made sure to pack all her supplies and create a brand-new space for her beloved hobby in her new home.” Spending more time in our homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has given us a perspective of what is truly important, she adds. “Take the opportunity to evaluate what are those items that bring you joy in your home, photos, family heirlooms, hobbies. It is different for everyone.” When asked about her favorite part of the job, McCarthy’s face lights up with a kind smile, and she says, without hesitation: “move-in day for my clients.” During a typical move-in day McCarthy advises her clients to go out and have fun, catch up with friends, go out to lunch, see a movie. When they return, their move is completed without having to lift a finger or deal with the stress of the day. While clients are enjoying their
day, McCarthy and her team are unpacking boxes, arranging furniture, hanging clothes in the closet and turning the clients’ new house into a home. “When we open the door for our clients, we welcome them to their new home. That is the best part of our job,” she reflects. “When they come through the door, it is the home they know, just smaller, in a different location. Their reaction shows you how relieved they are and happy about the decision they made to downsize. It is the best; it makes the hard work of carrying boxes disappear.”
TIPS
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2 3
Make a Plan Take at least 1 year to come up with your downsizing move plan. Start Small Start decluttering your home with a drawer. What brings you happiness? Evaluate what items in your home make your happy.
About Kim Kim has volunteered her time for the past 15 years at the Wachusett Food Pantry and the last 4 of those years she has served as the president of the WFP. Kim also enjoys staying active with Nichols and serves on the Institute for Women’s Leadership panel. Kim enjoys traveling, playing golf and spending time with her family.
To learn more about Generations on the Move please visit their website at:
generationsonthemove.com Kim McCarthy ’92, second from the left, pictured
Currently serving the Worcester County community
with her team on a client move-in day.
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An Interview with President Susan W. Engelkemeyer, PhD Interviewed by Jack MacPhail ’65
Jack MacPhail ’65 is a senior executive advisor with extensive global experience at the executive level. Before forming Jack MacPhail, LLC, his career included service with the US Army Counterintelligence and Special Forces, JP Morgan Chase, Senn Delaney Consulting and Korn Ferry International. Jack brings this experience to a brief interview with President Susan W. Engelkemeyer, PhD, who will be completing her term as president of Nichols College when she retires in June. 1. What has your time at Nichols College taught you as a leader? It has taught me to enjoy the privilege of this position at such a remarkable institution. I have more memories than I could ever have imagined. My relationship with students has truly been the highlight, and I’ve been dedicated to being approachable, available, active and visible to them. As a first-generation college student myself, I found a special affinity for those whose backgrounds were similar to mine. A wise person once told me I’d know when it was time to go. The average tenure of a college presidents is 6.5 years. A decade is a long time in this role, and as I started thinking about my decision to retire a while ago, it became evident that it was about time. Time for new ideas and a fresh set of eyes for Nichols College. Time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life and become the master of my own calendar. This is not a job you can put on pause for any period of time — it requires constant thought and attention.
Jack MacPhail ’65
5. What did you learn about yourself in this role that was perhaps unexpected? I’ve learned that patience truly is a virtue, and that although I thought I had an abundance of patience, it’s often not enough. We implemented a great deal of new initiatives at Nichols over the past ten years, and that has created some angst. I learned that change is an individual process and timelines and goals can leave some community members well behind others on the path to something new and different. 6. How would you describe the Nichols College campus and alumni community? Nichols has a truly incredible alumni base who have an affinity to the College and lifelong friends that they made while on campus. I feel that many alumni have pulled me into their circle of friends. I’ve received birthday calls and invitations to vacation trips from alumni. The campus is warm and welcoming. External folks who visited me on campus often remarked about how friendly community members were by asking if they needed directions to a particular building or just smiling and saying hello.
2. Do you have an opinion on how humility and vulnerability can be valuable traits for leaders? I firmly believe that no position or title in an organization is more important than any other. Organizations are a tight-woven fabric whose strength comes from each individual thread. We all bring unique talents and contributions; we all contribute to the strength of the fabric. You must have a thick skin in this role. The person that sits in the president’s chair is the recipient of negative reactions to decisions that are made. It is impossible to simultaneously please all stakeholder groups who generally have divergent opinions and priorities. Some folks question decisions, rightfully so. But combine that with the confidential nature of some decisions, particularly those related to individuals, and tensions can rise. I serve the institution first, and my decisions must reflect what I think is best for the institution.
7. Are there any hobbies you will explore in retirement? I plan to return to horseback riding on a regular basis. Sea kayaking has always been a fun activity, and I plan to do that daily on Gunrock Beach in Hull beginning July 1. We will be renovating a new (150-year-old) beach house beginning this summer. Piano lessons and more practice/play are also in my future. I used to be a reasonable pianist until I hardly played anymore and had to reteach myself how to read music. I’ve had plans for years to write a book entitled “Leadership Lessons from the Other Side of Life,” which would include chapters by individuals on how their passions and hobbies have influenced their leadership style.
3. What was the biggest challenge you’ve overcame, thus far in your presidency? The most difficult days were all the decisions that needed to be made to address the challenges of the pandemic. From painful budget cuts to quickly shifting to Zoom classrooms in Spring 2020 to planning to return to in-person classes in the fall semester, COVID upended every aspect of the campus. While we fared better than many of our peers, there was (and continues to be) a great deal of stress. Every staff and faculty member have had to adjust to new ways of work, modified teaching methodologies, and different ways of interacting with each other and our students.
Once the pandemic allows, my husband Dave and I will dust off our passports and start crossing off places we want to visit. And we have a major road trip planned from the east coast to the west to visit friends and family we don’t see often who live across the country from New York to Ohio to California to Arizona to Texas and Florida. Along the way we’ll take in as many national parks as possible. And Dave and I are going to get a dog! Given my schedule as president I didn’t think it would have been fair to the dog if we had one. Now I’ll have plenty of time for a new furry friend. And most importantly, I will spend as much time as possible with my four grandkids, who range in age from 5 to 10, with my 94-year-old father who lives in Florida, and with the world’s best husband that I met during our undergraduate days in Missouri.
4. What is an example of an accomplishment you are proud of? I am most proud of how the community rallied to grow the College’s endowment with a special focus on endowed scholarships. The number of scholarships quadrupled over the last ten years, which enabled Nichols to provide more financial support to deserving students. Scholarship funding has been provided by alumni, friends of the College, and faculty/staff.
To send a message of well wishes to President Engelkemeyer please email jillian.riches@nichols.edu or send your note to Nichols College, PO Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571 to the attention of Jillian Riches who will pass along your message.
