Realizing an American Dream through Browne & Nichols
As a little boy in 1950’s Ireland, Micéal Jordan heard the streets in America were paved with gold. Such stories would have naturally made an impression given his circumstances: his mother died when he was an infant and his father’s farm in County Clare had no electricity, central heating, or running water.
That was a hard life, but Micéal had his father and was very close with his grandmother. Tragically, his grandmother passed away when he was seven, followed by his father dying in a truck accident. His father’s sister, Nora Chamberlain, stepped in and brought Micéal to live with her and her husband Eddie in Cambridge, MA. He had new parents and a new last name.
Mrs. Chamberlain, a maid at Harvard University, became, by happenstance, friends with the wife of George Deptula, a legendary Browne & Nichols (B&N) Russian teacher. Eventually, Mrs. Deptula encouraged Mrs. Chamberlain to consider B&N for Micéal. Visiting B&N, Micéal thought aspects of the school shone like a Hollywood movie. He was hungry to attend but thought the door would be barred because his academics were far too weak. George Deptula and Head of School Edwin Pratt decided, however, to bet on Micéal, and he entered Browne & Nichols for the 7th grade.
Micéal arrived in the U.S. in 1957 with a very rudimentary education, so much so that his elementary school considered having him repeat the second grade. Still lagging academically, Micéal had many days of hard work ahead of him at B&N. He was, however, more than willing to devote himself because, as he says, “I didn’t want to let anyone down.” His career testifies that he did not. After graduating from Babson College, he worked for the Red Sox. He followed that with 15 years as the New England Patriots’ Marketing and Advertising Director. Since 1989, he has owned the real estate company Historic Homes.
“Who knows what I’d be doing or where I’d be today if I had not had the chance to attend B&N,” Micéal says. In addition to crediting his excellent B&N education, Micéal notes he met his wife, Nancie, through the school: providentially, Micéal and Nancie’s older sister both worked at the summer camp. After meeting Nancie for the first time, Micéal told his close friend and classmate Ben Bradlee ’66, “Some day I’m going to marry this girl. I just know it.” Micéal and Nancie now have four sons and ten grandchildren and, after 53 years of marriage, Micéal says, Nancie “is still the love of my life.”
A proud and happy alumnus with lifelong B&N friends, Micéal hosted the B&N Class of 1966 at his house for its 50th reunion. With the sale of that house, Micéal could increase his philanthropy and made a leadership gift to BB&N with a qualified charitable distribution. “When we’re given so much and we’re in a position to give back,” Micéal says, “it is time.”