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Teledancer
07-23-2009, 11:06 AM
:( :unhappyhiker:
From The Observatory:
Mount Washington Observatory has lost an old friend. Nin, the Observatory's beloved mascot for more than a decade, passed away on July 14.

A rescued stray cat from Vermont, Nin found his way to the Observatory in the mid 1990's with former observer Mark Ross-Parent. Over the twelve years that Nin ruled the summit, his furry face became nearly as well known as the mountain's weather itself. He brought joy to weather observers, interns, volunteers, visitors, website viewers and fans across the country. He certainly brought smiles and laughs to thousands of Mt. Washington State Park visitors, who undoubtedly scratched their heads with bewilderment when they noticed a rotund white cat patrolling the top of the tallest mountain in New England.

For the Obs crew, Nin made our cold, concrete mountaintop workplace feel a little bit like home. He was intelligent, funny and had quite the personality.

When Nin retired from his Observatory post in December of 2007, the story swept across the country and around the world. Observatory members sent in newspaper clippings from all across the nation. The story could be found in print and on television, radio and Internet, coast to coast and as far away as China, Austria and France. On the day the story of Nin's retirement broke, the Observatory website had one of the biggest days of web traffic ever, surpassed only by our recent feature in National Geographic Magazine.

Another indicator of how special Nin was, a children's book entitled 'Cat in the Clouds' has been written about his days at the Observatory, penned by former observer Eric Pinder and published by The History Press. For years to come, Nin's story will touch the lives of children around the country through this beautifully-illustrated picture book.

After his retirement, Nin lived with and was cared for by Mt. Washington State Park's Mike Pelchat and Diane Holmes of Gorham. Mike and Diane graciously took him in and provided Nin with a wonderful quality of life, and for that all of us here at the Observatory are truly grateful. It's quite fitting that Nin's final resting place has a nice view of the Northern Presidentials, mountain peaks that Nin could see from the Observatory for most of his life.
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One of my great disapointments was that I Never met Nin.
Happy Journey Bud ....see you on Top!

gpetrics
07-23-2009, 12:33 PM
that is indeed quite sad.... one of the only cats I've ever enjoyed the company of...

The Lisa
07-23-2009, 03:52 PM
Thanks for posting that, sad though it is. I never met the kitty but there are lovely photos taken of him at the observatory in all seasons.

RR
07-23-2009, 04:09 PM
A fine feline!
RIP

Sledhaulingmedic
07-23-2009, 04:11 PM
Very sad indeed. I'm sure had had a wonderful home with Mike and Diane. Their loss is our loss. I'm sure he's forever by a warm fire now.

The Lisa
07-23-2009, 05:55 PM
He might be doing more than sitting by the fire in kitty heaven - this is a wonderful poem by J R R Tolkien, best if read aloud:

Cat

The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred,
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom --
far now they be,
fierce and free,
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
kept as a pet
he does not forget.

TuaGuy
07-23-2009, 07:04 PM
:( :unhappyhiker:
From The Observatory:
Mount Washington Observatory has lost an old friend. Nin, the Observatory's beloved mascot for more than a decade, passed away on July 14.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of my great disapointments was that I Never met Nin.
Happy Journey Bud ....see you on Top! Nor did I meet him. Fitting that this is brought to our attention by one who cuts ski trails in his backyard hill and names them after felines known and loved. Happy Journey indeed. Katahdin still greeting you with the open paw extended claw high five? May he extend all his nine lives, if only to keep you in line:p. Found a windsurf rig, maybe. If it's real (read:Craig's list) I'll be picking it up Sunday.;)