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Vote Yes or Vote No, That is the Question Nichols College Visual Media Studio provides communication support for the town of Dudley
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tevens Mill has had an iconic presence in Dudley as its foremost historical landmark. But the former woolen mill and textile factory, which operated from 1846 to 2003, has fallen into disrepair. In recent years it provided a location for a flea market, but the space is now deemed too dangerous for inhabitants. The abandoned mill is home to the occasional squatter, a danger to themselves, fire and police personnel. Dudley town administrators and residents were faced with a difficult decision: preserve and redevelop the mill or tear it down. As the vote drew near, Dudley Town Clerk Lori Smith discovered that there was some misinformation and confusion on the part of residents and decided to improve communications. A former Nichols College employee, and graduate of Nichols College, Smith reached out to Professor Rob Russo, director of the college’s Visual Media Studio, for help with creating a professional video to explain the issue and its impact on the community. She gave Russo a tight two-week deadline to complete the project. He enlisted the assistance of one of his student workers, Savanah Frederick ’23, a double major in corporate finance and investing and digital and social media marketing. Once Smith provided a general idea for the video and suggested speakers to feature, Russo and Frederick ran with it, acting as executive producers, directors, film crew, and editors. The first task included confirming the interviews and layout of the video to ensure they captured the content that best met the town’s needs. “It was important for this video to be viewed as an official and reliable source of information from the town of Dudley to its constituents,” Russo explains. “Savanah and I wanted to clearly and fairly show all sides of the issue so that the residents of Dudley could make an informed decision on voting day.” The team decided on the outline for the
video: history of the mill, current state of the mill, the proposed vote, and closing testimonials. Russo and Frederick filmed at Nichols’ green screen room then packed up their video equipment to film on several locations, a first for the Visual Media Studio. They also utilized drone filming technology to capture exterior images of the mill, even including the roof which showed evidence of squatters. The final video was delivered to the client on time and shared on Dudley public access television and the town Facebook page, garnering almost 2,000 views. Smith praised the effort. “It was a pleasure working with Nichols College on the Stevens Mill video project. Rob Russo made this process very easy and produced a high-quality professional video for the town,” she says. “Feedback received from residents was very positive. I truly feel the video had a major impact on the acceptance of the Stevens Mill article at the town meeting.” Months earlier, an initial vote to save and redevelop the mill failed; after the video, the vote passed by a significant margin.
“It was really fun. I made connections with officials in the town of Dudley and learned how to make a professional quality video.”
town of Dudley and learned how to make a professional quality video.” She was also excited to share the experience with her grandfather, a Dudley resident. “We always went to the flea market together in the mill,” she notes. “He was very proud of the video I made. He saw it as a great opportunity for me.” Frederick enjoys working at the Visual Media Studio, finding it a great way to meet people on campus and make friends. She especially loves supporting students on their projects, hearing their vision for a video and being a part of bringing it to life.
The project had an impact on Frederick, as well, — Savanah Frederick ’23 offering the opportunity to expand her professional experience. “It was really fun. I never thought we would do something for such a professional client,” she says. “I made connections with officials in the
Offering experiences like the Stevens Mill video is key to professional development, says Russo. “This semester I’ve noticed Savanah’s growth in terms of organization and time management. I think you learn these skills by working with clients.” He hopes to expand the Visual Media Studio to take on more in the future. “Learning to interact with clients in a professional manner and meeting deadlines to provide deliverables are important lessons I’d like to teach my students.”
To view the full video please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm-a0fJ7SKY
Consider supporting the Visual Media Studio this year with a donation.
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College Student Entrepreneurs Build a Brand with a Purpose Olivia Marcantonio, a senior at Nichols College, comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. This past summer Marcantonio was inspired to take the leap and follow in her family’s footsteps by starting her own business with partner Kate Silvestri, a sophomore at Boston University. Marcantonio shares that, like many great businesses before them, it all started with a sketch on a cocktail napkin. Silvestri, a fitness influencer, and Marcantonio, a Nichols soccer player, decided they wanted to create an active wear and lounge clothing brand. And, most importantly, a brand that brings awareness to mental and physical health. They launched Radiate Positivity on October 10, 2020. Radiate Positivity offers a range of lounge wear in several colors, each with their own meaning, including love, hope, cloud, sunrise and purpose. Each has the signature phrase of their first collection “radiate positivity.” Their website concisely states their mission, “a place for anyone and everyone to shop positive athletic and cozy items with a purpose.” In addition to raising awareness through their brand, the company donates 10 percent of their proceeds to non-profit organizations that support mental health services. With each collection the non-profit will change to align with the vision for the new collection and bring awareness to a new organization. This business is personal for Marcantonio. “I’ve suffered from mental health issues, depression and anxiety. These are issues I can deeply relate to,” she shares. “This is not just a business to me; it is a lifestyle and an opportunity to help others like me by creating a space to have a positive dialog about mental health.”
As a double major in psychology and marketing, Marcantonio felt prepared and supported by the Nichols College community when working on her business plan. “Psychology classes helped me better understand myself and even helped when we evaluated the right colors for our line. In marketing, we talk about different strategies for marketing a product, which has been extremely helpful,” she offers. “The community has been very supportive. I was even asked to give a presentation about my business in a class to my peers.”
The signature phrase for their second collection, “Today’s another day, one day at a time” will be featured on all products. They hope to use this collection to bring more awareness to physical health and the relationship it has to one’s mental health. Marcantonio and Silvestri are proud of the work they put in to get their business started. “My hope is that the business will continue to grow and that our lines will make a difference in people’s lives,” she says. “Our clothes are so much more than sweatshirts. It is a part of the person who buys it. Our customers might buy our clothing for a friend who suffers from mental illness, they might buy it for themselves because they can relate, or they might just buy it because they love the colors and want to raise awareness.” Marcantonio continues, “We believe positive energy is contagious, and through our business we look forward to continuing the work of spreading positive energy and raising awareness.”
By mid-December, their first collection was on the verge of being sold out, experiencing a consistent level of growth and interest. The pair were readying for their next collection launch. “Through social media and a customer survey sent via email, we listened to our customers and adapted for our second collection. We found that customers were interested in a crew neck sweatshirt, so we decided to take out a color option for the new line and listen to our customers by adding a crew neck sweatshirt to our offerings,” says Marcantonio. Originally, she and Silvestri planned to target college students. In the short time they’ve been in business they have realized that their message has a broader reach, attracting customers of all ages. The entrepreneurs are actively working on ideas to broaden their marketing appeal to these new demographics.
For more information about Radiate Positivity
They’ve also decided to double down and take the leap to order more product of a higher quality for the second collection. The pair shared that they feel a bit nervous about this decision but are excited to challenge themselves to find new customers, grow their business and offer an enhanced product.
Website: https://radiatepositivity.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiate_mha/
Crossword Puzzle
1
2
Across 2 Program founded in 2013 to cultivate the leadership potential of female students
3
3 Nichols College town 4
10
4 Industrialist who founded an academy on Dudley Hill 5 It’s not Bazzie’s but current students enjoy their meals here
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6 Nichols’ president who once dressed as Thunder the mascot
6 7
9 Governing body of Nichols College
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Down 1
Nichols is a member of this athletic conference
7 May ceremony that sounds more like a beginning than an ending 8 He directs Nichols ’22 varsity teams 10 Year that said industrialist founded the academy
Answers on page 12
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Impact of Remote Work on Developing Future Organizational Leaders Dr. Robin Frkal Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the MSOL Program at Nichols College
As COVID-19 gripped the world in early 2020, businesses across the country faced the challenge of continuing operations while ensuring employee safety. Virtually overnight, workers across industries and functions shifted to remote work with minimal difficulty. Organizations that may have resisted remote work in the past are finding that the results have been quite positive.
