Alumni Spotlight On Dr. Firmon Hardenbergh
A Life Serendipitously Caring for Others
Yes, you got that title right. I can honestly say that meeting Dr. Firmon Hardenbergh, never have I met a man who is happier and more honest about his wonderful, caring, yet meandering life. Spend an hour with Firmon (Dr. Hardenbergh, excuse me) and you will be a better person. I hope that resulting from this note, more of us do.
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As part of an effort to connect with Harvard Alums in Alabama, I reached out to Firmon (Harvard Class of 1952 and Medical School 1956) to learn more about his life. We met on a Monday near his house in Vestavia. I had wanted to meet at Bistro V, that being a nicer place, but it was closed. So we went to Chick-fil-a instead. Which, as it turns out, was wonderful. And Firmon was as jovial to eat there as any fancy bistro, which is so indicative of his personality.
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Firmon is a man who is happy-go-lucky. As someone often described as too serious, I was taking notes.
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After ordering chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, we got to talking a bit and it was wonderful. While I can’t tell everything we talked about, I can share a few great stories that provide insight into Firmon’s life. And if anything stands out, it’s that his is a life of wonderful serendipity.
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Getting into Harvard: Firmon went to Ensley High School in Birmingham, back when Ensley was a very different place. At the time, he was planning to attend Birmingham Southern College or somewhere similar in the south, but based on the efforts of the newly formed Harvard Club of Birmingham, alumni were combing through local area high schools for high-achieving students to consider Harvard. Firmon’s friends recommended he meet with folks from the Harvard Club and potentially apply. He did, but never really thought much about it until he got in. And thanks to a few scholarships, he went.
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Meeting his wife: Firmon shared a lovely story about meeting his wife. At the time, people traveled by train to get to Boston and… honestly… It was a long trip. On a ride home, Firmon was able to connect with his (not at that time) wife over music (she was a wonderful musician) and they decided to stay in touch. She wasn’t immediately available when they met, but within a reasonable time, she did realize her mistakes (ha!) and they reconnected. But if it wasn’t for that train ride, Firmon might never have met her. Serendipity strikes again...
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Getting into residency: Again, a positive attitude and a little luck strike again. Getting into residency is a highly structured affair these days with many interviews and a complicated matching system. While I won’t get all the details right, Firmon did share that he didn’t really do that… instead, he just made a call to inquire into an ophthalmology training program with a professor he had taken a course with. The professor actually had a recently vacated spot in his residency program and the stars aligned. As Firmon describes it, he sort of just called in and was accepted on the phone. What a wild story!
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What is life like now? A man like Firmon is a treasure trove of perspective. He has seen so much change from his days in Ensley to now being in Vestavia. In fact, Vestavia didn’t exist when he went to Harvard. Yet it is where some of his grandchildren grew up and where his daughter (now retired) lives. How much life can change in nearly 100 years?
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And that, in the end, is one of the best things about our discussion. Life will change. Nothing is permanent, but with a good attitude and a willingness to take what life gives you, great things happen.
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In the end, it was lovely to chat with Dr. Hardenbergh. He is the kind of person I hope to become. Happy, honest, humble, and sharp, even at nearly 100 years old. A lovely discussion. Maybe we should accept him again! Class of ‘24?
Thanks to Will Wright, Club President Emeritus, for contributing this profile.