Three Good Men

By Harold W. Nash

"So often in life, we don't realize how deeply someone has effected us until it is too late to thank them. Thus it is with Harry Nash, but he has done the next best thing. He has written a beautiful tribute to the men who, just by being themselves, influenced his understanding of the world and his place in it."
Adele DelSAvio, Assistant Director, Resource and Community Development, Aurora of CNY, Inc. Syracuse, New York
"Harrys gift to us in Three Good Men invites us to experience how such unique individuals continue to be . important in all our lives. Harold L. Nash, Harry's father, taught, "He who invented work should have finished it."
Martin H Rogers
Once a camp director always a camp director" Skills learned during summer camp can set the stage for the rest of your life. John J. Readling through his presence and actions shows us how to listen and ask the difficult questions that clarify life's challenges.
"So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom" Psalm 90:12.
The Reverend Jeffrey D. Knox, Retired Episcopal Priest, All Saints Church; Fulton, NewYork.
"This book was a joy to read. It makes you stop to think about all those people who helped shape your life."
Deana Masuicca, SUNY Brockport'75, Director, YMCA, Oswego, New York
"Harry Nash lovingly and respectfully recalls the personal and professional influence of three men in his life. We should all be so fortunate and grateful"
Bill Reilly, Owner, the river's end bookstore, Oswego, New York

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 28, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469103549

Harold W. Nash

Harold W. Nash, EdD is Professor Emeritus, State University College, Oswego, New York. Three Good Men is his effort at honoring Harold L. Nash, Martin H. Rogers, and John J. Readling. He describes how they helped shape his life at particular times and places during his seventy-eight years. Incidents and experiences with each man are shared and the effects of the occasions are explained. It is a fascinating, emotional, and thoughtful journey.

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Copyright © 2009 by Harold W. Nash.

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Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

Postscript

Acknowledgements

Sources of Information

Introduction

In August 1953, thirty-six Physical Education students from Brockport State Teachers College arrived at Totem Camp in Harrisville, New York, for their required camping course. My job during those ten days was to supervise them as they worked in and around the kitchen. General Education was my college major. We were all to be seniors at Brockport in September for the Class of 1954.

One of the students was Lorraine B. Porter (Peachie) of Batavia, New York. I could see how well liked she was by all the other students. I found her to be someone I wanted to know more.

In December 1954, we became engaged and were married on June 18, 1955. On May 8, 1957, Martin Allan Nash was born. On March 24, 1959, Timothy Andrew Nash was born. I pay great personal tribute to Lorraine, Marty, and Tim, as they were partners in much of my journey.

Harold Howard Lincoln Nash, Martin H. Rogers, and John J. Readling were born early in the Twentieth Century within 18 years of each other. They were all very good men. When they had something to say, people listened to them. They said important things. It was my good fortune to know each of them. Harold, Martin, and John were significant, strong people in my life, each at a different time since 1930.

Harold lived from June 1906 to February 1983. Martin lived from January 1915 to March 2002. John lived from July 1924 to May 2004. They are men who guided and shaped my life. They mattered to me and I believe I mattered to them. I want to tell you about them. They all made significant contributions to who I am today.

They were all good listeners. All three did what they said they would do. None made promises they would not or could not keep. They did not say they would do something and not do it. They kept their word. They had good common sense. They were all teachers. All of the three either had to work prior to entering college, or during their college careers, or both. One used the GI Bill to help support himself during his college years.

Each man had some difficult times in his life that made him into a resilient individual able to handle hardship, disappointment, and lack of finances. I believe they were better for their difficulties.

By identifying these three men, I am not saying that no one else was helpful to me. These three made strong impressions on me for different and particular reasons at crucial times in my life. I wish to share my remembrances of their wonderful, helpful contributions. As I consider my seventy-eight years I have taken the opportunity to look back over time. Some of my looking back and remembering has brought back many strong emotional responses.

Early in the genesis of Three Good Men, I made phone calls to Geneseo, Brockport, Rochester, Naples, Canandaigua, Albany, Bath, Rathbone, Rush, Henrietta, and Hedgesville, all in New York State. Notes were made during those phone calls. Names and addresses of people I wished to contact about the lives of these three men were gradually added to my original list.

As a result of the phone calls and letters, information began to jell and ideas began to form in my head. More ideas began to form and directions for the book began to evolve. Time was spent as I considered how and in what directions the book should proceed. Thoughts were discarded and new ones took their place. Notes were made and stuck in my folders for each man.

Discussions of each man will appear chronologically and then a summary will occur. A number of people have provided me with much information and fine sources of information. If you see that all of your information was not included, it was my decision. There was not the same amount of information available for each man, so there may appear to be an imbalance. It has not been intentional. I hope enough has been included for the reader to understand and appreciate how each man contributed to my life.

Great efforts were made to be as accurate as possible about the years in which the three