1970s

Marie Anne Faulks Nardi K’72

Marie Anne Faulks Nardi K’72, formerly employed by Colgate University, was born on April 18, 1950, in Springfield, VT. A daughter of Wilfred W. and Frances Phelps Faulks, she was a graduate of Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY. Marie Faulks arrived at Kirkland College in 1968 as a member of its charter class, at the time when the campus was still in a state of construction. She concentrated in literature and acquired her diploma in 1972.

Marie Faulks took up residence in nearby Hamilton, NY, where she had been a pianist in the cocktail lounge at the Colgate Inn. On February 24, 1974, in Lebanon, NY, she and Robert W. Nardi, owner of a then very popular restaurant in Bouckville, were married. In later years Marie Nardi worked at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton and, from 1989 to 1999, was employed in the Library and Chapel House of Colgate University. At one time she was secretary to the director of Chapel House.

Marie A. Nardi, known as “a lively and witty person who enjoyed art and music and had a fondness for horses,” died on November 27, 2012, at her home in Oneida, NY, as the result of a cardiac condition. Predeceased by her husband in 2001, she is survived by two daughters, Adrienne and Dana Nardi, as well as two sisters and two brothers.

Thomas Leonard Lucia ’75

Thomas Leonard Lucia ’75, director of marketing for Great Northern Products, a seafood company, was born on April 18, 1953. The younger son of Vito J., a photoengraver, and E. Jane Justice Lucia, a bookkeeper, he arrived at Hamilton from Rye, NY, in 1971 as a graduate of Rye High School, where he had played varsity soccer and captained the track team. Highly personable, he became a dedicated member of Psi Upsilon and served as its house president during his senior year. He also lettered in soccer and acquired membership in that convivial band, Nous Onze. Having majored in philosophy, he left the Hill with his A.B. degree in 1975.

Tom Lucia moved to Boston, MA, and, as he remarked years later, “forgot to leave.” He first entered “the fish business” with Slade Gorton & Co. in 1976. Thirteen years later he helped launch Great Northern Products, Ltd., an importer, exporter, and distributor of fresh and frozen seafood, located in Warwick, RI. As marketing director, he contributed significantly to the growth of the company, which had 20 employees by 2008.

Married in 1979 and divorced in 1986, Tom Lucia centered much of his life around his two children as a single parent and “soccer dad.” Utterly devoted to them, as well as to his aging parents, with whom he had developed a deepening relationship, he also maintained close ties with his Psi U buddies, who knew him as “Luch.” He was intensely loyal to, and supportive of, Hamilton until the end of his life.

Thomas L. Lucia, a resident of the Boston suburb of Dorchester, died on December 29, 2012. He had valiantly battled cancer, retaining his buoyant and positive attitude until the end. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his daughter, Lisa C. Lucia; his son, Joseph P. Lucia; and a sister and a brother. Also surviving is his former wife, Maryellen Culhane Lucia-Whitley.

Brian Joseph Smith ’76

Brian Joseph Smith ’76, an insurance company executive, grew up in Albany, NY, where he was born on December 10, 1953. The youngest of three sons of E. Joseph, a state insurance supervisor, and Mary Roche Smith, a registered nurse, he came to Hamilton in 1972 from Vincentian Institute in Albany, where he had played three varsity sports and co-captained the football team. While on College Hill he joined Delta Kappa Epsilon and, as a running back, played football for four years. Having majored in economics, he was graduated in 1976. Both his fraternity and his football experience would continue to be important in his life, and he would remain permanently in touch with many of his Deke brothers.

Employed as a claims adjuster for Continental Insurance Co. in Glens Falls, NY, Brian Smith subsequently worked in claims for other insurance companies, including 14 years with Unum Corp. in Piscataway, NJ, as assistant vice president of claims, five years with Aegon Americas as director of claims, and since 2009 as assistant vice president of claims for Axis Global in Princeton, NJ.

