Nick Groos
College of Engineering
Tell us about what you're doing with your life
I retired full time in July of 2019, just before COVID hit. We were just finishing building a vacation home in Colorado. My wife Hanna is from Finland, and we also have a small cabin in the woods there. So basically, we go from place to place: Luxembourg, Colorado, Finland. Some would say, enjoying the free time that we have, but sometimes I feel like I’m going from work camp to work camp. We have 4 daughters that are scattered around the US and Europe, so we visit them when it suits us. It’s great to be like a kid again, just wish I had the body for it.
What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
I wouldn’t call it my “favorite” memory, but rather my most vivid. Words that come to mind are “tough”, “24/7”, “life changing”. I was far away from home, surrounded by competitive students much smarter than me at an institution that seems to make its students work harder than anywhere else in the Ivy League in order to maintain its reputation. When you pile on top of that the negotiating of relationships for the first time and living in a fraternity environment with 60 other guys, it was certainly life changing. You had a lot of opportunities to make mistakes. Every day. I guess that’s maybe where the phrase “Fall down 7 times, stand up 8” comes from...... On a lighter note, I really, really, really, really, really miss swimming in the gorge, especially right under the suspension bridge. Those were definitely the days. If I knew I only had 6 months to live, I would go back to Ithaca and swim there until they threw me in jail (weather permitting).
Which Cornell classmates do you keep in touch with?
Since we live overseas, it is not easy to keep in touch with and see my other classmates. So, my list is short: Jim Sherrill ’84 and Steve and Sue Howell (’84 and ’86). I recently saw Jennifer Sheahy ’84 and her husband Richard and got a big kick out of that. I guess that is why I am such a big fan of reunions. It is not important to me that all of my classmates attend reunion in order for me to attend. I get a big kick out of meeting Cornellians of any age, anywhere.
What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left? Alternatively, who do you keep in touch with?
While on campus for reunion in 2014, I happened to attend a fascinating event organized by Rob Scott, Director of the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) (https://cpep.cornell.edu/). In short, NY State built many of its prisons in upstate NY, not far from Cornell. In the mid-1990s an act of Congress and subsequent state legislation caused the collapse of taxpayer-funded College programs in US prisons. While on campus for reunion in 2014, I happened to attend a fascinating event organized by Rob Scott, Director of the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) (https://cpep.cornell.edu/). In short, NY State built many of its prisons in upstate NY, not far from Cornell. In the mid-1990s an act of Congress and subsequent state legislation caused the collapse of taxpayer-funded College programs in US prisons. By 1999, Cornell had formed CPEP, which arranges college courses at 4 of these institutions, including course material and teaching staff, enabling college classes to be given for credit and charging neither tuition nor fees. It is a win-win for everyone: recidivism is less than 5% for graduates of the program that have been released from prison, and teaching staff (Cornell professors and grad students) have almost universally benefitted from this life changing experience. Since then, I have been an important financial supporter of CPEP.
What does being a Cornell alumnus mean to you?
I was fortunate to be a Cornell Council member in the recent past and discovered (maybe I am slow learner) that Cornell literally has something of interest for everyone. I think it is important to support those parts of Cornell that interest you, in whatever way means the most to you.
What are you most looking forward to at Reunion 2024?
My Dad, who is a Cornellian from the Class of ’52, once offered me some of the best advice anyone has ever given me. Long ago, while I was packing for one of my first Reunions, he pulled me aside saying “Nick, before you set off for your Reunion, I have one word of advice for you: REVERT!” In other words, I will not be coming to Reunion to wax lyrical about all of the great things I have accomplished, or fantastic places I have visited since going to Cornell. Nope. I will be showing up as a 22-year-old, ready to reminisce about the good old days and nights while at Cornell. So don’t approach me and tell me about your career, etc. I want to know what the best hockey game you remember going to while at Cornell, what your favorite hot sandwich was from the Hot Truck, whether you still know how to mix a good “Kamikaze”, etc.