There are, I believe, two particular places in camp that serve myriad purposes. One is the Rec Hall, which is a dining hall, a talent showcase, a rainy day respite, a repository of history, etc. The other is the Big House, which actually has served as all of that over the years, too, as well as an office, a home, a project site, a gathering place, a museum of sorts, even a kind of beacon on a hill. In other words, to call it simply a big house is to sell it short.
First, consider its age. It was built in 1898. That’s the year the Spanish-American War began and ended. The first American-built automobile was sold. Baseball’s 12 big league teams had names like the Cleveland Spiders, the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, the Boston Beaneaters. Vladimir Lenin and Annie Oakley and Teddy Roosevelt and H.G. Wells (The War of the Worlds) were making impacts.
1931
It was built to be a home – for John Phillip Weyerhaeuser, who oversaw construction of a white, frame, Palladian structure. Three stories. Eight bedrooms. Five fireplaces. When the property of the Lake Nebagamon Lumber Company became the site of Camp Nebagamon for Boys, the house served various purposes. It was a summer home for the Lorber family, but it also was… a dining hall (during the first few years, campers ate in shifts in the dining room), an infirmary (in the early days, this could be found in what became known as the “phone room” outside the first-floor bathroom), a stage (the earliest Follies took place on the front porch), a winter camp for boys (once, in 1940), even a wedding site (Nardie Stein and Sally Lorber in 1955). It was also, I might add, a model – for the replica Boathouse, built in 1902, that dominated the Waterfront until 1944.
As I write this, the Big House is a 125-year-old structure. The floors creak and the beds squeak (as do the occasional varmints who find their way in), but it remains remarkably sturdy and bustling with activity. Campers in the living room and the kitchen. Administrators in the office. Staff members sitting around the dining room table. Residents trudging up and down the two stairways.
Sometimes, there is activity on the third floor. That’s where you might find a counselor rummaging through THE COSTUME CLOSET (see story). To my mind, that goofy collection of unfashionable fashions combines two primary elements of the Big House – as a center of activity and also a sort of living history museum. Most folks who set foot in the Big House don’t quite realize how much history resides in the building, not only simply through the institutional memory of the place, but also (quite literally) in the form of artifacts too numerous to recount in full. But we’ve managed to explore quite a few, and you can take a tour in the BIG HOUSE TREASURE HUNT story. And in the DID YOU KNOW tale, you can learn more secrets of the Big House, as gleaned from the memories of Sally Lorber Stein, who spent much of her childhood living there and much of her adulthood working there.
So sure, it’s a big house. But its impact on camp and its role in camp history loom much larger.
Back in 1980, when I was a Logger camper, a fellow named Tom Schweich (a member of the trip staff that summer) found buried treasure. In front of the Big House. Using a metal detector. He found a bunch of old coins, some old keys, even a tiny old pistol. Those treasures now sit behind a glass case inside the Big House. But they do not sit alone.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to spend some time living in that old Weyerhaeuser mansion. So I decided to look around. I mean, really look around. The Big House is generally so busy that visitors don’t have a chance to explore the countless quirky artifacts that populate what is essentially a hodgepodge historical museum. But I had time. I had opportunity. I had curiosity.
So I explored.
And the narrative that I found in the Big House collection tells the story of a place — historically, humorously, randomly. There are artifacts both profound and silly, familiar and mysterious, obvious and esoteric. But all harbor memories. So here’s a Big House tour that few have experienced — as told by the treasures discovered there.
What did I find? Well…
An American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol Building in honor of Camp Nebagamon — at the request of then U.S. Senate page Joel Sircus in 2008.
A novel called The Golden Star of Halich that was gifted to Camp Nebagamon by Charles Hirsch (of the Chuck Hirsch Shrine) in 1937.
A framed wool jacket that once was worn often by Muggs Lorber’s old fishing buddy, Alan “Hoss” Mayer, who was a camper in Nebagamon’s very first summer of 1929.
A framed collection of Camp Nebagamon postcards (gathered over the years by Michael Weinberg III and Nardie Stein), dating from 1910 to 2000.
A pile of hand-crafted cribbage boards, one in the shape of a whale, another featuring Lake Nebagamon, and a third treasure that features the names of counselor cribbage tourney winners dating back more than 70 years.
A trophy honoring the winners of the now-defunct counselors doubles horseshoe pitching tournament.
A couple of framed drawings of Muggs Lorber and Herb Hollinger, sketched by Nebagamon alumnus Nelson “Bud” Pollak, Jr. And another by Bud Pollak, a large painting of Muggs Lorber daydreaming about the summer camp he and Janet imagined up.
An album recording the planning, construction, and dedication of the Paul Bunyan statue in 1969, including a page of sketched designs
A wooden-covered book celebrating the Camp Nebagamon 1960 Political Convention, including speeches in support of the likes of John Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Adlai Stevenson.
An album about the construction (by many Nebagamon youths) and 1957 dedication of Camp Bovey (also known as Camp Hodag) eight miles outside of Gordon, Wisconsin.
A set of diaries from the 1973 Camp Scandia trip to Scandinavia.
A guest book signed by visitors to the Big House from 1972 through 1976: John Baum – Montgomery, AL… Jeff Kaine – Franklin, MI… Ruth + Bill Caro – Evanston, IL… Bud + Mary Jane Bezark – Highland Park, IL…
Photo albums from the 25th and 60th camp anniversary celebrations, the former including a spread showing Muggs Lorber… teaching the campers how to properly shower.
Alongside some modern technology, an antique telephone from the American Electric Telephone Company, which went out of business nearly a century ago.
A metal wastebasket bearing the visages of every U.S. president up to the date it was created… meaning that it ends with Lyndon Johnson.
Bound volumes of National Geographic Magazine dating back to 1915.
A classic photo of Muggs Lorber quarterbacking the 1926 Indiana University football team.
A massive photo of Muggs and Paul, hanging above the dining room table.
A needlepoint of Paul Bunyan, created by Janet Lorber on the occasion of camp’s 50th anniversary. And another Nebaga-creation by Janet, from six years earlier.
A very old fly fishing rod purchased by Muggs Lorber in the 1930s, used by him and others for more than 50 years, and carefully restored by Joe Ruwitch from St. Louis.
A replica of a typical logging train — Locomotive #7 of the Hawthorne, Nebagamon, and Superior Railroad — built by longtime camper and counselor John Altshool in 1979. (And another, Locomotive #12, that he built seven years later).
A gathering of antique books about Paul Bunyan, fronted by a Paul-and-Babe whiskey bottle celebrating the centennial of Brainerd, Minnesota, in 1971.
A collection of old hardcover books about camping — with titles like Spark from a Thousand Campfires, Summer Magic and simply Boys’ Camp.
A collection of classic board games — from Clue to Candy Land, Sorry to Scrabble. And an even larger collection of not-so-classic board games. Evolution? Cranium Conga? The Allowance Game?
A couple of model boats, neither of which likely skimmed the waters of Lake Nebagamon.
A made-in-the-art-shop loon, created and donated by Guy Sachs.
A depiction of “Charming Lake Nebagamon: The home of the pines and the sparkling waters, and lair of the gamey bass.” At least a century old, it depicts what is now camp property as simply “lumber yards.”
A depiction of the Patrick-Duluth Club’s property in August 1917.
A large framed U.S. map showing the hometowns of campers and counselors from camp’s first season through 1961, when it was presented to Muggs and Janet by the campers of Axeman 7.
A collection of ancient arrowheads.
A deer head wondering why it’s surrounded by a couple of old helmets from the camp fire brigade, a pair of wooden snow shoes, and a single wooden ski.
A photo, autographed by the subject to Muggs Lorber, of Ralph Gates, Governor of Indiana from 1945-49.
A photo from the “Camp Nebagamon New York World’s Fair Tour” in 1939.
Framed staff photos dating from 1929 to the present day.
A collection of trophies — some big (i.e. the Northwoods Invitational Tennis Tournament) and many small (prizes from the Lake Nebagamon Dragin Tail Run).
A half-log carved with the names of Trails Forward speakers from the first decade of the program.
A short-lived (and slightly faded) trophy of sorts from the 1990s — the Associate Director’s Pre and Post Camp Eating Award.
A replica Paul Bunyan, replica totem pole, and wholly original George Washington head, the latter having been constructed to honor the 1976 American Bicentennial.
An old sermonette box, a tomahawk from the rained-out 1986 Pow Wow Day, an axe from the 1994 Paul Bunyan Day, the 1942 Camp Goat badge, a baseball signed by a pre-camp team that played a competitive game at Washburn in the early 1990s, a plate celebrating peach pie, and a box of Milk-Bone dog biscuits featuring former camp dog Sadie Stein.
Birchbark snuff boxes made and used by 19th-century lumberjacks. An antique camera that belonged to Muggs Lorber. Part of a narrow gauge railroad track from the old Lake Nebagamon lumber yards. A Chinese water pipe given to Muggs by John Horvath after WWII. Kokesi dolls from Japan. The fragment of a 4000-year-old stone axe. Tom Schweich’s buried treasures.
The quirkiest Big House artifact? How about the unwashed granola-and-yogurt bowl used by John Dunsmore (former drummer for The Doors) when he visited camp in 2005.
