A Chapman grad savors her delayed pomp

The morning sky was battleship gray and the air chilly, but not even the weather could dampen the mood Saturday at Nancy Christiano’s college graduation.

Other graduates of Chapman University’s Department of Communication Studies cheered when her name was called. She stood out from the 1,000 undergraduates also receiving degrees because she was at least twice their age.

Christiano, 53, dropped out of college in 1971 in her freshman year at Humboldt State and returned home to Lompoc to work as a legal secretary. Over the years, she had two children and moved to Orange County in 1978.

She married a financial investor and settled into a comfortable life as a stay-at-home mom in Newport Beach. But Christiano said she was always bothered -- embarrassed at times -- that she had never finished college. A self-described tree hugger and liberal in a bastion of political conservatism, Christiano believed that she had somehow failed her generation.

“I so regret that I didn’t get my education,” said Christiano, who grew up as an Air Force brat. “In 1971, I was a little bit of a flower child, and I never took school seriously. There was so much turmoil in the country. The Vietnam War was still going on. Life seemed short for us back then, and I wanted to get on with mine.”

She got on with life, but never lost her social consciousness or concern for the environment.

“The ‘60s defined my political position in life,” she said. “I live in Newport Beach, but I consider myself a liberal. I’m for people who are marginalized in society and for minorities who are struggling to fit in. I drove a hybrid way back when it wasn’t cool to drive one because the environment is important to me.”

Four years ago, Christiano decided to return to college after a “thoughtful talk” with her daughter, Cristina Guccione, 24, about working to save the environment. A degree in communications would allow her to “be a good communicator to do environmental work,” Christiano said.

She also got encouragement from her father, Howard Dyste, 92, a retired Air Force colonel and accountant who got a master’s degree at Chapman when he was in his 50s. After taking classes for two years at Orange Coast College, Christiano transferred to the university in Orange.

“I thought I would never fit in because it was rare to see anyone my age on campus who wasn’t a teacher,” she said. “But here I am now at the close of my educational career, ready to embark on something new just as I’m getting ready to celebrate my 54th birthday.”

Actually, Christiano is not quite through with school. She will return to Chapman in August to begin working toward a master’s in organizational leadership that she plans to use at a nonprofit or foundation dedicated to helping the environment.

Admittedly a lazy college student in her younger days when she wanted to be a physical education teacher, Christiano earned mostly A’s and a handful of Bs at Chapman and Orange Coast.

She was moved by “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates took their seats.

“I’m praying that I maintain my composure as I walk across the stage,” she had said before the ceremony.

She did all right, even managing a wave to the admiring much-younger crowd.

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hgreza@latimes.com