Jim and I met during my first few days at Fairfield U in 1971. I was in the second class to admit women, and we needed to vote on “parietals” (visiting hours for guys) on Day 3. Until then, young men were only allowed on the hallway of Loyola 2 if they were selling books. Jim sold all his old textbooks (and bought some more) just so he could visit our hallway. I happened to cross paths with him while he was selling some math texts to a girl down the hall. I remarked to a friend, “Did you see that guy? I’m going to date him.” As it turned out, we did date and in 1976 we married. When we married and moved to CT from NJ, I worked at the University for a couple years. For a while, I worked in the Registrar’s Office and then became the Title XX Coordinator, overseeing a program which designed and implemented training for social service providers. I also earned my MA in American Studies at Fairfield U. Jim and I treasure our Fairfield memories and love to visit our old haunts. We attend all our Reunions and love seeing classmates and friends from “the old days.”

All three of our children have graduated from Fairfield as well – Christina ’02, who met her husband (James Clark ’02) at Fairfield U, Jimmy ’04, and Colleen ’05. My son also has his MBA in Accounting from Fairfield U. My sister Kathy followed me and graduated in ’76. She met and fell in love with her husband (Bill McBain ’75). Both of their children (Liz ’04 and Bill ’07) earned degrees at Fairfield U. My sister Mary Ellen also loved Fairfield and graduated in 1978. My brother Joe ’87 met his wife (Christine Tiernan Hanlon ’89) and one of their two daughters — Caitlyn — is a freshman this year at the U. Our family gatherings are a sort of Fairfield Reunion.

Class Years: 1974 & 1975
First Met: Loyola 2 while Jim was selling math textbooks
Wedding Date: 1976