And finally, the beloved C/N logo near the entrance to the Big House, just to remind everyone where they are.
A 125-year-old house has lots of secrets, particularly a house that has served countless purposes over the years—a family home, a summer living quarters, a camp office, a porch meeting place, a living room hangout, a kitchen project period, and on and on.
But if you want to learn something you didn’t know about the Big House, there’s no better person to turn to than Sally Lorber Stein, who spent her very first summer at camp (as a baby in 1934) sleeping in the house’s second-floor fireplace room… and sometimes napping in a makeshift arrangement placed on the roof of the porch, just outside the room.
So we asked Sally to reveal some information about the mansion on the hill, things only she might know. For instance…
The original furniture: Original Big House pieces (dating back more than a century) include the dining room table, the tall chairs around the table, the cabinet in the hallway near the front entrance, and the black easy chairs in the living room. The rolltop desk in the office, currently used by Adam Kaplan? Not original. The Steins bought it for about $20 in the 1960s… from a Finnish language newspaper in Superior.
The pocket doors: It’s likely that many don’t realize that there are three “pocket doors” installed in the Big House by the Weyerhaeuser—sliding doors that, with a press of a button and a pull of a handle, could open and close the space between… 1) the office and the hallway, 2) the living room and the hallway, and 3) the office and the dining room. Many alumni will remember the dining room was closed off to the office… and the hallway was open. Says Sally, “It took us years to realize we’d get more done if we closed the office off and people had to walk around to access it.”
Maggie’s Room: The second-floor room in the right corner (as you climb the main stairs) is currently used by Steph Hanson as an office. It used to be Maggie Rolfe’s bedroom. Sally’s grandmother (Janet Lorber’s mother) was a fixture at camp for most of its first three decades. If a button fell off a camper’s shirt or pants, he would visit Maggie, who would sew it back on. Then she would give the kid a treat—a peanut from a peanut dispenser. During the first summer when Maggie wasn’t there, the kids would come to Sally instead, so she offered a clinic on the Big House front steps… on how to sew on their own buttons.
The Queen of the Upstairs Linen Closet: That’s how Sally remembers Maggie, who used to count out all the linens for campers and counselors from other countries, bundle them up, and place them on the window seat as you walk up the stairs. These days, the window seat is often adorned with staff members patiently waiting for a paycheck.
The Nursery: The second-floor room right next to the bathroom has long been known as the Nursery. Why? Because a baby Weyerhaeuser was born in that room. Years later, after the property was reimagined as Camp Nebagamon, he came back to visit the room he’d been born in.
The laundry chute: Across from the second-floor bathroom is a laundry chute that runs down to the first-floor alcove outside the bathroom and then the basement. In the 1960s, a few girls — daughters of full-time staffers — figured out how to climb up and down the chute. There used to be a payphone in that first-floor alcove, and an occasional counselor would get a surprise interruption.
The Clawfoot tub: That second-floor bathroom originally featured a clawfoot tub, located where the current shower is. The old one now serves as a flower bed in the Lumberjack Village.
Calling the Commander in Chief: In the mid-‘70s, during the brief Gerald Ford Administration, a camp parent who was an attorney for the Warren Commission visited as a Trails Forward speaker. He received a call on the camp phone—from the president’s office. He was asked to call back a specific number, and he did so from that alcove payphone. Always enterprising and mischievous, Nardie Stein hid in the bathroom to overhear the call. According to Sally, all Nardie heard was a lot of… “Yes, Mr. President… No, Mr. President… Yes, Mr. President…”
The party line: During camp’s infancy in the ‘30s and ‘40s, there was only a party line phone (two rings for Camp Nebagamon—and much later, Larry Cartwright turned it into the original camp intercom system). The party line was operated by a Mrs. Christie, who was the local gas station owner’s wife… and who was known to listen in on the calls. Once, while Muggs Lorber was talking to someone, he interrupted himself and said, “Isn’t that right, Mrs. Christie.” She responded, “Yes.”
In early July each summer, before chosen Boss Loggers are introduced to the camp in anticipation of Paul Bunyan Day, those four young men make a trek to the third floor of the Big House. To the costume closet. They’re looking for odd outfits in their colors — red, yellow, green, or blue. And really, are there anything but oddities in there?
Walking into the costume closet is a bit like stepping through the lookingglass. It is part thrift store — garish jackets and vests and gowns repurposed into something occasionally useful. It is part psychedelic scene — a rather hallucinatory collection of colors (every one of them) and smells (every kind of mothball). And it is part historical collection. Each goofy coat and silly hat has a story behind it — certainly in its original incarnation and usually regarding how it made its way to that sweltering third floor room.
And, of course, the stories continue to be told because those costumes often make their way into a Nebagamon summer narrative. Campers and staff trek there to find the perfect outfit of absurdity to complement announcements, GTC acts, Chef’s Cap judging, Council fire skits, Cruiser Day themes.
Need a group of yellow sport coats? Got it. A faux fur monstrosity? It’s hanging there. Something resembling a letterman’s jacket? OK. A couple of cheesehead hats? Check. A bright pink wig? Yup.
The costume closet is to high fashion what a camper outfit on laundry day is to high fashion. But if the clothes make the person, the quirks in the closet create the perfect make-believe person. They are ready-to-wear silliness — eccentric, eclectic, perfectly peculiar when the need arises.
So here’s a photo homage to that third floor treasure trove.
Keep us posted! You can send life updates to Louis Levin in the Camp Nebagamon office (louis@campnebagamon.com) or directly to Keylog editor Brad Herzog (brad@bradherzog.com).
The impact of the late Nardie Stein (St. Louis/Minneapolis/Lake Nebagamon 55-90) was celebrated in the May-June issue of Camping Magazine, the publication of the American Camp Association. The column, “Raise the Canopy,” was written by his daughter Jessie Stein Diamond (St. Louis/Philadelphia 79-82, 86-87). You can read it here.
Legendary 96-year-old composer John Kander (Kansas City/New York City 37-44, 48) is still at it. His 16th musical, “New York, New York,” is currently on Broadway at the St. James Theatre. For this one, he collaborated with a lyricist who has found, well, some success: Lin-Manuel Miranda. “What really kind of dazzles me when we work together,” John told Stephen Colbert, “is we’re separated by not just two generations, but by three! Yet the actual process of writing and working is almost absurdly easy.” Bud Schram (Needham, MA, 54-59, 61-69) serves on the Needham, MA Human Rights Committee and is involved with the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Greater Boston… David Gibbs (Wellesley, MA, 63-67, 69-71) designs leadership programs for the Jewish Volunteer Services.
Arriving by train, 1965
He Went That Way, a feature film executive produced by Hugh Broder (Detroit/New York City 66-69, 74-75, 16-19) tells the true tale of a 19-year-old serial killer hitching a ride with a celebrity chimpanzee handler in 1964. It was recently accepted into the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Andy Mack (Washington, DC, 73-78, 80) was profiled on Voice of America for his company Agromovil (you can watch the profile here)… David Garfinkel (St. Louis 75-78, 82-83) is producing the upcoming Broadway ballet Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker… Jon Desenberg (Arlington, VA, 78-82) is the Principle Business Strategy Analyst at MITRE corporation.
Andy Cohen (St. Louis/New York City 78-83) has joined the likes of Chuck Berry and Maya Angelou as an inductee into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. His Hall of Fame plaque reads: “St. Louis native Andy Cohen, best known as the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Bravo TV’s live late night talk show, also executive produced The Real Housewives franchise, and hosted its reunion specials. In his many years running programming at Bravo, he oversaw smash reality hits like Project Runway and Top Chef, for which he won an Emmy. He and CNN’s Anderson Cooper co-hosted the network’s highly-rated New Year’s Eve shows and toured the country together. Andy Cohen created two SiriusXM radio channels, and his sense of humor and refreshingly authentic personality vaulted his multiple books onto the bestseller list.”
Swamper 5, 1978 (including Jon Desenberg and Andy Cohen)
Jay Sternberg (Bethesda, MD, 82-86, 89-90, 95) is the Senior Director of Marketing for the Global Campus of the University of Maryland… Greg Minisman (Boulder, CO 84-86, 89-91, 03) is a life science researcher with Google… Peter Orner (Highland Park, IL/Norwich, VT, 87-88, 90, 92, 97, 01, 04, 10) has published a new book, Still No Word From You: Notes in the Margin, which was a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay… Birch’s on the Lake Brewhouse & Supperclub, owned by Brewmaster Brennan Greene (Long Lake, MN, 93-98, 00-05), won two awards at the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild’s Brewers Cup Competition, including best Hazy IPA in Minnesota… Meanwhile, Ben Edmunds (Birmingham, MI/Portland, OR 93-97, 99-04, 07-08), brewmaster at Breakside Brewery in Portland, received the Brewers Association’s Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Brewing at the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference… Andrew Schram (Chicago, 94-99) is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago… Ben Kersten (Los Angeles, 03-09, 10-12) is working toward a graduate degree in Art History at UCLA… Danny Hensel (Chicago/Washington, DC, 06-11) is a producer for National Public Radio’s program Weekend Edition…Brayden Levy (Walnut Creek, CA/San Francisco 06-11, 13) is an engineer with Garmin…Teddy Shapira (Chicago/Washington, DC 06-12, 14-17) is a law student at George Washington University.