They also reported more reflective practices such as taking more time to read or listen to development materials, spending more time planning, and processing how things are going in their work with after-action reviews of meetings and projects. These findings suggest that the COVID-19 crisis and resulting shift to remote work can be a leadership development accelerant. The challenge now is for organizations to harness this opportunity. While more research is needed to address this question, Frkal suggests that organizations can begin to get the most out of this transition by focusing on the following four areas.
Employees want increased flexibility and work-life balance more than ever, and responding to this need is generally creating higher job satisfaction. Happier employees translate to increased productivity and performance on the job. Decreased overhead costs are also an attractive bonus to organizations in today’s tight economic market. While the short-term consequences of the broad shift to remote work seem to be positive, many longer-term questions must be considered as remote work becomes the “new normal.” Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the MSOL Program, Dr. Robin Frkal, is working with Dr. Michael Lewis, Assistant Professor of Management and Director of MBA Programs at Assumption University, to answer what appears to be one crucial unasked question. Specifically, what will be the impact of remote work on developing future organizational leaders?
1. Curate leadership materials for employees Provide recommendations for podcasts, books, articles that align with your organization’s values and vision.
2. Provide supports for reflection Many planning systems provide guidance, templates, and practices to support increased individual reflection. Consider adopting a system and providing training for employees in this area.
Organizations need to focus on the development of their talent pipeline continuously. This requires ensuring that future leaders gain new knowledge and skills and deepen their ability to make decisions and solve challenging problems in complex and highly ambiguous environments. This type of development arises when individuals are given challenging assignments that get leaders out of their comfort zone (heat experiences) and expose them to different perspectives that broaden their viewpoints and are encouraged to reflect on and make sense of these experiences.
3. Increase feedback loops Feedback is essential to enhance cognitive development. Ensure that employees are having regular feedback conversations with their manager and team-mates beyond the annual review process.
4. Create spaces and routines that encourage collaboration and sharing differing perspectives
Preliminary results from Frkal and Lewis’ research examining project managers’ work practices suggest that the pandemic and increased remote work that has come with it may be a prime opportunity to develop leaders. The small-scale survey of project managers suggests that the pandemic has not only exposed them to more heat experiences it has also given them more time to reflect on these experiences. Participants in the study reflected experiencing increased challenges in their work.
The move to more remote work eliminates some of the serendipitous “water-cooler” conversations in the office. However, technology tools such as Slack or Teams can be effectively used to re-imagine how employees interact with each other on an informal basis.
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Golden Bison Updates 1953
Washington, DC. During my banking
on the Class of 1957 Endowed
Bazzie and Colonel Conrad.
career, I had two conventions in
Scholarship effort. To his fellow
Thanks for the chance to share.
Howard Raphaelson shares a fond
DC and both times I got together
Golden Bison, he wishes you well!
memory: In 1952, at the end of the
with Hugh.
semester, the student who delivered
Kent Tarrant shares a few photos
dinner to Colonel Conrad’s home
At our orientation in 1951, Coach
was no longer available, and I ended
Chalmers announced that anyone
up with the job for a week or so. It
wanting to try out for the varsity
was not much of a job — pick up
football team should meet at the
the box of his family’s food from the
athletic field at 3:30.
from the 1957 yearbook.
Happenstance put four of us to-
Unfortunately, I was never given a
gether as we introduced ourselves
key. Luckily, the truck was built in
to each other: John Ireland, Carlo
the days when car theft was rare,
Vangeli, Bernard “Clem” Dowling,
and security was low priority. The
and Francis Lemay.
daughters. He stays busy and active with many local activities. Both he and his wife have had battles with cancer. He is enjoying retirement in Granby, CT. Our beloved Bazzie serving the students.
turf/ornamental, and pest control
key just turned on the power. The
company in Suwanee, GA. We market
starter was a button on the floor
and sell all sorts of insecticides,
that you stomped on to energize
weed killers and organic pest control
the starter motor. The social committee, led by Art Rizy, hosted three dances for students.
On the back of the ignition lock was a metal disk with three screws protruding. All three screws could
Seated, from left, Cecil Gabbett, Emile Grondin, Art Rizy, Mr. Cannom, French, Richard Skelly, Philip Wood. Standing, from left, Burner, Donovan, Edward Blazey, William Schmertz, Stires Manning
be covered by a nickel or quarter. If you held the coin firmly against the three screw heads, the car could be started and would continue to run.
Backing out onto the road was easy, since you could put the truck in reverse before you started it, and your feet were free to handle clutch, brake and gas. Then you removed the coin and the truck stopped, and you could shift it into first gear and start it again. Shifting to second and third was more of a challenge, as was keeping the coin steady
products. Now at 77, I’m looking for a young, ambitious, and careeroriented Nichols business grad to work into our company. My best to Nichols and the great influence it’s had on my life.
1962 Class Champion: Charlie Howe
A little awkward, but possible. That
the floor shift lever.
’61 friends around the country! I’m multi-million dollar agricultural,
little below the lock. The ignition
which was also needed to manage
From Art Assad: Hello to all my still running Agrisel USA Inc., a
was a metal panel that ended a
hold it there with your right hand,
a retired CEO of Colton Insurance has a son, daughter and five grand-
ignition lock was in the dash, which
is until you realized that you had to
Charles L. Colton shares that he is Agency in Windsor Locks, CT. He
dining hall, take it to the old pickup truck, and drop it off at his home.
1961
invited us to have a beer in Webster.
1959
For the next two years we were a
Sandy Tuttle says hello to all class
foursome at Nichols that became
of 1959 graduates. He shares that
a friendship for life. We were all in
as a student he loved having break-
each other’s wedding party and at
fast at Bazzie’s. He also remembers
our 25th anniversaries.
when the T-dorm caught fire during
After Hal ended the meeting, Carlo
Thanksgiving break; many of its The other three have since passed
student residents ended up living in
away, and I was able to attend
a professor’s house for the remainder
two of the funerals. Truly a life’s
of the year. Sandy reports that the
friendship.
pandemic caused them to leave Florida early to return to Ohio, and
1957
they don’t plan to return to Florida this winter. For now, they are staying
while driving hunched over to the
Class Champion: Kent Tarrant
right while going over bumps and
413-566-5130
rounding corners. I got better at it
kent100@charter.net
looking out the window. So far, his
it three or four times each way and
Donald Claprood reflects: As we
his 10 grandchildren. Sadly, he
kept the food safe from falling on
gracefully age, trying to cope with
the seat beside me.
all the distractions of 2020, we
at home as much as they can, health is doing well, and he enjoys
and eventually only needed to start
recently lost a good friend and fellow ’59 classmate Dave Umba.
609-494-5450 charleskatehowe@gmail.com To be sure, 2020 was certainly a year to both remember and, unfortunately, one that we will have a very hard time forgetting. Sadly, we are still under the strain of living with the COVID-19 virus, and the difficult part, not knowing when we will be able to get a vaccine. Kate and I stayed in Florida until June because of our concern for what was happening in New Jersey, which for the most part until late December seemed fairly safe. We returned to Punta Gorda on January 5th with concern for both the virus, our residence and because this is where our primary doctors are located. In many ways, we can consider
rely on the basic principles we’ve
ourselves blessed. Aside from the
Fran Lemay is grateful for
learned throughout our lives. Loyalty
aches, pains and difficulties we face
friendship: In the fall of 1951, just
to Nichols is proudly shared by the
each day, we face tomorrow with
prior to our first semester at Nichols,
many classes that support endowed
hope, knowing that we have up to
Coach Hal Chalmers asked if I knew a
scholarships, with alumni eager
this point given it our best effort.
