Reflections magazine • Mike Nugent feature story • Spring 2007

Steve “Reno” Reed and Mike Nugent Garry Green ’55 Northwood School

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Justin Clancy ’90

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New Orleans to Lake Placid Spring • 2007

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Michael Nugent

Business Manager, colleague, and friend.

By Perry Babcock

It was November 19th, 1965, forty-two years ago and then some, when a young man showed up at Northwood School as the Business Manager, and took over the financial reins. No one would say that the school was in financial ruin before his arrival, but the footings were weakened and fiscal management of the highest degree was needed.

Mike Nugent took the helm and the school began a long trip back toward financial security. When Mike retires in June of 2007 he will leave a school that is financially secure and fiscally responsible. Mike Nugent didn’t do it alone, but he did play a lead role in orchestrating the creation of a healthy business environment at Northwood School.

Speaking as someone who Mike regularly hounds for missing credit card receipts and expense documentation, I know first hand just how thorough he is!

Following, the forty-two year career of Mike Nugent will be condensed into a few short remembrances as the man who held the combination to the school safe for so long is honored by his colleagues and friends.

“I’m sure Mike will miss a lot of things about Northwood but the one thing he won’t is having the alarm go off at 6 am.”

Nancy Nugent

“When I first met Mike Nugent I thought he was the one who was the head of the school. Everyone came to him for answers to all aspects of school business whether it was financial or educational. When I found out he was the business manager I was in awe of all that he did. How can one man do all that he does and be able to do most of it off the top of his head? The reason is that Mike cares for all the people he works with, and he likes what he does. Mike always goes that extra mile for everyone he makes contact with. Mike Nugent is a friend I am

going to miss. He inspired me to care for my job and the people of Northwood School.”

Herb Rock

“For the 32 years that I had the pleasure of working with Mike he has been like a mailman, coming through the doors of Northwood School at 7:20am every morning through snow, sleet, rain or hail. Of course that meant I better get to school on time too!”

Jane Assetta

“Maybe he’s a mailman at heart because we took many white-knuckle rides through snow, sleet, and high water in the Wilmington Notch. There always seemed to be something important that needed his attention like paychecks for employees, allowances for students, or travel money for coaches.”

Nancy Nugent

When asked what she most will remember Mike for, Jane Assetta, who has been the school registrar and assistant to the Headmaster for almost as long as Mike Nugent has been around, said: “A younger Mike Nugent, who was the only male on the administrative support team.

Mike hung out with me and Janet Martin, Sally Healy, Dawn Latourelle, Helen Moody, Mary Hardy and of course his wife Nancy Nugent. Mike and the girls were always up on all the gossip. Whether it was student discipline, faculty changes or plans for the school’s future, Mike and the girls usually had the inside story.”

W. John Friedlander was the Headmaster for three quarters of Mike’s time at Northwood. When John was asked what he remembered most about Mike he replied: “What’s to remember? He was a pain in the butt, although because of that he balanced the books and kept the school solvent through good times and bad.” John spoke candidly about how important Mike Nugent was, especially when the tuition payments were overdue. He said that Mike could be firm but compassionate while listening to parents’ reasons for not sending their tuition payments in on time. At the

end of the day Mike got the checks, paid the bills and balanced the budget.

Former faculty members John Steitz and David Perham remember Mike’s nickname “Ted” after the famous rock star, who had a hit song “Catch Scratch Fever.”

John remembered Mike as “always scratching away back in the office while smoking a cigarette and listening to loud rock and roll!”

One story was repeated a number of times by Mike’s colleagues. There was a Christmas party a few years back (maybe a lot of years back?) when Mike had a bit too much eggnog. As the party ended Mike said his goodbyes and headed back to his home in Ausable Forks. Unfortunately, he completely forgot that he had arrived at the party with his wife Nancy! One can only guess how things went the next morning. Oh, how things have changed.

Anonymous

Long time team bus driver in the 1980s and 1990s Bill Hogle confided to Tom Fleming: “I would leave the bill under the door of Mike’s office and by the time I got back to Ticonderoga the check would already be there!

I could never figure out how he did that so quickly.”

That “pretty intense guy,” who rarely missed a receipt or school list, slowed down a bit over the years. When some health issues required Mike to change a few of his habits, he applied that same intense focus to his own personal health and related lifestyle changes, and has since mellowed gracefully with age.

Don Mellor ’71

This “softer side” was reinforced by a story from Tom Broderick. Tom noted that for years Mike Nugent had quietly and faithfully conversed with some of the young faculty children who regularly visited his office.

Starting with Chris Woo and continuing today with Kate Broderick, Mike would often entertain questions about his birdfeeder or his computer. The inquiring toddler usually left the business office with a money wrapper and a smile.

“After watching the Food Channel he says he wants to start cooking when he retires - works for me! But he better hadn’t get up in the morning and say “What are we doing today?” or ask “What’s for lunch?”

Nancy Nugent

“Mike, enjoy yourself! As everyone will agree with me, you deserve to have a long and fulfilling retirement.

The school will miss you.”

Herb Rock

“I have known Mike for fifteen years. He will be missed, very much so! Mike has been great to work with.”

“Over the 37 years I’ve been here, my disorganization and procrastination have been nearly a match for Mike’s efficiency and time management skills. I’ve tested his patience innumerable times by losing my receipts on school trips and by asking at 11:40am for a check to the SATs that has to be mailed out by noon. Because none of the rest of us here are as good at our jobs as Mike, I suspect you can multiply the problems I’ve caused by the few hundred employees that have worked here over Mike’s tenure. Ultimately, after his initial moué of disgust Mike has been unfailingly helpful in solving our problems. He’s equally kind to students, coaches, counselors and maintenance men. I’ve never been disappointed in any interaction with Mike because he has always cared so much to do what he does with the utmost courtesy and correctness.”

Bob Duffy

Steve “Reno” Reed

“A loyal, frustrated Giants fan, who pronounces “anyway” ENNAWAY and refers to trips to the village as “going over-town.”

Roger Loud

“He has been good to me, but ordering anything from the business office is like pulling teeth!”

Kathie Moore

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