Eli Fromm (Kansas City/New Haven, CT 06-10, 12-15, 17-19) is finishing his PhD in mathematics… Walter Fromm (Kansas City/Minneapolis, 06-12, 14-15, 17, 19) is managing volunteers for Take Action Minnesota… Adam Hirschhorn (Los Angeles/Washington, DC 08-13, 15, 17) is working for Capital One in Washington, D.C… Charlie Fromm (Kansas City/Boston 09-15, 17-21) is earning his teaching license from Harvard University in mathematics… Danny Sickle (Chicago/New York City, 09-15, 17) is working for Barron International, a hospitality investment bank… Simon L’Tainen (Philadelphia, New York City 10-16, 18, 21) is working for Forget Me Not, a Manhattan restaurant… Luke Herzog (Pacific Grove, CA/Amherst, MA 11-16, 19) wrote a one-act play about the death penalty, Pulling the Switch, which won the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Big Trips return, 2011
Births in the camp family:
Bailey Aro Hutchence (Duluth, 08-10, 12) and Joe Hutchence (Preston, UK/Duluth, 07-12) – Leo
Haley Haavik (Houston, 10-12) and Brittany Haavik – Atticus and Booker
Maria Flores Alonso (Puebla, Mexico 22-22) – Marifer
—–
We are sad to report the deaths of the following alumni:
The Camp Nebagamon Charities website www.cncharities.org is dedicated to both the Camp Nebagamon Scholarship Fund (CNSF) and Camperships For Nebagamon (CFN). Learn about different donation options, read about each charity, and more.
Nebagamon’s alumni community has stepped up support for our affiliated charities in recent years in meaningful ways. In addition to generous direct support for both Camperships for Nebagamon and the Camp Nebagamon Scholarship Fund, alumni have increasingly encouraged donations to one or both funds as memorials and to honor happy occasions.
Camp Nebagamon Charities also instituted a virtual keylog program, a means of giving while thanking someone special (you can donate and fill out a message here). Contributions are split evenly between Nebagamon’s two affiliated charities. You will receive two separate emails confirming your contribution to each fund. If you’d like to give a unique donation to CFN or CNSF of if you’d like to give a gift in honor or memory of someone, please use the CFN-specific and CNSF-specific donation pages.
In addition, alumni and others can donate to the Camp Nebagamon Foundation, the non-profit organization created to ensure that Nebagamon will thrive and survive through another century.
Below you’ll find a list of generous donors and further information about all three of these worthy causes:
CNSF helps hundreds of children and teens who experience poverty and disability attend non-profit summer camps that specialize in meeting their needs. Recipient camps (located near communities where Nebagamon campers live) offer expert therapeutic and adaptive recreation and a nurturing environment for kids who have been exposed to adversity and trauma. Children are among peers and role models for success at these camps as they enjoy friendship, adventure and personal growth — opening new possibilities for a more positive future.
CNSF was founded in 1947 by Muggs and Janet Lorber, Nebagamon’s founding directors, and administered for 50+ years by Nebagamon’s former directors, Nardie and Sally Lorber Stein. Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages to learn more!
The following individuals, foundations, and corporations supported CNSF from November 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023:
Jerry Abeles (Kahn-Abeles Foundation)
Kathy and Rick Abeles
Debbie and John Abrams
Cecelia and Mickey Abramson
Chuck and Ruth Adler
Jeffrey and Kelly Alderman
Mary Allen
Hayley and Max Alpert
Pam and Tom Arenberg
Steve Arenberg
Susan Arenberg
Art Auer
Deb and Joe Badt
Andrew and Elizabeth Baer
Nancy and Richard Baer
Kathy and Stuart Barnett
Bob and Linda Barrows
Charlie Barrows
Brian Bauer
Jim and June Baumoel
Robby and Sage Bearman
Lynn and Robert Behrendt
Robert Behrendt and Amanda Tyler
Rick Bendix, Jr.
Peter and Sarah Beren
Rita Bernstein
Bob Best and Linda Tate
Ric Best
Kit Blach Roth
Peter and Randy Bloch
Lisa and Paul Blumberg
Jim Blumenfeld and Chris Cooney
Ronald Borod
Carolyn and Rodney Borwick
Elizabeth and John Breyer Jr.
Hugh Broder
Dale Brodsky
Marty Brodsky
Troika Brodsky and Elizabeth Potter
Michael Brody (Memorials)
Barbara and Jim Bronner
Jeff Burnstine
Jeffrey and Susan Callen
Mary Cantrell
Arlene Caplan
Mark Caro and Mary Dixon
Larry Cartwright (Memorials)
Marcia and Mark Cherniack
Ellen and Scott Chukerman
Liz Cochran
Andy Cohen
Andy (Andrew Joseph) Cohen
Carol Bayersdorfer Cohen and Ed Cohen
Carrie and Steve Cohen
Evelyn and Louis Cohen
Mitch Cohen and Stephanie Tomasky
Harriet Bronstein and Tom Cohen
Cal and Helen Cohn
Bonnie and Mike Cole
Jeff Colman and Ellen Nissenbaum
Jon and Suzi Colman
Jim and Suzy Cornbleet
Matthew Cost
Connie and Darryl Couts
Carla and David Crane
Charles Dan
Richard Darnell
Jennifer Daskal
Katharyn and Leila Davis
Kristen Davis
Becky and Raven Deerwater
Michelle and Stan DeGroote
Michael Deutsch
Jessie and Scott Diamond
Alicia Dowd
David Dreifus and Jennifer Sosensky
Jed Dreifus
Luise Drolson
Bill Dubinsky and Elizabeth Moss
Ellen and Henry Dubinsky
Timothy Dykstal
E.B. Hirsh Childhood Center
Amy Epstein
Joanne Epstein Faucett
Peter Fechheimer and Jeannette McNeil
Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein
Jim Feldman and Christine Taylor
Ben Finan
Paul and Teresa Finer
Jon Fisher
Kimberly Fisher
Mary and Richard Fisher
Amarinder Bindra and Amy Foxman
Judy and Ron Foxman
Michael and Molly Frank
Janet Freed
Bill and Laura Freeman
Andrew and Jennifer Friedman
Bill Friedman and Marissa Jones
Jodi and Matt Friedman
Greg and Osnat Gafni-Pappas
Betsy and Spencer Garland
Ken and Rebecca Gart
Stephen Gault
Elaine Gernstein
Aliza and Jim Gerstein
Melody Gilbert
Ricky Gitt
Bob and Susan Glasspiegel
Karla Bright and Ryan Glasspiegel
Brian Goldberg
Stuart Goldberg
Bill and Susan Goldenberg
Chad and Debbie Goldenberg
Jeff Goldenberg
Elaine and Mike Goldman
Thomas Goldman
Joanie and Mark Goldstein
Jonathan Goldstein
Alex and Julie Gordon
Mike and Sara Gordon
Charles and Karen Goss
Jerrold and Martha Graber
Janice Anderson and Tom Gram
Jim and Martha Gray
David and Sonya Greegor
Alex and Lyhn Green
Roger Greenbaum
Doug Greene Family
Elizabeth Goldberg and Scott Greenwald
Sid and Susan Greenwald
Evalyn and Phil Grossman
Jim Guest and Liz Lewis
Debbie and Paul Guggenheim
Bill and Cheryl Guthman
Bobbie and Mark Gutman
Alan and Julie Halpern
Howard and Wendy Handler
Jon and Judith Harris
John Hart
Paula Hassinger
Hearst Corporation (Matching Gift)
Bruce and Liz Heideman
Sara Feinstein and Larry Held
Oliver Held
Scott Lever and Shelley Hendler
Jaime Hensel
Edward and Kathy Hershfield
Amy and Brad Herzog
Amy and Brian Herzog
Bud and Hazel Herzog
Cathy and Rick Hirschmann
Dana, Oliver and Quincy Hirt
Jennifer Hodges
Suzanne Hoffman
Matthew Huber
David, Sheri and Bennett Jacobs
Ted Jadwin
Craig and Shari Jankowsky
Jan Jankowsky
Susan Joseph
Anne and Fred Joseph III
Ed Juda
Steve Elwell and Kate Judge
Bob and Fiona Kahn
Caryn and Harlan Kahn
Diane and John Kalishman
Ken Kanter
Steph Hanson and Adam Kaplan
Laura Dembo and Andy Kaplan
Nathalie Feldman and Andy Kaplan
Cheryl Bondy Kaplan and Mark Kaplan
Benjamin Katz
Buz Katz
Euan and Jane Kerr
Anna Hess and Malcolm Kerr
Benjamin Kersten
Chloe and Jake Kessler
Wendy Bloom and Arthur Kessler
Jonathan and Laurie Kigner
Stephen and Yael Klein
Barbara Kohm
Jay Kolbrener
Tom Kolbrener
Bud Kolbrener II
Daniel and Sheena Kopman
Lauri and Ron Koretz
Rick and Stephanie Koretz
Alan Korn and Claudia Simons
Kerry Kornfeld and Andrea Wilson, M.D.