Hugo Valentine. I had met Hugo the
to give back. History has a way of
The class of ’62 is a year and a half
previous year when we both qualified
repeating itself as we place our
from (hopefully) celebrating our
for the final six places for the
confidence in the present generation
60th class reunion. Please include
100-yard dash at the New England
of students as our future leaders,
this on your bucket list, more to
Prep School track meet. Our meeting
as people put their trust in us when
follow! Also be reminded that your
was brief but memorable.
we were students at Nichols. Let us
A recent trip to Acadia, Maine
support of Nichols College, whether it be to a general fund, athletics,
continue to give them the financial Hal said Hugo would be the first
support they need to obtain the
From Bob Gould: Nichols allowed me
through an estate gift as a member
Black student at Nichols and he
best education Nichols offers.
to grow and succeed as a student.
of the Conrad Society, or scholar-
It was a junior college in 1959 when
ships is more important than ever.
asked if I would accompany him to greet Hugo the next day on his
David Fleming shared that his
I graduated. I applied to Penn State,
Be a part of the herd and be Bison
arrival and make him feel ‘at home.’
favorite Nichols College events were
was accepted and all my credits
proud. A sad note: Rich Knoener
Our friendship still exists, and we
playing on the ice hockey team.
transferred. The study habits I
passed away in December. One
have been exchanging Christmas
He reports that he is feeling pretty
learned at Nichols served me well at
joyful happening this past year was
cards for many years. This year, on
good, still playing tennis weekly,
Penn State where I graduated with a
that his grandson, a soccer player, is
the day before Christmas, we talked
doing work in the yard with plenty
BS degree in business in 1961. I have
enrolled at Nichols as a freshman.
for over an hour on the phone.
of projects to keep him busy and
always been grateful for the start I
Stay safe and keep in touch.
Hugo, who changed his name to
moving. He also noted that he has
got at Nichols. I remember fondly
Hugh, worked as a policeman in
really loved working with classmates
the counseling we all got from
8
Charlie
Golden Bison Updates Bruce MacDonald shares some of his favorite memories:
• Visits to Bazzie’s to break a long evening of studying with 45 rpm records playing in the jukebox for 5 cents.
• A visit to the post office in hopes of opening your individual mailbox to find a letter from a very special girl. • Visits to local female colleges and universities to balance our all-male college.
• The return to Budleigh Hall to find one’s wooden bed parts hoisted on the flagpole which I found amusing until realizing it was my bed.
• The front hall of Budleigh also once housed a Volkswagen car as well as a horse that left behind an unwanted package before its successful encouragement to leave. • Telling the professor I was late to class due to a flock of sheep coming down Main Street.
moon glistening on the snow or
(Plymouth in the summer, St.
when strong winds that hit the hill
Petersburg in the winter). We love
blew you from building to building.
Florida and are now residents here.
The good old times. COVID-19 has interrupted our travel
1963
plans, but we hope to do more once we get vaccinated. It has slowed us
William F. Keats shares: For the last
down a bit.
year and a half I had been fighting multiple myeloma but am now in
Nancy (my wife of 53 years) and
remission and looking forward to
I have four daughters and eight
turning 80 on March 11. I am still
grandchildren. Two families live in
actively involved in my tax practice
New Hampshire, one in Manhattan,
here in Merrick, NY, on Long Island’s
and one in Macon, GA. We really
south shore. As of this year, due to
miss not seeing them during this
the Coronavirus, it is now a virtual
pandemic, but we hope this will pass
practice where clients email, mail,
soon so we can have family get-to-
or drop off their tax documentation.
gethers again.
No more interviews, unless by phone, or in-person consultations. It
We have not been back to the Hill
works out better this way. I do miss
since the 50th reunion but hope to
the Nichols Homecoming weekends,
do it again once everything becomes
but I do not know if I will get up
normal. I’m amazed at how much
there again. I always looked forward
the facilities have grown. It’s a great
to them and the reunions in New
institution and produces great results
York City. I really loved Nichols.
for student attendees. Keep it up.”
1964
of hope on the horizon and will certainly be first in line up here in
around to every dorm, every night
Phil Donnelly, Dan Tomassetti and Henri David united at a past Homecoming weekend.
for 3 years. I did the sandwich box and Curt Stiles did the milk crate. Go Bison!
field house. He also says that he is
but continued to do some coaching
thankful for his professors and their
of track and cross country at Mercy
patience with him. He remembers
High School in Middletown, CT.
working and playing for Mike
We have four grandchildren. Our
Vendetti, Hal Chalmers, Don “Ace”
grandson, who is the oldest, is
Coyle, the herd ramrods, “the best
currently enrolled in community
Bison of all time!” A message to his classmates,
continue his education and play
“Stay healthy, my brothers of the
soccer. As for my granddaughters,
class of ’64.”
a sophomore, and the youngest is in middle school. With a minor in forest management, Allen Elliott loved being a “Lumber Bunny:” I looked forward to the annual intercollegiate Woodsmen Weekend. Several universities, in woodsman events such as tree
enter the COVID vaccine secondary market and sell my place in line, but
Dan Tomasetti shares an
spirit of the whole thing and
excerpt published in The Bison
besides, if I get the crud, what good
on April 24, 1964 to bring back
will the money do? Just asking…
Bo Diddly will start off the Spring Weekend. He is a nationally famous singing artist with unforgettable style. He will be the first performer for our first professional Hootenanny. Tufts University will add their renowned jazz band, which every stop school in the East and Midwest has heard. Saturday events will start when Holy Cross invades Dudley with their over-rated lacrosse team. The baseball team will meet New Bedford Tech at 2:00 o’clock. Saturday evening Bob Adams and his fine band will provide music for listening and dancing. Everyone will remember his terrific performance last May.
one is a junior in high school, one is
including West Point, competed
for the inoculation. I am tempted to
some memories:
college. We have hopes that he will consider transferring to Nichols to
Portland, OR, when my time comes
somehow that seems against the
Ed Kunkel shares that his favorite
time. I retired in 1994 from teaching
Dear 65’ers,
I agree that there’s a new sense
was selling “sandwiches & milk”
Brothers Four concert held in the
jackmacphail1@gmail.com
whole lot better. Wife Sandy and
Phil Donnelly says, a fond memory
doing fine. Keeping busy all the
503-227-2761
the year we just entered will be a
413-567-0085
Nichols College event was the
Class Champion: Jack MacPhail
what a year ’20 was and hope that
Class Champion: Dan Tomassetti
John Turro reports: Adele and I are
1965
I’m not sure about all of you but
papa.wadur@gmail.com Yes, those were the days that bring a smile to my face, knowing full well these enjoyable memories will come to life with the encounter of lifelong friends who shared them with me.