A resident for the past five years of Horsham and previously of Chalfont, PA., Brian Smith was passionate about athletics and devoted much of his spare time to coaching youth sports. He coached basketball, baseball, and soccer for the St. Jude Catholic Youth Organization in Chalfont and for the Lenape Valley Youth Association. Among those he coached were his own children, to whom he passed along his love of athletics. They took special pride in his having been named Catholic Youth Organization “Man of the Year” in 1999.

Brian J. Smith, who had respiratory difficulties, died on January 9, 2013, at his home in Horsham, of an apparent heart attack. In addition to his parents, he is survived by three sons, Brian J., Jr., Sean P., and Patrick S. Smith; a daughter, Elizabeth M. Smith; and two grandsons and two brothers. Also surviving is his former wife, Joanne M. Smith.

Laurie Ann Honors K’78

Laurie Ann Honors K’78, who retained a positive attitude and led a productive life despite ever-present physical difficulties, grew up in Syracuse, NY, where she was born on March 4, 1956. The younger daughter of John J., a sales representative, and Lucille Richard Honors, she underwent a series of surgeries as a teenager in an effort to correct birth defects. She enrolled at Kirkland College in 1974 as a graduate of Minoa Central High School in East Syracuse, where she had been active in dramatics. Having to overcome fears and misgivings concerning academic challenges, combined with her physical limitations, she had a particularly difficult first year on the Hill. However, encouraged by classmates and other friends she soon made, who told her “We believe in you,” she stayed the course. She engaged in student government and was active in the Newman Club, and earned her B.A., concentrating in literature, in 1978. She left the Hill with a lifelong affection for Kirkland that would also be extended to Hamilton.

Laurie Honors returned to Syracuse and worked for a year as a substitute teacher in local secondary schools before joining Prudential Insurance Co. in Syracuse as a claims representative. After a few years she became office manager for a construction company, Milestone Homes. On the side she did part-time tutoring in mathematics and English, and designed and hand-crafted needlework, which she sold. After the construction company went out of business in 1992, she began tutoring full-time and derived great satisfaction from working with children. Her leisure moments were devoted to reading, especially historical fiction and biography, and she wrote poetry and short stories as well.

For many years Laurie Honors served as an enthusiastic class agent for Hamilton’s Annual Fund. Her success in that endeavor earned her the Chairman’s Award in 1992. In 2008, she also became class correspondent for this magazine and faithfully reported on news of her classmates until shortly before her death.

Laurie Honors, with her siblings and many nieces and nephews providing strong support, refused to let her physical disability define her or restrict her. Years after leaving the Hill she recalled that, “Hearing someone say ‘I believe in you’ is the most important step in overcoming whatever obstacles you face in life. It is perhaps the most important lesson I learned at Kirkland, and one that I have tried to pass on to others over the years.” As a result, she became an inspiration to many.

Laurie Ann Honors, who spent the last year or two of her life in an assisted living facility in Syracuse, died on November 7, 2012, at the age of 56. She is survived by a sister and two brothers, Mary Bacalles and Brian R. and John J. Honors, as well as her nieces and nephews.
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Steven Paul Carlson ’79

Steven Paul Carlson ’79, a certified public accountant, was born on August 31, 1957, in Worcester, MA. A son of Stanley D., a factory inspector, and Doris Nelson Carlson, a registered nurse, he grew up in nearby Holden, where he was graduated in 1975 from Wachusett Regional High School. Steven Carlson enrolled at Hamilton that fall and played varsity golf and intramural basketball and football while on the Hill. President of the Psi Upsilon house, he majored in economics and left the Hill with his diploma in 1979.

Steven Carlson, who had an intense interest in, as well as a flair for, mathematics, went on to Rutgers University, where he earned a master’s in accounting in 1981. He began his career as a staff accountant with Coopers & Lybrand in Boston, followed by brief employment as an internal auditor with Sheraton Hotels, Inc. Thereafter he was self-employed as a certified public accountant for several years. When the College last had a report from him, in 1995, he was associated with Colony Retirement Homes, Inc., in Worcester.

Steven P. Carlson died unexpectedly at his home in Worcester on November 3, 2012, according to a brief obituary published in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He is survived by his mother and a brother, Donald. C. Carlson.