Stu Kornfeld
Andrea and Brian Kramer
Danielle Brinker and John Kramer
Janet Koestring and John Kupper
Andrea L’Tainen and Joshua Rabinowitz
Emily and Michael Laskin
Joe Laskin
Rose Lenehan
Bob and Cissy Lenobel
Louis Levin and Maggie O’Hara
Jeff Levinson
Lia Grigg and Dan Levis
Sam Levis
Linda Lewis
Hoagie Lippman
Carl Littmann
Maggie Beal and Jeff Loeb
Steve Loeb
M.J. Lowe
Richard Lowenthal
Andy Mack
Ken and Laura Mack
Maggie Madden
Reed Maidenberg
Jorie and Robby Malk
Andrew and Jill Marcus
Fred and Joyce Marcus
Dru Margolin
Nancy Brown, M.D. and Andrew May
Tara McHugh and Alyssa O’Gallagher
Jean and Stan Meadows
Medtronics (Matching Gift)
Jeff and Mary Kate Mellow
Joe Mendels
Daniel Mendelsohn
Rose Mendelsohn
Julia Gittleman, Ph.D. and Tom Mendelsohn
David and Deborah Mendelson
Misa Galazzi and David Michel
John and Pauline Miller
Malcolm and Paula Milsten
Greg Minisman
John and Sally Mitani
Erika and John Montag
Spence Myer
Jamie and Leah Myers
Kristin Ahlberg and Phil Myers
Phyllis Narveson
Douglas and Margaret Nathan
Bill Nefsky
Bob and Mary Nefsky
Andrine and Roger Nelson
Network for Good
Rick Cohn and Ben Neuman
Buzz Neusteter and Judi Perrill
Brule & Thad Kurowski and Katy Neusteter
Lee Anne Hartley and Tom Nevers
Neal O’Koon
Robert Oppenheimer
Ethan Orchard
PepsiCo Foundation (Matching Gifts)
Greg Perlstein
Betty and Tom Philipsborn
Deborah Snyder and Jim Platt
Mike Polisner
Daniel Quiat and Lauren Starr
Laurin and Mindy Quiat
David and Kim Reich
Frank and Joan Revson
Bill and Karen Riley
Janice and Jimmy Ringel
Jonathan Ringel and Deborah Weisshaar, M.D.
Jay and Jennifer Riven
Hana Ruzicka Rivkin and Steven Rivkin
Larry and Michele Rivkin
Tom and Viki Rivkin
Don Robertson
Janet and Lee Rodgers
Cindy and Jon Rogen
Alyne and Jim Rolfe
Andy and Cynthia Rolfe
Anthony and Marya Rose
Jim and Sherri Rosen
Alisa and Jacob Rosenberg
Carol and Roger Rosenthal
Sheri Roth
Noah Saag
Emily Sachar
Chris and Frank Sachs
Salesforce.com (Matching Gift)
Gail Ifshin and Steven Salky
Mike Samuels Estate
James and Tiffany Scharff
Jon and Sue Scharff
Laury and Lewis Scharff
Madeline Scharff
Darcy and Ron Scharff III
Karen Schiff
Lisa Schiffman
Lee and Martha Schimberg
Bennett and Shelley Schmidt
Fred and Pat Schonwald, Jr.
Bud and Peggy Schram
Lynn and Max Schrayer
Carol and Jeff Schulman
Susan Schwartz
Monique and Robert Schweich
Lee and Mark Scissors
Jason Shacter
Joe and Sara Shacter
Jodi and Tom Shapira
Susan Sharfman
Carrie and Steve Siegel
Jackie Mack and Ted Silberstein
Bob and Natalie Silverman
Gary and Mindy Sircus
Stephanie Rivkin and Joel Sircus
Linda and Ron Sklar
Bob and Sue Smith
Michael Sobel
Geula and Josh Solomon
Patti Spigel
Frank and Mindy Star
Nardie Stein (Memorials)
Perrin and Ted Stein
Sally Stein
Corky and Rick Steiner Family Foundation
Mary Elizabeth Calhoon Stern and David Stern
Jim Stewart and Amanda Whalen
Carla and Stan Strauss
F. Michael Streitz
Bob Striker
Bill Katz and Jan Swenson
Alan and Jo Anne Travis
Donald Ullmann
Julia Wahoff
Tonya Wallach
Judy and Roger Wallenstein
Esther Starrels and John Wasserman
Harriet and Paul Weinberg
Michael Weinberg II
Michael Widerschein
Hank Wineman
Adam and Deborah Winick
Joanne Hirschhorn Wolf (Memorials)
Evelyn Thoreau and Lee Wurtzburger
Emily and Jason Yale
Brad Young
David Zalk
Cory Zigler
Jill Zipkin
John Zuraw
Camperships for Nebagamon (CFN) was established in 1995 to enable children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to have a camping experience. Over the years, the CFN endowment fund has provided camperships for boys to attend Nebagamon and girls to attend Camp WeHaKee. Campers receiving camperships help to diversify their camp communities by virtue of their racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic status. In addition, CFN continues the tradition of support to sons and grandsons of Nebagamon alumni who demonstrate financial need.
Over the past decade, more than 500 Camperships have been given out to more than 250 boys and girls attending Nebagamon and WeHaKee. Over $2 million has gone to support the cost of tuition and related expenses for these boys and girls.
The following individuals, foundations and corporations supported CFN from November 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023:
Kathy and Rick Abeles
Cecelia and Mickey Abramson
Carol and David Adelson
Amazon Smile Foundation (Matching Gifts)
Pam and Tom Arenberg
Andy and Lisa Aronson
Art Auer
Cynthia Auer
Andrew and Elizabeth Baer
Nancy and Richard Baer
David and Karen Balser
Drew and Jenna Barnett
Kathy and Stuart Barnett
Charlie Barrows
Jim and June Baumoel
Herb Behrstock
Rick Bendix, Jr.
Bert and Joan Berkley
Howard and Rhoda Bernstein
Simon and Susan Blattner
Jim Blumenfeld and Chris Cooney
Fred Braht Family
Adam and Julie Braude
Elizabeth and John Breyer Jr.
Hugh Broder
Dale Brodsky
Jean and Mark Burnstine
Jeff Burnstine
JoAnne Cain
Mark Caro and Mary Dixon
Larry Cartwright (Memorials)
Alfred Cohen
Carol Bayersdorfer Cohen and Ed Cohen
Ellie Cohen
Leslie and Michael Cohen
Lisa and Sherman Cohen
Pat and Richard Cohn Family Foundation
Bonnie and Mike Cole
Kevin Cole
Michael Coletta
Jeff Colman and Ellen Nissenbaum
Jessica Colman
Jon and Suzi Colman
Connie and Darryl Couts
Jane Davis
Becky and Raven Deerwater
Julie Deutsch
Ian Diamond
Jessie and Scott Diamond
Steve and Deborah Pollack Domsky
David Dreifus and Jennifer Sosensky
Bill Dubinsky and Elizabeth Moss
Deborah and Joe Eppstein
Peter Fechheimer and Jeannette McNeil
Jim Feldman and Christine Taylor
Dan and Julie Frank
Roxanne Frank
Dan Freund
Bill Friedman and Marissa Jones
Jodi and Matt Friedman
Lisa and Steve Friedman
Greg and Osnat Gafni-Pappas
Betsy and Spencer Garland
Scott Genshaft
Laurie Bruder and Tom Gerson
Ricky Gitt
Bob and Susan Glasspiegel
Bill and Susan Goldenberg
Chad and Debbie Goldenberg
Frederick Goldsmith
The Mildred B. and Malcolm Goldsmith Fund
Jonathan Goldstein
GOOGLE, Inc. (Matching Gift)
Jim and Martha Gray
Brennan Greene
Doug Greene Family Foundation
Elizabeth Goldberg and Scott Greenwald
Debbie and Paul Guggenheim
Bill and Cheryl Guthman
John Hart
Paula Hassinger
Hearst Corporation (Matching Gift)
Louis Helman
Jaime Hensel
Carol and Richard Hillsberg
Joe and Marilyn Hirschhorn
Ellyn and Matt Hoffman
Anne Ledell-Hong and Nhat Hong
Derek Iger
Amy and Craig Jacobs
Craig and Shari Jankowsky
Kathy and Mike Jay
Lisa Jenkins
Anne and Fred Joseph III
Ed Juda
Caryn and Harlan Kahn
Cheryl Bondy Kaplan and Mark Kaplan
Marjorie and Robert Kaplan
Carol Kaplan-Lyss
Benjamin Katz
Euan and Jane Kerr
Anna Hess and Malcolm Kerr
Sid Goldstein and Laura Kipnis
Bob Kolbrener
Bud Kolbrener II
Rick and Stephanie Koretz
Kerry Kornfeld and Andrea Wilson
Andrea and Brian Kramer
Danielle Brinker and John Kramer
Simon Lazarus
Rose Lenehan
Bob and Cissy Lenobel
Jeff and Suzanne Levi
Jill and John Levi
Jeff Levinson
Lia Grigg and Dan Levis
Hoagie Lippman
Henry Docter and Elizabeth Loeb
Andy Mack
Ken and Laura Mack
Julie and Steve Mathes
Robert Matz and Peggy Warner
Lincoln Mayer
McKinsey & Company (Matching Gift)
Don and Marji Mendelsohn
Lauren Martini and Matthew Mendelsohn
Julia Gittleman, Ph.D. and Tom Mendelsohn
Audrey and Danny Meyer
Bo and Lois Meyer
Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss
Greg Minisman
Zach Mollengarden
Kathe and Jim Myer
Fred and Janet Nachman
Bill Nefsky
Bob and Mary Nefsky
Gail and Sean O’Connor
Robert Oppenheimer
Kaine Osburn and Jenny Rosene
Maury Pasternack, Jr.