A throwback to 2017 when Dan Tomassetti ’64 and Bill Bufalino ’64 visited campus
50th reunion, a great memory for the class of 1964
I am still very active in this leadership advisory business and so I spend a good amount of time on Zoom every day, maybe four hours or so, all over the world. This said because at least the folks I talk to have adjusted well to this new world and most of them are looking for the opportunities in all this. It’s kind of nice NOT to have to travel for a while and simply learn how to live more with myself without the distractions. Nichols and the time we spent there (’61-’65) comes back from time to time. Aah, the memories, among them: • The day or so after JFK was shot and the professors having the good sense to put aside the normal class content and allow us to simply “process” what was going on as 19 and 20-year-olds.
felling for accuracy, log splitting, and log sawing. I also enjoyed taking
An update from Paul Ceccarelli:
care of the trio of black fallow deer
“I’m doing quite well at 78 years
Andy Marvin reports: “After
sor Chisholm doing so in his art
located in the back of the soccer
old. I’ve had some rebuilding over
graduation I entered the US Army
appreciation class in the library
field. I have often wondered
the last several years (triple bypass,
on November 12, 1959. I was
auditorium and the eloquence of
whatever happened to them.
back and neck surgery, and recently
discharged in February 1962.
Justin Parkenton in expressing his
reverse shoulder surgery). All went
During my tour of military duty,
feelings. I remember also hearing
On a snowy day in New England,
great. I’m back golfing in only 15
Nichols College became a four-year
the commotion in Budleigh Hall
Allen reports: This current snow-
weeks, and my shoulder feels good.
college, so I returned in fall 1962
when news first broke; the whole
storm had me thinking of the Hill.
Physically, I’m in pretty good shape.
to obtain a four-year degree.
thing still feels surreal.
Either the snow shoeing in the
I walk a lot, golf, do charitable
I’m currently living in Boothbay
woods behind Daniels with the
work, and projects at both homes
Harbor, Maine.”
I remember particularly Profes-
9
Golden Bison Updates • The many, many road trips between Nichols and Worcester
during the Alumni Relations Office annual mid-winter trek south.
Arena during hockey season. I think Robby, Donny March and Keith Pratt were the chief drivers
Geoff Meyer, Tom Pearsall and I all came from Westfield, NJ.
at that point. Passing that restaurant on the way over owned by a guy who subsequently attended Nichols. • A snowy winter evening when Justin and I spent what seemed hours with Professor Sterling talking about the bigger things in life, can’t remember if we did so over illegal substance, but maybe so.... In the same vein, asking Professor Graves in his philosophy
My favorite memories include doing the play “Twelve Angry Men” with Rich Blankley, Bob Kime, Bob Wilson, Charles Wing, and Larry Shenk ’66, directed by Professor Chas. Grant, chair of finance and accounting. I fondly remember his “basking in reflected glory” comment in his thank you note to the cast. I’ve used the phrase myself quite a few times over the last 50 plus years.
class (and never having had physics) what exists beyond the universe and beyond that, what more, and beyond that, what more, and on and on and on. I remember Professor Moynihan and his business law class, 2nd floor in Conrad Hall, bouncing around the room and somehow keeping at least me interested in the law. • First year at Nichols in Goodell Hall, alongside Underhill. After that, becoming a Budleigh guy for the next three years and one spring night, leading a water balloon attack on Smith Hall just below us. This was before computers and it was all about hard copy getting wet, guys getting really pissed and I think, Herbie being called in to restore order. • Saturday nights with Bob (Spooner) Greenspun playing guitar, Barry Segal doing something musical, Raymond Ho occasionally appearing and the campus feeling something like a
I also liked the Glee Club trips to sister schools, especially Endicott. Nicholodian concerts with Pete Judd ’62, Al Heflin ’62, Ralph Cato. Walking into taverns, singing “Aura Lee” (Tune is Elvis’ “Love Me Tender”) for a ‘Gansett draft or two. Visits to Connecticut College for Women, WPI, Wheaton, Lasell, Katharine Gibbs, etc.
probably afraid of rejection at one of the women’s colleges. Anyway, all these thoughts are given the time now and a whole bunch more. Challenge to you guys: Next time around with the Golden Bison, how about emptying yourselves of some similar thoughts? We’re all not getting any younger and why not now? Everyone, take care, stay safe and healthy, love your dear ones and here’s to a very good 2021! Best from the Northwest, Jack Ben Wiley reports: We are currently at our summer cottage built by my great grandfather in 1905 in an old Brethren Camp meeting ground in Mt. Gretna, PA. We come up over Christmas to visit our kids and go to PA, NJ, and NY. Our primary residence is in Sun City Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC. Currently working with Molly Thienel to see if a Nichols gathering in the Hilton Head area can be assembled
MacNair,” to which I respond, “Oh,
spectators. I also did volunteer work in the fundraising area for St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston. I wasn’t able to play golf with good friend Henry St. Cyr or hook up with Jimmy Ricci at Saratoga this summer but kept in touch throughout the year. I also correspond with Bob Hood ’66, Warren Bender ’64, Duke MacNair ‘66 and Dave Lombard and look forward to seeing everyone in 2021. My best to all, stay safe, Lew.
grounds, I was a little pessimistic on
please, Mr. Conrad, call me Don. No need to stand!” Two people in that room did not see even an iota of humor! Being that we started off on shaky how the rest of this meeting would go! I can look upon the remainder of our interview with some pleasure. I learned that Mr. Conrad also had a smidgen of humor about himself. He asked the usual questions. I mostly shut up, as by now I knew what was good for me, and I responded in a businesslike manner. Then we had a sort of face-off, mano-a-mano, eye-to-eye moment. Mr. Conrad went into his file on the right-hand
Dick Shields says: I turned 77 on December 10! I am still working full time and get to the office at 6 a.m. every day, five and a half days a week. COVID-19 has been an experience. I feel very bad for my friends in the restaurant, hotel, gift shop, pub business, as well as any other small business owners. Sadly, I think so many will not survive. My business (lumber and building supplies) is booming. It has literally been 9 months of balls-to-the-wall business. Why? People from New York City fled here and are on a spending frenzy! I am in my 52nd year (43rd as president), and this is the hardest I’ve worked in all those years.
From Thomas Pearsall: I spent 40 plus years in banking managing trust departments for large and small banks. Having retired in 2007, my wife Sandi and I purchased a small horse farm in Lititz, PA. Last year Sandi came in third in her class at the National and Grand National Paso Fino horse show. We bred one of the horses and now have a 2-month-old Paso Fino filly. The photo included is our granddaughter with the foal and mother. We are very lucky that our two kids, seven grandkids and four
side of his desk, pulled out an
great-grandkids are only two hours away, so we see them regularly.
