Bar Harbor Bank supports Coniston and Local Community
Coniston Says Goodbye to Sanders’ Era Nurse, Patricia Ford (Reny)
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing on Patricia Ford (Reny) on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 after a lengthy battle with metastatic lung cancer. Pat was Camp Nurse from 1972 – 1978 and was joined each summer by her son Michael Reny and husband D. Reny. Additionally, D. Reny worked on photography and riflery staff.
Michael Reny shared the following memories… Camp Coniston holds a profound place in my heart and my mother’s passing brings back all the joy that I experienced there. I was 7 yrs old and had no idea where we were going one summer day when Pat & Don brought me to the camp. She was one of the summer nurses along with my dad who had a variety of roles. I had the privilege of being an out of cabin camper and got to see behind the scenes of camp life and experience being a camper. I would stay in one of the infirmary back rooms for a session then the next session join the regular boys camp in an appropriate cabin…all 8 weeks each summer for 5-6 yrs. I’d help in the infirmary during sick calls-handing out cough drops for soar throats after campfire battles. I participated and excelled in all the programs and got to make many friends and see them return each summer. I wish I had kept in closer touch. I tried to return every couple years for reunion and always wanted to take a week at the end of summer…but life was busy. I so wanted my kids to go to camp…but that didn’t happen either. I took Pat back once in the 90’s. I know she thoroughly enjoyed her time at camp as did I.
Blondie who worked with Patricia for 5 years as camp nurses shared the following with us… Pat was very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. She and husband stopped in Hershey to see me a few months before she died and although she knew her time was short her sense of humor came through. Great person.
During the year Pat was part of a small coalition of sister Nurse Practitioners who successfully lobbied the New Hampshire Legislature to provide rights of independent practice and additionally the rights of prescriptive practice to help New Hampshire patients attain the quality and affordable healthcare that has become the standard for healthcare in New Hampshire. Pat was the first Nurse Practitioner in New Hampshire to serve as an independent practitioner. She owned and operated her own practice named Healthy Generations in Franklin, N.H. and built the practice to nearly 4000 patients over 20 years. Pat earned the Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award in 1991 due to her accomplishments in providing leadership in the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association. Pat was also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association. Pat concluded her illustrious Nurse Practitioner career while practicing at Whole Life Healthcare in Newington, N.H., while simultaneously modernizing and managing the first aid station and sick call hours on Star Island for the Star Island Corp she said it was just like Camp!
Pat will be greatly missed by the entire Coniston Community.
Looking Back at Summer 2019
What an amazing summer! Camp sure seems quiet without the joyful noise of the Coniston beat at every meal, the cheers from a cabin winning an evening program, or the applause of campers watching their friends in the talent show.
Magical moments and memories were made everywhere throughout the summer months at Coniston. We had five wonderful sessions, six thrilling adventure trips, two impactful service trips and four extraordinary CIT cohorts. Let’s take a look back at some of the amazing moments that made Summer 2019 one to remember.
The middle of June saw our wonderful summer staff arrive ready for a summer of directing program area activities, living in cabin, leading trips, serving up delicious meals for the kids, and positively impacting campers’ lives. We had many returning staff members who come back to Coniston summer after summer, showing their passion for Camp.
We also had fresh faces inour great new group of leaders in training, as well as new staffmembers from overseas. This summer our international staff was comprised of people from all over the globe, including: England, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Hungaryand Colombia!
Noah Kahan—Singer/Songwriter—Coniston: 2005-2012
At eight years old and having never been away from home for long, Noah was terrified to come to Camp. However, after his first summer, Camp became a huge part of his life—seeing old friends and the beautiful lake—“summer became synonymous with Coniston.”
After receiving a recording contract his senior year in high school, Noah pursued a career as a musician; he is enjoying a life which is a whirlwind of performing live on programs like Late Night with Stephen Colbert and Late Night with Seth Meyers, recording songs, and creating music around the world.
“I would say that I use the social skills I learned at Coniston all the time. Meeting new people and cooperating in a group setting is difficult, and it’s something that Coniston taught me to do year after year. I believe those social skills have propelled me through the rest of my young adult life!
Coniston instilled confidence in my ability as a musician and person. I’ll never forget how excited I would be before every talent show…
…I believe much of my identity was formed in the cabins in Boys Camp and on the docks of Boys Waterfront. I made lasting friendships on the wood panels of the Adirondack chairs, and slept under the stars on my overnights. What I remember most about Camp Coniston was the mythos of the place. Coniston was a place that survived in my mind on its reputation as a grounds for unexplainable magic that cast a spell on its campers, bringing them back every year. Coniston will always be a part of my life.”