PepsiCo Foundation (Matching Gift)
Jim Platt and Deborah Snyder
Joel and Renee Posener, M.D.
Judy and Paul Putzel
Daniel Quiat and Lauren Starr
Nancy Reamy
Jay and Jennifer Riven
Julie Robinowitz Family
Cindy and Jon Rogen
Judy Rolfe
Jim and Sherri Rosen
Joseph Rosenbloom III
Carol and Roger Rosenthal
Stephen Sachs
Gail Ifshin and Steven Salky
Erin and Seth Salomon
Michael Samuels Estate
Ruth Sang
Kit and Ray Sawyer
Laury and Lewis Scharff
Sue Ann Schiff
Marily and Spike Schonthal, Jr
Bud and Peggy Schram
Lynn and Max Schrayer
Carol and Jeff Schulman
Andrew and Debbie Schwartz
Monique and Robert Schweich
Joanne Grossman and John Seesel
Joe and Sara Shacter
Bob and Natalie Silverman
Kevin Silverman
Stephanie Rivkin and Joel Sircus
Linda and Ron Sklar
Bill and Judy Sloan
Eric and Lucy Slosser
Nardie Stein (Memorials)
Perrin and Ted Stein
Elise and Richard Steinbaum
Laurel Southworth and Andrew Susser
Jim and Merryl Tisch
Debra and Jeff Trachtenberg
Esther Starrels and John Wasserman
David and Michelle Weber
Harriet and Paul Weinberg
Michael Weinberg II
Nancy Werthan
Adam and Deborah Winick
Jim and Nicki Woldenberg
Stephen Woldenberg
Joanne Wolf (Memorials)
Trip Wolf
Evelyn Thoreau and Lee Wurtzburger
Emily and Jason Yale
Carol and Michael Yunker
Cory Zigler
The Camp Nebagamon Foundation’s non-profit model removes many of the risks of the traditional private-ownership model and allows Nebagamon leadership to focus solely on creating the best summer experience possible for our campers. To achieve this, we have launched Keeping the Fires Burning, a campaign that invites the Camp Family to come together to secure Camp Nebagamon’s future. Our financial goal is to raise $10 million for the tax-exempt non-profit Camp Nebagamon Foundation, an amount that will allow us to complete the purchase and hold reserves to ensure the long-term financial health of Camp, so that future generations will enjoy “the memories of you that will live all year through.”
Whether you spent last summer on Lake Nebagamon, occasionally read the Arrowhead and attend reunions, or haven’t set foot at Camp since your last four-square game, Camp Nebagamon has molded your life and now you have a chance to ensure it is ready to receive the next generation of Swampers. You can explore different ways to contribute here.
The following people and organizations have contributed to the Camp Nebagamon Foundation through April 2023:
Keith Abeles
David Abrams
Charles & Ruth Adler (In honor of Charles F. Adler, Sr)
Phillip Myers and Kristin Ahlberg
Kareem Al-Bassam
Hayley & Max Alpert
Paula & Jeremy Alexander
American Jewish Committee Cincinnati (In memory of Joanne Wolf)
Susan & Steven Arenberg (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Thomas Arenberg (in memory of Nardie Stein)
Gayle Arlen and Corey Zimmerman
Richard & Shirley Armstrong
Lissa & Joe Arnstein
Aschaffenburg Foundation
Joe M. Badt, Jr.
Mike & Linda Baker
Sam Baldwin
John Bank
Ben & Laura Barnett
Donna Barrows, Sam & Holly Barrows, Charlie Barrows, and Ted Barrows
Robert & Linda Barrows, Stephen & Mia Barrows, and Geoffrey Barrows and Hélène Ollivier
Lynn and Bob Barth (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Carl Baum
The Bearman Family
Robert Behrendt
Herbert Behrstock
The Bellaire Family
Craig Bender
Joel Bender
Allen Bennett (in honor of the birth of Ethan Tucker Elson-Backels)
Matt Berler
Ric Best
The Bezark Family
Deborah Binder, Gaetan and Jai Veilleux (In memory of Nardie Stein)
The Blair Family – Allen “Yogi”, Arnold “Tex”, Brian, Peter, Kevin, and Fletcher
Brian Blair
Susan & Simon Blattner
Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Bloch
Lorena and Adam Blonsky (In honor of Michael Blonsky)
Adam Bloom
The Bloom Family
Sue & Tony Blumberg
Alan, Christine, Justin and Camden Blumberg (In memory of David Blumberg)
Chris Blumenfeld (Olson)
Jeff & Lori Blumenthal, Max Blumenthal, and Jack Blumenthal
Bomba Family Charitable Fund
Mimi and Boppie (In Honor of Adam Eberhard)
John & Elizabeth Breyer
Richard and Lisa Broder Philanthropic Fund
Matthew Brody
Ken and Ann Brown
Kenneth Brown
Alexander Buring
Charles Cahn
Dan Chait & Megan Cunningham
Robert Chukerman Family
Scott Chukerman
Barbara B Cohen
Jeffrey Cohen
Lori Cohen
Carol Bayersdorfer Cohen and Ed Cohen
Tom Collinger
Jon & Suzi Colman
Jessica Colman (In honor of Jon & Suzi Colman)
Condrell family
Kay and Mike Cosgrove
Mike Cosgrove
Connie and Darryl Couts (In Memory of Larry Cartwright and Nardie Stein)
Stuart Cowles
David Crane
Hank Crane
The Dattel Family
Raven & Becky Deerwater
Stan DeGroote
Marilyn Diamond (In honor of Nardie Stein)
Elizabeth Dodge
Ben Donchin
Jonathan Dreifus
Jeffrey Dreyer
Dubinsky Family
Ruth Dunn
The Eberhard Family
Chuck Eckert
Robert & Jodi Eisen
Stephen Ehrlich (In honor of Muggs Lorber)
Robert Elisberg
Andrew & Dana Ellbogen
Michael Faber
Jeremy Feiwell (In honor of Robert Feiwell)
Daniel Feldman
Charlie Felsenthal
Juli-Ann & Jonty Felsher (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Thomas G. Fiffer Charitable Giving Fund
Mark Fischgrund
Joseph Fisher
Scott & Sara Fisher
Eliana & Max Fleischer
Gary Follman
The Nan & Steve Fox Fund
Amarinder Bindra and Amy Foxman
Brad, Jeana, Ari, and Adele Foxman
Adam Frapart
Bill and Laura Freeman (In honor of the marriage of Michael Freeman to Dr. Negin Dahya)
Julie Friedman
Rocky Fried
William Friedman
Sam and Jane Friedman
Sam Friedman (In memory of Jane Friedman)
William & Marissa Friedman
Andrew Fromm (In honor of Elijah, Walter & Charlie Fromm)
Sophia & Elijah Fromm
Greg and Osnat Gafni-Pappas
The Galiks
Betsy & Spencer Garland
Scott Genshaft
Ben Gerber
Jim & Aliza Gerstein
Glenn Gerstell
Kate & John Gilligan
Dan & Mark Gingiss
The Gladstone Family (For Joanne Hirschhorn)
Bill & Sandy Glassman
Lindsay and Michael Goldberg Charitable Fund
Michael Goldman (In Honor of Nardie Stein)
Jordan Goodman
Lisa Goodman (in honor of Jack Goodman)
Andrew and Karyn Gordon (in honor of Nardie Stein)
Jerrold Graber
Martin Gradman
Jim and Martha Gray (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Jesse Gray and Family
Alison Greenberg (IMO Allan Sher)
Hunt, Doug, Chris, Brennan and David Greene; and Jane Piccard
Keith Greenwald
Paul Guggenheim (In memory of Nardie Stein)
John Harris
Lucy Harris (In memory of William Harris Gold)
Elizabeth Haspiel
Lois Jane Heller (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Louis Helman
Mike Heldman
Shirley & Barnett Helzberg Jr. Donor Advisory Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Jaye & Bill Hensel
Tom & Janie Herman
Barbara Ann Herz
Karen and Bob Herz Family Fund
Bud & Hazel Herzog and Family
Jeffrey and Andrea Rich Hesser
The Hirschhorn Family
Maurice Hirsch and Marian Hirsch (In Honor of Nardie Stein)
Robert & Lynda Hirsch (In memory of Bernard “Nardie” Stein)
Dana Hirt
The Rodgers and Hoffman Families (in honor of Buddy Rodgers)
Mitchell Hoffman
The Hooper Family (In honor of Matt Hooper)
Hal Hudson (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Mark M and Cathy Kaufman Iger
The Isaacs Family
Craig Jacobs
Sheri, David, and Bennet Jacobs
James Jampel & Sandra Marwill
John & Sandra Johnson (In Memory of Jack Fair)
The Jørgensen Family
Fred & Anne Joseph
Michael & Sasha Kahn
The Kalishman Family
John Kander
Kanter Family
K A Kanter (In memory of My parents Lois and Julian Kanter and maternal grandparents, Michael and Leila Weinberg. Especially at this year, Nardie Stein.)
