Nancy Stern
Camper, Counselor, Tennis Instructor
If you were a Girls' counselor in the mid-seventies and you had a couple of campers like Nancy & Lisa, then you probably knew that you had one of the best bunks in camp. Not only were these two dynamos incredible athletes, but they also set the standard for the quintessential model camper, which others could only follow. As exemplary campers, they were highly regarded by their counselors, by their fellow campers, by Sy Sundick and especially by the Girls' Tennis Counselor, Isabel Goldstein. At that time, Izzi was also the head coach for the Girls' formidable inter-camp tennis team. The twins were a key part of a team that won tournament after tournament for years, filling so many of Tyler Hill Camp's trophy cases that more needed to be built to house the impressive collection.
Born a whopping one-minute apart, the Stern twins' spirited time as campers was highlighted not only with impressive athletic achievements, but also with long-lasting friendships. Their athletic skills reflected the strength of their determination, as they set the bar so high for themselves and consistently leaped over it.
They transitioned smoothly to the role of tennis counselors, under the watchful eye of long-time Boys' and Girls' Tennis Counselor, Al Steinberg. The campers, who improved their tennis skills on the twins' watch, adored the Sternos. They were role models for the campers and became close friends with many their fellow counselors and other members of the THC staff, as well.
The icing on the cake for these two was when Sy Sundick selected them to be opposing Color War generals in 1983. But fate had a different plan for them, as Lisa was stricken with acute appendicitis, shortly before Color War broke. Lisa spent the rest of the camp season in the hospital. Nancy ended up on the winning side of Color War that year, with Lisa rooting her on from the hospital.
And that is how their storybook run at Tyler Hill Camp ended.
In the years that have followed their days at Tyler Hill Camp, they took with them their high standard of excellence and transferred it to their life's endeavors. As co-founders of Lookalike Productions, they are now Emmy-winning producers/directors, specializing in, but not limited to sports-related documentaries.
But wherever these two amazing women go, Tyler Hill Camp remains in their hearts as a compass, serving as a point of reference for whatever direction they turn; whether it's the road ahead, or the road well traveled.