I must admit, is a new challenge for
Best wishes to my classmates.
envelope, took out the papers, and slowly perused all it contained. He then lifted his head and commented, “I have before me your up-to-date high school report card. To say it’s the mark of an underachiever and surely disappointing to your family would (bingo, swings the hammer and rings the bell) be an understatement!” Without pause, Mr. Conrad then says, “I then read these letters of recommendations from people who have known you for 10-12 years; neighbors and men whose opinions are welcomed by the masses. This, me.” By this time my mind is wondering. I had a buddy whose uncle was an admissions guy at Syracuse
1966
University where my sister had
Class Champion: Phil Collins 703-627-9924 pecollins10@aol.com
honors, so I was getting a little ant-
graduated from with Phi Beta Kappa sy. That and my father agreed with him! Come on, what’s with that? Had it been The Godfather, Marlon would
Duke MacNair remembers: 1961 was my first year on the Nichols campus. As I was not a particularly stellar student, my father, a graduate of Cooper Union, Columbia and MIT, knew he had his work cut out for him. Through his work at Bell Labs and living in Berkeley Heights, he worked with or was neighbors with a few gentlemen who he called upon to write letters of recommendations for me as requested by Nichols. Dr. John Pierce, a noted scientist who coined the word transistor and put our first satellites in space, was one, also Dr. Shockley, Nobel Prize winner in physics and inventor of the transistor, our neighbor, and Ray Archibald Goodrich of Foster Wheeler. I tell you this in preparation for my interview with Mr. Conrad, the Colonel’s son. Keep in mind please I was a young 16 and thought everything was funny! In the car before our interview my dad lectured me, and straight up told me, “I want no shenanigans out of you; this is important!” So, we proceed into Mr. Conrad’s office. I walk in with my proud father, and Mr. Conrad gets up out of his seat and says, “Hello Mr.
cocoon. I was short on social skills that point in my life (still am) and
Lew Gelman reports: In New Jersey we were hit very hard from COVID-19. I was able to keep busy as New Jersey State golf rules official and worked over ten events at the professional and amateur levels, though not the same without
Family gatherings with no or minimal family are not fun, but hopefully this will end soon. I had two favorite events at Nichols. The first was cheering for the hockey team. I loved to watch Jim Robinson execute his famous hip check and jump throw in goal. The second was being part of the golf team. Coach Bazzie and all my teammates were just first class! I was Gary Player, Phil Collins ’66 was Chi Chi Rodrigues, Dana Condgon ’66 was Gene Littler, Henry St. Cyr ’66 was Tony Lima. The road trips were the best! I still play the game with my oldest granddaughter. I also still ski with my wife. To all my classmates I send my best wishes for good health and happiness. If you are not well, I wish you better days. Keep your chins up. I did and survived cancer five times. A special thanks to Dave Lombard for not missing a birthday or anniversary.
10
be pissed. Well, fellow Nichols’ oldsters, the next words out of Mr. Conrad’s mouth sewed it up, I was going to commit and further my education. AND THE WORDS WERE… “Mr. MacNair, this time the young MacNair, I have one question. If you do come to Nichols, who will be attending, Doctor Jekyll or Mr. Hyde?” My experiences at Nichols, and surely many of yours, have proven to be the greatest investment in time, in friendships, in (even for me) education and now in memories. I know every birthday and anniversary Dave Lombard will call me; I know if it’s real early or late in the evening, it’s Phil Collins; I know when I think of God and country, Cliff Dietrich and Jimmy Rattigan come to mind; and when I think of service to our country during periods of bad times, Dick Moran and Bobby Dublin come to mind. And lastly, Nichols College could be one of the only colleges where an old-old grad could have a crush on what we all know presently is our great-great president.
Golden Bison Updates All be well, get your shots, wear a
or less, some 11 million Americans,
mask, be good to one another, and
is the fastest growing segment of
send a few bucks to Nichols.
the population. I wish all of you and
David Hunn says: I’ve really enjoyed the last Golden Bison Bulletin and wanted to give a shout out to the Class of ‘69! Unfortunately, due to my daughter’s battle with cancer, my wife and I were unable to make the 50th Class Reunion. I’m retired, after a career in marketing, traveling with British Airways and Canon. We’re still on Long Island and travel between our home there and our vacation house upstate in Windham. We have two kids and one granddaughter. Life has been good! Thanks to Kuppy for all your continued work and support of Nichols! Best wishes to all!
myself good luck as we try to gently Barry Paletta shares a memory:
age in place.
It was the fall of 1964, or was it ’65? In any event, the whole college met
The recent pandemic has changed
at Daniels Hall, I think for Christmas
the way we live and travel. I currently
break. Colonel Conrad was always
live 10 minutes from Valley Forge
the prominent speaker. He was also
National Park and have found myself
a man of great stature and widely
spending lots of time there on the
respected by students and faculty
many walking trails that are available.
alike. He was always impeccably
The photograph I included shows
dressed and could be seen at any
me and three of my grandchildren
time on the campus and would
who live close by. Matthew is 16 and
greet all students as “Hi, son.”
plays on the high school varsity baseball team; Grace is 13 and plays
There were the usual good wishes
on the school soccer team; and
from individual professors and,
Mason is 9 and plays on the lacrosse
finally, Colonel Conrad spoke at
team. Sharon and I try to attend as
length of the progress the college
many games as possible. We enjoy
has made and plans for the
all of them, win or lose! One of my
upcoming year. As he was nearing
goals in life is to be able to attend
the end of his speech, the buzzing
each wedding for my five grandkids;
noise of an alarm clock could be
however, it has often been said that
heard. Everyone looked up to see
the only plan that is a bad one is one
where it was coming from. At that
that can’t be changed! We shall see
moment a very large women’s
what the future holds.
Rick Whitman shares a story of fate while at Nicky U: In October of 1967 my best friend was killed in a motorcycle accident near Worcester Tech where he attended. When I was notified of his death and that I was to be a pall bearer, I had to cancel my date for the coming weekend. But, in the age of no cell phones, and one phone per floor in a dorm, I could not reach my date at Lesley College in Cambridge to let her know our date was off. So, a friend of mine from Nichols and I drove up to Cambridge so I could personally tell her (he also was dating a girl at Lesley). But she was not at the dorm house when we got there, and one of the girls had to come down and monitor us as we waited for my date to return.
brassier with a sign attached dropped from the ceiling. The sign read “Hi Son.” The laughter that broke out was unbelievable, especially as the Colonel himself was bent over in jest. To this day I do not know who perpetrated this awesome deed. Could it have been the same person(s) that cut down the huge flagpole besides Budleigh.
Stay healthy and enjoy each and
We will probably never know.
every day that you are blessed
After a short while, it became obvious that my date was not returning any time soon. I left a message with our hostess (Bonnie) who was cute and had a great personality. We headed back to Nichols and a funeral in West Hartford that weekend. On our way back I kept thinking of that cute hostess with the endearing personality. As Nichols teaches us, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, I called Bonnie and invited her out on a Friday night to a house party in Wellesley. I was not sure how the night would go having dealt with a funeral a few days before, now a first date, and knowing that a Saturday class at Nichols awaits the next morning. What could go wrong.
with. Send a note to Roy at To all my good friends who are
roygarizio@yahoo.com.
still here, we have a lot of great memories at Nichols. Hope you
John Rosenthal, president at PDC
remembered this one.