Michael and Elizabeth Kaplan
Nancy Kassel
Benjamin Katz
Leo Kayser III
Nicolas Kemper
Richard Kerber
Jane and Euan Kerr
Benjamin Kersten
Eric & Sharapat Kessler
Art Kessler
Dennis & Barbara Kessler
Victor Kessler
Carol Kiersky (in memory of Harry Glasspiegel)
Anderson Kill P.C. (in memory of Bernard Stein)
Micki Klearman
Klein Family Foundation – Yaeil & Steve Klein
Jeffrey Kobacker
Thomas Kolbrener
Jim “JK” Koretz and Elissa Polan
Ron Koretz
Rick & Stephanie Koretz
Cynthia & Eric Korman
Kerry Kornfeld and Andrea Wilson
H Joshua Kotin
Jeremy Kotin
John Kupper (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Andrea L’Tainen (In honor of Allan Sher)
Robert Lapin (In memory of Nardie Stein)
The Lawrence and Reich Family
Dan Laytin and Jennifer Nelson
Bob & Cissy Lenobel
Jeffery Levi
Jon R Levinson
Alan J. Levi
Josh Levy
Steven & Jayne Lewin
Kenneth A. Lewis
Ellen & Ed Lieberman
Ronni Lodato (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Ed Loeb
Elizabeth L Loeb
Jeff Loeb
Thomas Loeb
Carolyn Losos (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Ming Lowe
Susan Lucas (in honor of Sam Lucas)
Robert and Ralinda Lurie
Sam and Susie Luten Family Fund
Sam and Susie Luten Family Fund (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Liz and Zach Lutsky
Kenneth Mack
Joe Maidenberg
Reed Maidenberg
Michael Maidenberg (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Jorie Malk
Jill Kiersky Marcus, Andrew and Josh Marcus
Jason Marczak
Andrew Margolin
Andy May and Nancy Brown
Jack May
The Meadows Family
Mary Kate & Jeff Mellow
Sam Mellow
Marji and Don Mendelsohn
James Mendelsohn (In honor of Ruth Lorber Rosen and Muggs & Janet Lorber)
Michael Mendelsohn (In honor of Ruth Lorber Rosen and Muggs & Janet Lorber)
Nancy Mendelsohn and Jay Horvath (In honor of Ruth Lorber Rosen and Muggs & Janet Lorber)
Tom Mendelsohn and Julia Gittleman (In honor of Ruth Lorber Rosen and Muggs & Janet Lorber)
Gil Mendelson
Danny & Audrey Meyer
David Michel (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Dr. Richard Milsten and Mrs. Nancy Milsten
Jeffrey G. Mora
Betsy Murray & Russ Stark
The Muzik Family (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Zachary Muzik
James & Kathleen Myer
Frederick Nachman and Janet N. Nachman Family Fund
Nancy Nathan (In honor of Emil Nathan III)
Bob & Mary Nefsky
Alex Neil and Family
Jeff Neuman
Buzz Neusteter, Katy Neusteter and Thad Kurowski
Edison and Newman and Solomon Families
Chi Nguyen
Cathy O’Dell (friend of Jane Stein Kerr) (in honor of Nardie Stein)
Robert Oppenheimer
David Palmer
Sandy Passer
Bianca Pasternack (In honor of Nardie Stein)
David and Amy Patent
Betty and Thomas Philipsborn
Alfredo & Monica Phillips
Nana Hope Phillips
Alfredo Phillips & Sons
Leslie Phillips (In honor of Andrew Condrell)
James Platt
Charles Portis (In loving memory of Jack Polsky & Nardie Stein)
Joel A Posener MD
Joel & Renee Posener
Sue and Ben Post and Family (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Drs. Michael Privitera and Marcia Kaplan
Judy & Paul Putzel
Daniel Quiat
The Reichert Family
David & Kathie Rigby (In Memory of our son Jacob)
Michele and Larry Rivkin Charitable Fund
Pat and Jerry Robertson (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Andy & Cindy Rolfe
The Rorsted Family
Doug & Michelle Rose
Marya & Anthony Rose
Mark S Rosenberg
Kathy & Skip Rosenblatt
Ellen & Philip Rosenbloom
John and Frances Rosenheim
Bill Rosenthal and Carol Murphy
Robert and Cynthia Rothbaum
Edgar Rothschild
Joel Rubenstein (In honor of Nardie Stein)
Robbie and Brittany Rudich
Joan Russell
Patricia C Russell
Frank Sachs
Frank & Chris Sachs
David Sachs
Stephen Sachs (In memory of E.J. Hahn)
Kari Sachs (In honor of Q’s Corner)
Dan and Dawn Saltzstein
Dan and Dawn Saltzstein (In honor of Edward and John Saltzstein)
In honor of Ed Saltzstein
Arizona Saltzsteins
Joy Sandweiss and Family
Andy and Betsy Saslawsky Family Foundation
Jon & Suzanne Scharff
Adler Schermer Foundation
Marc Schieber
Elliot & Sara Schiffer
Bruce Schimberg
Bennett Schmidt
Fred & Pat Schonwald
Pat & Fred Schonwald, Jr. Gift Fund
Jay Schulman
The Schulmans (Jeff, Jim, Andrew, Carol) (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Adam Schwartz
Andrew and Deborah Schwartz Charitable Fund
Robert J. Schweich Fund
Hank & Esther Schweich (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Bob and Monique, Susie and Ralph (Robert Schweich Fund) (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Charles A Seigel III (In honor of The Seigel Family)
Arlene Semel (In honor of Mitch Semel)
Mitchell Semel
Mitch, Drew and David Semel (in honor of Nardie Stein)
David and Heidi Serwer
Joe Shacter
The Sher Family
Maya, Christina, Noah, and Alissa Shoukri (In Memory of Nardie Stein)
Eric, Rhonda, Stuart, Philip and Nathan Siegel Family
Robert Silverman (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Gary Silversmith
Dana & Seth Singerman
Mindy & Gary Sircus (In honor of Joel Sircus’ big how birthday)
Brad Sklar
Ron & Linda Ellen Sklar
Janet Slate (In honor of Sam Allen)
William Sloan (in celebration of Gabriel Sloan-Garcia)
Ellen and Richard Slosburg Family Foundation
Jeffrey Bob Smith
Josh Smith and Lael Culiner
Rick Smith
Michael Sobel
Joshua & Geula Solomon
Rodney Solomon
Charlie and Jeanne Sosland
Oscar Soule
Anne and Jon Spear Charitable Fund
Don Spero and Nancy Chasen
Alex Spiegel (in memory of Nardie Stein)
Steven Spiegel
Jon Star
Norton Starr
Nardie, Sally, Jane, Jessie, and Ted Stein
Noah Stein
Irving Stenn, Jr.
Ann & Will Stern
David Stern
Gregory Stewart
John & Merrie Stillpass (In memory of Joanne H. Wolf)
Joe Stokely
Nancy & Barney Straus
Stanton Strauss
Striker Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation
The Strull Family
Billy Susman
Stephen Tanenbaum
Emma Templeton
The Thackers
Throck 1971
Tom Tisch
Jeff Trenton
Niels Trolle
William Tucker (In honor of Sally Elson)
Bill & Nikki Wallenstein
Roger & Judy Wallenstein
Alex Wang and Zachary Zhang
Esther Starrels and John Wasserman
Paul & Harriet Weinberg
MIke Weinberg (In memory of Nardie Stein)
Michael Weinberg (in honor of Bernard “Nardie Stein)
Over the past seven or eight years, I have devoted each twice-a-year alumni newsletter to a theme. Each Keylog has focused on an inspiring and integral aspect of camp—sports, nature, trips, photography, Sundays, the Rec Hall, Paul Bunyan. But it is impossible to consider inspiring-and-integral Nebagamon without celebrating the impact of the late Nardie Stein. From the time he was a counselor in Swamper 1 (1955) to the time he and Sally closed out their tenure as camp directors (1990) to the decades afterward in which he continued to serve as a fount of wisdom about and around camp, Nardie was profoundly integral to the history and sensibilities of Camp Nebagamon. And, as someone who looked up to him for half a century, I can attest that he was always inspiring.
So this is the NARDIE issue of the Keylog, our attempt to honor the various ways in which he influenced the lives of the people who had the pleasure of being part of his Nebaga-world.
We begin this extra-large edition with a loving recollection from his longtime co-director, co-life-partner and co-adventurer, Sally Lorber Stein (SALLY REMEMBERS NARDIE). But that’s just the beginning.
Nardie influenced countless lives. So in NARDIE’S IMPACT you can read several dozen brief tributes and memories from camp alumni, just a snippet of what could have been a book-sized collection. Most of us who knew Nardie first encountered him when we were campers or young counselors. But notice how many people, even several decades later, reflect on how he influenced their aspirations and attitudes as adults. As one wrote, “I try to live up to the lessons he so lovingly taught me.”
But sometimes a picture is WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, so we’ve also included a collection of photos covering more than half-a-century of Bernard Stein at Camp Nebagamon. Nardie at the microphone, at the Shrine, leading the camp in song, overseeing the award ceremony, reminiscing with A.K. Agikamik. Nardie’s wisdom, his playfulness, his love of family.
