At first the relationship was merely one of friendship, but the couple began seriously dating once Nenneman graduated and entered the International Affairs masters program at Harvard. In 1954, the two got married.

Nenneman entered army counterintelligence after earning his master's degree--an experience that taught him he wanted to have nothing to do with government bureaucracy.

Instead, Nenneman entered the banking industry. Over the period of a decade, he worked for three banking firms, ending at a bank in Phoenix, Ariz. in 1964.

According to Nenneman, Arizona could have been an exciting place for a right-wing conservative in 1964--Governor Barry Goldwater was in the midst of a landbreaking run for President, which while highly unsuccessful at the time would lead to the birth of modern conservatism.

For him, a left-leaning Christian Scientist, the political events of 1964 suggested something entirely different: it was time to move back East.

It was at this point that Nenneman was accepted as financial editor to the Christian Science Monitor, based in Boston.

"I wanted to do something more intellectual," Nenneman says. "I really enjoyed it."

But nine years later, Nenneman made what he thought would be a permanent decision to reenter the banking industry.

He moved to Philadelphia, where he worked for Girard Bank for nine years and became a senior executive.

Nenneman's return to the Monitor was a result of the efforts of a colleague, who the Christian Science church had tapped to become the paper's next general manager in 1983. Nenneman found out later that John H. Hoagland Jr. had agreed to take the job only under the condition that Nenneman be made managing editor of the paper.

"[Nenneman] is the kind of guy who is respected by everybody," Hoagland says. "He is so good with people--everybody felt comfortable with him. He never lets pressure get to him." Many of those who know Nenneman describe him as soft spoken, but note that this quietness can be deceptive, as behind it is an increadible intellect.

Nenneman's decision to return to Boston came in part from his desire to return to living in the region.

"I love the small town feeling of New England," Nenneman says. Nenneman continues to live in New England today, splitting his time between Cape Cod and the Boston suburb of Lincoln.

As the paper's managing editor, Nenneman oversaw the news department's 150 employees. However, he left most of the direct contact with reporters and editing of stories up to his subordinates, mainly involving himself in the daily reporting of the news only through the daily meeting between him and his top editors deciding the content of the next day's front page. He would also preview controversial news stories before they were printed.

When he became first assistant manager and director of publishing and then editor in chief, Nenneman made his major task moving the Monitor from print to radio and TV--a plan that was ultimately unsuccessful.