Graphics, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in commercial printing and design. From the announcement: Having accrued more than 50 years of experience in the printing industry, Mr. Rosenthal commenced his career working for his brother’s company and advanced his career to become
Wayne Nigro, Brad Babb, Dick Moran, Phil Collins, Duke MacNair and Mike Vendetti
the east coast sales manager with Toppan Printing, the world’s largest printing company. Wisely, he
beginning of my senior year and be able to experience the Nichols way of life together before graduating. The recent Golden Bison Reunion in September 2019 showed my wife and me that the leadership at Nichols has been working very hard to make Nichols more than just a four-year business college, but we already knew that. We have been together for 52 years with kids, grandkids, and great grandkids as proof of fate while at Nicky U. Forever grateful. Bob Lucas talks dorm life in the ’60s: Smith Hall was my dormitory, more like a fraternity, with 42 friends, who stuck together throughout our school years! My freshman year, ’65-’66, we had the majority of the first floor, with one pay phone to share with 41 other people. My second year, we were able to move to the second level. That became an interesting time, as I believe there were four “Bobs” on the upper floor. My room was towards the end, near the emergency exit. When a call came in over the pay phone, someone would yell from downstairs “Bob!” And four heads would pop out from different rooms to see which one it was for! Finally, after much confusion, we each got a nickname. Mine was Luke for Lucas. Not sure, what the others were, but mine stuck the remainder of my years at Nichols! The phone was answered by anyone walking by or in the TV room at the time. They would yell the first name and walk away, not knowing or caring if anyone came down to answer the phone. I just wanted to relate a little story of a simpler time of life at Nicky U! In remembrance of two dorm and classmates who have passed: Recently, Ron Friend of Maine and Patrick Walsh of Kennebunk, a few years back. They were roommates and friends to all who knew them throughout their time in Smith Hall and Nichols College.
predicted the need for short-run,
1967
high-end color printing and went
Roy Garizio says: Wow, 57 years
business. In 1997, he opened Digital
ago today, I was sitting in Colonel
Color Graphics, merged with other
Wilkins’ sociology class when
companies and became PDC
someone comes in and tells us that
Graphics in Southampton, Penn.,
the president of the United States
growing the company to build one
has been shot. Class was cancelled,
of the region’s premier printing,
school was cancelled, and we all left
mailing and fulfillment organizations.
for home. That was a long time ago.
1969
Getting old is tough duty; your
Class Champion:
parts start to fail, your friends die, and mortality is a constant visitor. I just recently read that those over 80, soon to be all of us in five years
As it turned out, the night was very special and one my wife and I are reminded of often. As fate would have it, the meeting day was a birthday celebration of her roommate, the first date was her parents’ wedding anniversary, and none of this happens if my friend does not get killed. Of course, if I am not at Nichols College, these outcomes surely do not happen. I knew I had met someone very special and within a few months everyone else knew this as well.
forward to spearhead his own
Robert “Kuppy” Kuppenheimer 4627 Tremont Ln.
Nichols College made it possible for my wife and I to marry at the
Corona del Mar, CA 92625-3130 rkuppy@gmail.com
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David Thomas says his favorite events were the Bison football games for four years and that he had many great memories on and off the field. While playing as a freshman on varsity, he recalls a game against Bridgewater State. His best friend from high school, Vincent and his dad were at the game in Bridgewater. He and Vincent had been captains of their high school football team. That game was the last time he saw him. He reports that Vincent was killed in a car accident while still in the service waiting to be discharged after returning from Vietnam.
Golden Bison Updates Alex Gottfried reports on tree work,
He operates a tree service company
Jim Jackson shares that a herd
Nichols style: I met my friend and
in Hopkinton MA, Joe Regan Tree
of Bison from Massachusetts
classmate Joe Regan at 2019
Work, Inc. I collected his card and
were seen recently in the heart
Homecoming, our 50th Reunion.
told Joe that I would be needing
of the Palouse wheat fields
Joe started with us in
tree work. Joe and his son,
of eastern Washington near
September 1965 but
Greg, recently took a tree
Pullman, home of the Pac-10
transferred later when
down and trimmed several
WSU Cougars. He says It was
Nichols announced
others as well as ornamental
a rare sighting of this herd in
the discontinuance of
tree pruning. I’m very happy
these parts.
the Forestry Program.
with the results and it was
Joe later returned to
great to see Joe again.
The herd were touring the tree
Nichols and graduated
fruit labs and greenhouses of
in 1970.
Gil Rochon and his bride
Professor Amit Dhingra, Ph.D.,
just moved to Ft. Pierce, FL.
chair of the Department of Horticulture at WSU, during their internship this past
Kuppy shares a photo
summer at Royal Bluff Orchards
of a gathering on
in Royal City, WA.
campus, around 1998.
Pictured are William (Bill) Manger, Lee McNelly, Kuppy, Tom Hall, and John McClutchy ‘72.
Oscar Chavez (Grad Student), Hunter Girard (Sophomore), Jim Jackson ’69, Kevin Chetwynd (Junior)
Jim Jackson and his wife Carroll Read with two of their 14 grandchildren are among Fuji apples at Royal Bluff Orchards.
Calling all classes ending in 0, 1, 5 or 6 and guests to come home to the Hill for the exclusive celebration of class milestones and more. Special celebrations for our 50th reunion classes of 1970 and 1971, along with a reunion dinner for our Forestry alumni. Please save the dates of June 4-5, 2021.
Crossword Puzzle Answers Across
Down
2 Institute for Women’s Leadership
1
3 Dudley
7 Commencement
4 Amasa Nichols
8 Eric Gobiel
5 Lombard Dining Hall
10 Eighteen fifteen
Commonwealth Coast Conference
6 Susan Engelkemeyer 9 Board of Trustees
Puzzle on page 6
“Hi, son”
The Colonel Conrad Society was
We’d be honored to be included in your legacy.
created and named for the founding president of Nichols College. The Colonel was a well-respected figure on campus, known for his firm but fair attitude and ability to push his students to strive for greatness.
Contact Jillian to continue the conversation of how a bequest of any amount in your estate can make a profound difference. jillian.riches@nichols.edu 508-213-2211
Consider honoring Colonel Conrad by including Nichols College in your estate plans to invest in the next generation of students whom we continue to support in their quest for greatness.
If you have already included Nichols College in your estate plans, please notify the Advancement Office. We would like to thank and welcome you as a member of the Colonel Conrad Society.
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Do you have a story about an encounter with Colonel Conrad? We’d love to hear it. Submit your story via email to jillian.riches@nichols.edu, call (508)-213-2211 or mail to Nichols College, attn. Jillian Riches.
Golden Bison Updates 1970
return to my room on a Sunday
Class Champion: Jim Mulcunry
for Bill Matulewicz, whose room
mulcunryjl@charter.net
was down the hall, to break into the
One of the sports highlights my senior year was attending the Nichols vs. Notre Dame hockey game in Worcester at the arena. Hockey was a club sport at ND, but it was still ND, and Nichols won! We fans returned to campus and opened the bar to celebrate, as if we needed more drinks, and proceeded to do immature things like punch holes in the ceiling. The bar was a great location for pitch games and friendships to grow with just a few altercations.
night, turn the light out and wait
room and start playing Righteous Jim Mulcunry describes a photo
Bros records. Budleigh was always
he found in the yearbook: This was
alive, and pranks were the norm.
the result of Herbie stopping by
As freshmen we were the target for
unexpectedly. We never knew if he
all manner of friendly harassment,
was serious or not (we might have
including chasing us out of the
been enjoying a few beers when he
building — the first stitches I had
arrived), but it ended up okay.
in my life were on my forehead from colliding with a window in the front door as I ran from some upperclassmen.