You also can discover more about Nardie by watching the video or reading excerpts from his memorial service in November (IN MEMORIAM). For the many alumni who arrived at Nebagamon after the Steins retired, it is an opportunity to get to know him from some of the people who loved him most – his children and grandchildren. Their memories included a heap of humor, as did Nardie. I always appreciated his wit, but never more so than over the past decade, when I had the luxury of spending quality time with him on many occasions. My favorite part was the moment before he let loose with a pun or quip or hilarious memory. His eyes would grow big, he’d chuckle a bit, and you knew something good was coming. That’s a memory I’ll treasure.
Finally, you can read about Nardie in his own words. Learn about his childhood, his introduction to camp, and more about how he met Sally… all part of an excerpt from the Steins’ book about the history of Camp Nebagamon: Keeping the Fires Burning. Nardie called his personal story REFLECTIONS OF ONE LUCKY GUY. I know I speak for many when I say that I consider myself immeasurably lucky to have known him.
I was asked by the Keylog editor and the Hanson-Kaplans to write a remembrance of Nardie – in the context, of course, of Camp Nebagamon, so here goes:
We met in 1949, and it would be easy to say, “I immediately knew this was the guy for me.” So I’ll say it. I knew it – and he was. A Nebagamon counselor, Bud Pollack of Fort Wayne, Indiana, introduced us in 1949 (long before many of you were born,) and we were together a lot, though not exclusively, in the ensuing years, until I left St. Louis for the University of Michigan and Nard completed college at Washington University and was immediately drafted.
People’s courtships are generally only of interest to themselves, and sometimes their children, so I will skip that part only to say that we spent some extended time together in the interim, and it became clear to both of us that we felt deeply committed to each other. My father, Muggs, also figured that out because he wrote a letter to Nardie in Japan. In the note, he invited him to consider a career in camping. Nardie knew nothing of Nebagamon or its kind of camp. As a boy he went to Scout camps, followed by time at Boy Scout’s national camp, Philmont. There he distinguished himself by volunteering to walk a lame donkey down the mountain to base camp, only to see the donkey trot away on his supposed lame leg, delighted to shed his role as a pack animal.
Nardie spent 18 months as a cryptographer at the US Army’s Far East headquarters in Japan and really made the most of it. He returned to the states just as I graduated from four great years at Michigan, and we became (publicly) engaged. He first laid eyes on Camp Nebagamon on a rainy spring day in June. Soon thereafter, he became the senior counselor in Swamper 1, where he experienced up close what this camp was all about. He began considering whether he wanted to become, as Muggs proposed, the next director of camp. *Author’s note: I had been slated to become “the director’s WIFE” (Harrumph!) and immediately began to redefine my title and role. However, especially when our three children were young, their welfare took precedence over my role at camp, which was rather invisible, centering on the business side of our venture, as well as the food service and accounting. I was not often publicly active (except on the tennis courts).
We learned our craft while understudying the Lorbers for several years and decided to bravely move forward. Both of us were aware that Nard was slated to be compared to and fill the shoes of the famed Muggs Lorber. We talked a lot about that. I assured him that he probably would not be able to replicate him – and perhaps should not even try. Instead, he should walk in his own shoes, do it his own way, using all of the intrinsic qualities he already possessed. And so he did! He paid close attention to Muggs’s training and watched what worked and what didn’t…
Nardie’s utilized his intelligence, quick wit, intuitiveness, and ability to closely listen to a camper or staff member. He always considered what was best for a camper and for the institution. His respect for everyone involved was a quality that led to early success. He also loved the land – the physical plant – and was very interested in its maintenance, also participating in it when time allowed. Nardie started every day at the workshop, conferring with the maintenance staff about priorities. He was not afraid to plunge toilets or clean up messes himself, feeling that he should do what he might need to ask of others. It was apparent to me that he was feeling stressed when I saw him trimming trees in order to “raise the canopy” – to help them thrive, symbolic of what he hoped to do for campers and staff..
With a few years under our belts, Nardie and I felt it was time to change and/or modify several aspects of camp. We enlarged each cabin enough to give counselors their own private space, upgraded many facilities, such as roofs, blinds, docks, boats, tennis courts, and hills subject to erosion. When we assumed directorship, campers had one project period a day, and many of the projects had no ranks. We asked most of the projects to add achievable ranks, ones that could give kids a tangible sense of accomplishment and self-confidence. And we wanted the older campers to be challenged to achieve an Instructor rank, preparing them for leadership roles .We also expanded the tripping program to include hiking and cycling and increased the wilderness trip staff from 3 to 18. Also, as academic years shortened, we realized that an eight-week season was no longer feasible in some communities, so we offered a four-week option, starting with the 4th grade in 1974 and offering it to 5th graders in 1975, progressing a grade every year. This was a business decision that was quickly adopted by most of the Midwest camps similar to ours.
This creative approach to camp was indicative of Nardie’s personal quality as a truly creative man. Once retired, he spent many hours in his garage workshop. He liked to “make something out of nothing.” We often walked on Lake Superior beaches seeking pieces of wood appropriate for walking sticks. The one he carried was a piece of art and now a family heirloom. He carved into the thick wooden stick the names and dates of places in the world where he and I had hiked. He made similar pieces to give to needy friends for temporary or permanent use and also donated pieces for the Lake Nebagamon auctions, supporting the town library and other local charities.
Nard also collected and used pieces of wood still underwater in Lake Nebagamon, remnants of the Weyerhaeuser mill site. From these, he created plaques on to which he placed collages of scrap tiles, corks, and occasional feathers that we had gathered on walks. The driftwood plaques also supported arrangements of old fishing lures, honoring his and Muggs’s friendships with first year camper, Alan “Hoss” Mayer. One of these plaques hangs in the camp Fish Shack, and many of them are treasures hanging in our Lake Nebagamon home. Our daughter Jane Kerr brought one to hang on the wall of each hospital room housing Nardie during his many months of hospitalization.
So here’s most of the formula that made Nardie so fondly remembered and allowed Camp Nebagamon to flourish: The convergence of:
The right person (Nardie) at
The right time (in the social fabric)
The right campers (almost all of you) at
The right time (in your developmental life)
At the right camp (she said modestly) with
The right ex-director (Muggs: “There’s a destiny that guides us”) and later
The next right co-directors to succeed him (Nardie: “This shall be a place of welcome for all”)
And I am quite sure that the next directors, the Wallensteins and the Hanson-Kaplans also became part of that formula.
How lucky can you get? As his health declined, Nardie expressed his comfort in knowing that what he did in life really mattered. You alumni told us that many times through emails, letters, and in-person encounters. He also told us repeatedly that he had been a lucky man. I thank all of you so much for helping him know that.
Bernard “Nardie” Stein, a totally devoted leader, is remembered with fondness and
At Nardie Stein’s memorial service in November, his granddaughter Elena Stein spoke about something that had become a frequent response from the grandchildren as people reached out to the family: “Nardie was such a big fan of yours,” they would say. Elena added simply, “Because it’s true. He was.”
The feeling was mutual. Here are just some of countless memories from the camp family:
“Since 1955 when the 25-year-old Nardie was making his first ever recruiting trip and came through Indianapolis (convincing me to forgo Little League baseball and give C/N a try) until the last time I saw him when I was at camp for the 90th anniversary reunion, I can think of no one (outside of my family) who had as long and meaningful an impact upon my life. His ability to relate to, model ethical behavior for, and stay in touch with so many hundreds of campers and staff over the years was truly amazing and all of us whose lives he touched are forever indebted to him.” – Mike Cole (1956-63)
“It’s honestly hard for me to think of another man I met and got to know over years who touched so many in such a positive way. His legacy is immense.” – Andrew Shapin (1976-80, 83)
“As we lived in their neighborhood, I had the opportunity to see him more than just during camp. I got to house sit for them sometimes while they did fall camp visits. My parents were their friends as well. I credit Nardie as one of the two adults in my life who always treated me with respect as a person. He never talked to me like I was a child even though I was one. In retrospect, this has made me realize how in times of self-doubt, worrying and other adolescent angst, Nardie helped me be confident by treating me like a real human being. He was so genuine. I will always love him and respect him for that.” – Jon Fisher (1979-83)
“A 15-year-old me had no discernible talents, abilities or skills, and even less confidence. But then Nardie Stein came along and said ‘I think you can be a camp counselor.’ And that changed everything.” — Tom Arenberg (1968-71, 73-78)
“What set Nardie apart was his incredible and genuine people skills. He made everyone around him think that he was your best friend. When he talked to you, whether you were a Swamper on the Big House porch or 80 years old, Nardie was always interested in what you were doing. He made an enormous impact on the lives of thousands. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. Eight years ago, I sent him a newspaper article that claimed white socks and sandals were coming back in style. He wrote me back a postcard (I still have it) that said, ‘Of course I was a trend setter. But before white socks and sandals, I was known for my Gucci underwear and Armani speedo.’” – Bud Herzog (1952-61)
“I worked in the CN office for eight summers, during my most impressionable years, alongside Nardie (& Sally), and each day typically presented some unique learning opportunity. The teaching moment was often preceded by an “..ahhhh… Sue B….” to indicate he wanted my full attention. Sometimes those moments created frustration, and sometimes it was just something humorous he wanted to share, but often they were some of life’s most valuable lessons. I feel so fortunate to have had those innumerable teaching moments I carry with me today. I could not be more grateful for his wit, candor, and guidance.” – Sue Bong Scharff (1982-88, 2004-07)
“When I think back to the many lessons I learned from Nardie over the years, there are so many that come to mind, but foremost he taught how important it was to have a sense of humor. Nardie may actually have invented the now-celebrated genre of “dad jokes.” It was more than having a ready repertoire of witticisms, though. Nardie also taught me how important it was to be able to laugh at yourself.” – Alex Gordon (1978-83, 87-91, 2010-22)
“’Dolce.’ The word that will always remind me of Nardie. Frequently, on hikes along trails in the woods, or through the hills, or by the Brule River, Nardie would turn around unexpectedly and surprise us with an unconditional offering in hand of… a piece of chocolate. Chocolate – nourishing, distinct, energizing and as unique and special as the man making the offer. A man, who, in such gentle and subtle ways, continually strengthened my core.” – Buzz Neusteter (1955-58, 87-91)
“Nardie Stein was the most significant male role model in my life. As a child, rather than scold me when I made mistakes at camp, and there were many, he offered guidance on how to grow from my errors and then would follow up to tell me when he saw positive change. Later as an emerging adult, he consistently entrusted me with greater responsibility, helped me to grow as a man, and as a supervisor of others. As a husband, he showed me how I should honor and value my wife and provided me with a vivid example of how to father my children in an accepting, loving, and responsible manner. No one ever taught me more about how to live life fully and positively. Nardie was a gift to us all. I will miss him every day and keep his memory close at hand, while I try to live up to the lessons he so lovingly taught me.” – Frank Sachs (1962-65, 69-2004, 07-11)
“In the decades after my experience as a camper and counselor, I have heard Nardie’s voice in my head, even at times far removed from the camp experience. This includes a particularly difficult business situation I encountered 25 years after my last CN summer. I emailed Nardie to thank him and this was part of the response, which says much about his wisdom and how his lived his life… “Many times I have found that even the smallest of kindnesses we extended resulted in ‘something coming back,’ another way of saying this is that there is no such thing as a ‘small’ transaction… all human transactions are important.’” – Matt Friedman (1983-90)
“He was so influential in my life and important to me. He will be so missed by so many!” – Noah Saag (2000-04, 06-12, 14)
“Nardie was almost as large a figure in my life as my own parents. He was my camp director, employer and ultimately my friend. He was reliable, constant and open. He was a guiding star of ethics and morality and he had the most impish sense of humor that came out in subtle ways at unexpected moments. Many of us think of Camp Nebagamon as a mold within which much of our lives were formed. If that’s true, its form was what Nardie and Sally made it. I see their impact on Camp today. He and Sally brought Camp and all of us that attended into the modern era into a place of welcome for all and a place of growth and self-confidence for many generations.” – Tony Blumberg (1970-73, 75-80)
“I was fortunate to be a camper during Muggs’s last season, then into the beginning of the Nardie and Sally years. Nardie was always a cheerful yet strong and demanding presence, took no guff, and brooked no fools (especially when it came to staff), yet was kind and understanding and supportive of families and all the kids. His singing in the Rec Hall, and constant good-natured presence around Camp made the place seem safe and ‘A Place of Welcome For All.’” – Reed Maidenberg (1959-64, 67)
“All of us campers learned so much from Nardie, even if we didn’t realize it then. His life was a blessing to us all.” – Bill Guthman (1970-75)
“Nardie was truly the kindest man I’ve ever met. He always looked for, and found, the best in people. I loved his stories and his deep connection to the camp family. As a kid, I looked forward to the winter visit during the reunion tour – Nardie pulling out a Goo Goo Cluster candy bar to share and proceeding to tell the story of its origin alongside highlights from the trail of amazing people he’d met along the way.” — Brian Kramer (1988-93, 95-00)
“I have so many memories of Nardie, but my favorite one was: As a ninth-grade camper, several cabinmates/friends and I competed in a canoe race in the Village of Lake Nebagamon. By doing so, we missed the Rec Hall lunch. Nardie and Sally did not want to bother the kitchen staff (or make us go hungry!), so they invited us to the Little House where they served us lunch. More than that, we talked – and laughed –for well over an hour and really got to know Nardie and Sally as more the just camp directors. He will be missed by so many!” – Ron Koretz (1977-88)
“Among the many things I appreciated about Nardie was his willingness to join in the playfulness. One day, fellow counselor Ron Koretz and I were in the Big House when we noticed Nardie leave the office and head to the first floor bathroom. For some reason, we had a sense that it would be a long visit, so we went into the little alcove next to the bathroom and kitchen, where there used to be a payphone and recited in unison the little ditty that we had memorized from the wall of the bathroom: “All of us with septic tanks, give to you our heartfelt thanks, for putting nothing in the pot, that isn’t guaranteed to rot, Kleenex is bad, matchsticks too, cigarette butts are taboo.” At that point, instead of chastising us for violating their boss’s privacy, Nardie joined with great enthusiasm for the rousing conclusion: “No hair combings, use the basket, there’s a darn good reason why we ask it!“ — Larry Rivkin (1977-82, 84-86, 2021)
“Here are my reflections on Nardie Stein: Love, courage, caring for others, can-do, not flashy, committed to see through whatever he undertook in service of other people, fun-loving. Nardie rolled up his sleeves and took on big challenges with an unbeatable blend of enthusiasm tempered with practicality, sensitivity, and humility. He will forever be an inspiration.” – Bill Greenbaum (1965-70, 72-73, 76)
“One of the top 10 people who influenced my life for the better. He will be missed.” – Dave Knoepfle (1987-98, 2018)
“The memories of Nardie during my Nebagamon summers will always be in my mind. Nardie was a warm wonderful man, teacher, and mentor.” – Mitch Boxer (1972-77)
“I’ve known Nardie pretty much since he came to Nebagamon, and as a camp ‘lifer’ I felt his presence through my years there and for many more afterwards. There are so many memories, all indelible in my mind (along with all my other Nebagamon experiences), that taught me so much about myself and what I could become because of it. He was a big part of who I am now and who I was then.” – Bob Benton (1949-58)
“He taught an entire generation of men how to be kind. He was unique and the world’s a little less bright without him in it. – Trygve Olsen (1984-87)
A True Shadow Caster who greatly impacted my life. Being asked back to camp to be a CIT was a life changing event. Nardie was always there to give advice and praise as well as constructive suggestions on how to best handle sensitive situations. The last time I saw Nardie at the 90th Reunion, he was so proud of the trees that he and I along with others planted on the back end of the upper diamond. I will also never forget accompanying him on the piano during GTC’s despite the fact that a song would start off in one key and end up in another!” – Bud Schram (1954-59, 61-69)
“I always respected his enthusiasm. Whether he was singing at announcements, conducting a smell down or just encouraging you to persevere. I try to bring that into my classroom daily.” – Jay Kolbrener (1978-83, 87, 91, 94-95)
“Nardie had a huge impact on so many lives. One of the kindest people I’ve ever met.” – Dave Nissenbaum (1983-86, 88-90)
“A beautiful part of a very special relationship is the inside joke. Nardie and I enjoyed one that spanned over 60 years. It began when I was a Swamper in 1965 and… let’s just say Nardie and I shared a drink of prune juice (from Nardie’s “private stock”) to help me do my thing in the Jop. He said I could grab some from the Rec Hall kitchen any time I needed it. With his keen sense of humor, he called it our “Prune Juice Cocktail.” Two decades later, at my 30th birthday surprise party, Nardie gave me a personalized bottle of Scotch he called, “Chivas Fecal,” along with several small cans of prune juice. Still getting chuckles out of that!” – Rand Shapiro (1965-69, 71-75, 08-11, 13-15)
“Nardie was a gem. Such fond memories! He checked in with me one summer when I could not attend camp due to a surgery, just to see how I was doing.” – Bob Bergen (1975-77)
“Few people have had such a positive impact on so many. Nardie (and Sally, of course) touched the lives of thousands of young men and their families. We are all better people for having known him, and the world is a better place thanks to his long and happy sojourn here.” – Sam Friedman (former camp doctor)
“Nardie had a profound impact on the lives of so many campers and their families. He will very much be missed. Thanks for the memories.” – Steve Schaumberger (1972-77, 79)
“Nardie exemplified taking the work seriously, but not taking yourself seriously. As Axeman Push, I prided myself on creative announcements for our village Cruiser Day events. I don’t even remember the event, but I remember we had an announcement with the Axeman counselors roaming the Rec Hall and chanting. As my staff was doing their best Gregorian Chant impressions, Nardie just turned to me and said: ‘Murky, Hercy.’ – Raven Deerwater, formerly Dan “Hercules” Hirschhorn (1970-74, 76-85)
“He was the absolute finest friend, mentor and teacher! He was such a positive influence on generations of families, and means so much to so many. We’re all better off for our time spent with Nardie.” – Jim Rosen (1964-67, 72-75)
Throughout the session, Director Adam Kaplan will post updates to keep you informed of the activities taking place at camp. If you would like to speak with Adam directly, call him at (715) 374-2275 or by email at adam@campnebagamon.com