Rich Nicoll shares an update: I’m pictured with my beloved wife Nancy, whom I married in the summer of 1968. We lived off campus until
As a married student, I lived one year in Professor Bazinet’s threestory apartment in downtown Dudley and the last two years in Durkee’s farmhouse apartments
graduation. We had two beautiful daughters. One, now in heaven, Kristen died of a rare form of cancer at the age of 18. Our other daughter Janet lives in Phoenix with her husband and three sons; they are the pride of our lives.
just below the lacrosse field. The day I moved to Durkee’s I borrowed the college golf course pickup truck (I had been terminated from a job at the golf course earlier in the week — something about a tractor burning up on the sixth Herb Durfee, Dan McDonald, Jim Elliot, and Jim Mulcunry.
From Doug Stirling: In the fall of 1966, I moved onto the first floor of Budleigh Hall as a freshman with an upperclassman roommate and a number of seniors who were mostly focused on card playing and having a good time. After a weekend at home in Needham, MA, I would
hole). As we were unloading the
home to the wife. However, I did attend and enjoy all the home football and basketball games. But even then, I didn’t feel too much a part of the campus life. In that regard, I feel like I missed out on a lot of what Nichols had to offer its student body. But that was all on me, not Nichols. I do wish all my classmates well, especially in this difficult time. Due to some family health issues, I will not be able to attend the 50th reunion of the class of 1971. Hopefully the pandemic will be behind us and there will be a reunion. Right now, it looks good because some vaccines are becoming available and being administered. As for my career, I spent all my working life in manufacturing environments, managing in three diverse fields: accounting, human resources and safety. I often wore many hats and had to juggle a lot of
truck, I thought I had set the parking brake but apparently I hadn’t and, as we walked away from the truck, it started rolling down the driveway, crossed the road with a refrigerator bouncing back and forth in the truck bed, and crashed into the Forestry Building. Not my finest moment but Hal Chalmers was quite kind and let the incident go without any financial loss for me.
Stirling helped recruit for Nichols College at the University of Portland, with Brent Broszeit.
It was pretty much classes, library,
Stirling on a trip to Paris
After college we lived in Boston, New Jersey, four years in Kansas City, then settled in Phoenix in 1976. I owned a sales-rep business and retired in 2013. I am living the dream! Both Nancy and I are golfers, and Phoenix is as good as it gets anywhere in the US to play.
different responsibilities. But I liked
1971
pily retired here in Penfield, NY (a
John Steepy reflects: I don’t have too much of a story to tell about my time at Nichols, as I was there only two years, graduating in 1971 (Yikes! Has it really been 50 years?!) Since I was married, my time on campus was pretty limited. Of course, I did attend all my classes and spent a lot of time in the library. Being pretty much an introvert, I didn’t frequent the on-campus student hangouts.
pandemic we stay connected with
the varying challenges and duties; something different every day which I enjoyed immensely and probably kept me from being too smart in any one field. My wife of 51 years and I are hapsuburb of Rochester). During the friends and family via Zoom and Skype, and we try not to venture out too much, just for the essentials. We both have indoor hobbies which keep us occupied so we’re getting through this year pretty well. Here’s wishing all of us a brighter and better 2021. No way it can be as bad as 2020, eh?
Part-time Volunteer Wanted
A Young Scholarship Recipient Lost Too Soon Hallie Linacre passed away on Friday, May 8, 2020. Linacre was a recipient of the Class of ’63 Endowed Scholarship. Linacre was a valued member of the women’s soccer team, and in fall of 2019, played a key role in the highest win total for the team in nearly a decade. She played in all 19 matches and anchored a stingy defense that allowed just 30 goals in 19 contests. Following the season, she once again received CCC Academic All-Conference accolades. Linacre was a double major in Accounting and Finance. She was a member of the Honor’s Program at Nichols, a teaching assistant for the Professional Development Seminar Program, involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and served as a student worker in the Library. Linacre was set to be a team captain for the Bison as a senior in 2020. Her legacy will be honored at Nichols College. In the spring of 2020, students organized a memorial ceremony. To watch please go to: https://bit.ly/3bcizxo
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Carrie Grimshaw, digital access instructional services librarian, is looking for a local Bison to help curate displays in the library for student viewing with Nichols College archives materials. The goal is to create a new display each month. The position would require a couple hours a month, starting on April 1st. If interested, please contact Carrie directly.
Email: Carrie.Grimshaw@nichols.edu Phone: 508-213-2234
BIS ON HIG H L I G H T
Bob Mcllvain ’70
Q A
What is your top memory from your time at Nichols College?
I was part of the Nichols College Fire Department, we had a lot of fun together. Professor Charlie Grant was our advisor and head of the Finance Department and, a New York City firefighter during WWII. He was a great man, someone that everyone respected. My most memorable moment was the Olsen fire. It was the first live fire I was a part of. The Nichols College Fire Department were the first to the scene, Phil Boucher and I entered the building: Phil went in first, but we had to retreat once Phil injured his hand. Our department was able to contain the fire, and we received back up from the Quinebaug and Dudley fire departments. Dr. H. John Choo, who was the proctor of Olsen was upset because his thesis was inside. The firefighter in Professor Grant kicked in, he went in the burning building and saved it. On a lighter note, I have very fond memories of breakfast at Bazzie’s. He made the best English muffins, I still tell my wife about them.
Q A
Pictured with wife Carol of 42 years at one of their favorite vacation spots in the British Virgin Islands.
What are you looking forward to most about your 50th reunion?
I’m looking forward to supporting the Class of 1970 scholarship effort in hopes that we will help another student that needs a ticket for their next step in life.
I’m curious to see who shows up! I spent a lot of time with the other firefighters. I’m looking forward to swapping stories with classmates to see what memories we remind each other of.
I’m also really looking forward to being back on campus, I’ve been amazed at the growth and improvements I’ve read about in the Nichols College magazine.
Q A
What inspires you to continue your giving?
I’ve watched so many improvements to the college over the years. When I think about the campus when I was a student versus where it is today, I am very impressed. I have also been inspired by donors like Mr. Kuppenheimer. These generous donations have been put to very good use in my opinion.
As a long time, loyal supporter of Nichols College, why did you start giving?
Well wishes to my fellow 1970 classmates, I am hopeful that we can gather and celebrate our 50th reunion, I would very much like to reconnect with you. Please save the date of June 4-5, 2021.
The biggest thing I got out of Nichols was a ticket to my career, it made it possible. Nichols pushed me out of my comfort zone by living away from home. It was an environment where I learned I was capable of doing well academically and I ultimately earned my degree which enabled me to join the Navy and start my aviation career. It was the ticket I needed for the next step of my life.
BISON BRAIN BUSTER
Q A
Bob
Nichols Trivia
In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Empowering Women in Business Conference, held virtually this year, hosted by the Nichols College Institute for Women’s Leadership
Trivia Question: What year did Nichols College start to admit women?
Top Priorities
Learn more about the Institute for Women’s Leadership here: https://iwl.nichols.edu/ Consider supporting the institute this year.
• Promote leadership • Raise awareness of the under-representation of women
For your chance to win a Nichols College prize and help us create our next trivia question, submit your answer via email to jillian.riches@nichols.edu or mail your response to:
• Build relationships and encourage networking
Nichols College Attn: Jillian Riches PO Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571
• Provide resources and information to students 14