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More Love connections
An affair to remember
 In 1956, the bane of freshman journalism students was the requirement to set type letter by letter. We had to lash tiny pieces of lead together with string, shoving in tiny brass spacers, while keeping the whole maddening assemblage from flying apart like a hand grenade.
One day in typography lab a girl in a curvy brown sweater, glossy black hair and big brown eyes walked in. “You look so intelligent,” she trilled. “Could you show me how to do this?”
She smiled a blinding smile. Wow. Of course I’d be glad to help. As I began demonstrating, she smoothly slipped back, gave me a big smile, and left me pretty much to do the work myself.
She talked as I worked. Her name was Marlane Weber, and she came from Niagara Falls, “so I grew up surrounded by honeymooners.” An impish grin. Gee. What did that mean? Double wow. Leaving my own assignment neglected and overdue, we handed in her proof.
Walking down 13th Street, I asked her out. With a blinding smile, she said: “Gee, I don’t think it would be right to spoil such a beautiful friendship by dating.” And she took off for the union. I thought what a sucker I’d been. “You manipulative little witch; I’ll never speak to you again.”
Three years passed and our paths rarely crossed until senior year. One afternoon in the union, sitting at what was then “the J-school table,” I noticed the Niagara Falls femme fatale at the far end of the row. People came and went, and as they did, she just kept moving up the bench, closer to me, until, about sundown, she was next to me and we were alone.
As I concentrated on my work for the Tribune, she said: “I heard there’s this great movie at the Varsity. I heard it’s very romantic. I don’t think I should have to watch a real romantic movie like that by myself. I should see it with a man. So I think you should take me to that movie tonight.” She smiled sweetly, eyes innocent as a doe’s. Who could say no to that? Besides, I had asked her out three years earlier — she was just now coming to her senses.
The film was An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and it was indeed — still is — overpoweringly romantic.
Within months, we were engaged. The 1960 yearbook has a picture of us, with a caption reflecting the widespread impression of Marlane the huntress, zealously pursuing me. I figure we had each pursued the other. She was just better at it.
We’re retired now. She still asks me sometimes to “show me how to do this” and then, smiling sweetly, leaves me with the work.
And every now and then we get out our videotape of An Affair to Remember.
— Terry McGarry, Jour ’61, married to Marlane McGarry, Jour ’60
"Like we were still at Marquette"
Claire Theis and I, Gene “Torchy” Clark, fell in love at Marquette University in 1950. Claire was a sophomore and I was a junior. I wrote my Dad and said “I’m going to marry a girl from Kentucky who is going to Marquette. I’ve never been happier.” My father took my letter to the priest in my hometown of Oshkosh, Wis. The priest said to my Dad, “You’re lucky you got the letter.”
In 1950 we got married, and for 57 years we loved each other as much as we did when we fell in love at Marquette. I wanted to coach, which we did, coaching and teaching for 51 years until I retired. We had four boys and one daughter, all of whom attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
On Aug. 13, 2007, beautiful Claire fell down, and all her organs shut down. Six doctors said we should let Claire go. I said no — I wanted Jesus to have his time. Three weeks later everything came back perfect. The next ten days were like we were still at Marquette. Claire was so popular and beautiful. We were ready to put her in rehab when a terrible septic infection hit Claire, and on Nov. 4, 2007, Claire died.
On our very last day, in a dark hospital room in which the love of my life hadn’t spoken for several days, I kissed Claire and said “I love you, Claire.” It came from my soul and 57 years of joy. I was shocked to hear her say clearly “and I love you!”
Those were our last words, said like we were still at Marquette, Claire, the beautiful co-ed in Liberal Arts, and me, the Liberal Arts education major. Our Marquette days were perfect and it continued for the next 57 years, which I thank God for.
— Eugene “Torchy” Clark, Arts ’51, married to Claire Theis Clark, Arts ’52. Torchy was the legendary men's basketball coach at University of Central Florida. Fellow coaches referred to Claire as "the beautiful one" and "magic"; when she died, an Orlando Sentinel writer wrote "If you didn't know Claire Clark, the wonderful wife of former UCF basketball coach Torchy Clark, you missed having a constant ray of sunshine in your life. Claire...brightened the day of anyone she met."
Fifty years of friendship
We were a group — three couples who played cards at Boniface Hall (yes, there was such a place), danced in the local ballrooms, went to the campus theater, and ate at the White Castle. I met Ed first, then he introduced my roommate (Marleen) to his roommate Rich.
Then we all started spending lots of time with Barb and Lew. We had great times! After graduation it was a summer of weddings. We all attended each other's and felt like we were part of each courtship period. Barb and Lew first, then Marleen and Rich, and lastly us.
This was 1957.
As the years passed we kept in touch. As we grew older we were able to spend more quality time together — visiting each other's homes and taking vacations together. This past year we all celebrated our 50th wedding anniversaries. We each had our own plans, but it was a thrill for us to have Barb and Lew, who were at our wedding, at our 50th anniversary dinner.
We didn't know that our college years were times we would remember for over 50 years and remember like they were yesterday. Love, romance, friendship and caring are still part of the picture.
— Barbara Chandler Huberty, Arts '57, married to Edward Huberty, Bus Ad '59
Catholic connection
Having graduated in 1959 from Mount St. Mary's College in Maryland, I lived at home in Pennsylvania to pay off my loans and then moved to Baltimore in 1961 to get a job and work my way through the University of Maryland School of Law. I had a room in a mens' dorm for law and medical students, across the street from a dorm for professional women students. After two months, one of the law students introduced me to a gorgeous girl, Carol Ann Murray, who had been taking my breath away whenever I saw her. She seemed to me the most popular co-ed on the Baltimore campus. She was a candidate for a master's in nursing and she had come to Baltimore from Chicago, where she had worked at Illinois Research Hospital. She told me she was originally from Sandusky, Ohio, which gave me an opportunity to converse with her because I had once been there after playing in an amputee golf tournament.
Having classes most nights and every Saturday, I saw her only occasionally in the student cafeteria; I would ask her out, but she always had a date. Then one evening I had a late class and saw her about 6 p.m., having dinner alone, so I sat right down and asked her about the little book she was reading; it was a book of prayers with an imprimatur. Are you Catholic, said I. Yes, said she. She had graduated from Marquette in 1959. "Why didn't you tell me?" "Why didn't you ask?"
However, I didn't get a date until a little later when I had planned to go to D.C. for the birthday of my Mount St. Mary's roommate, who was a Georgetown law student. I asked her to go with me, and she said
“of course.” That time, as it later turned out, she really needed to study but had actually been wanting me to try again. The next morning, back in Baltimore, she was waiting outside my dorm when I was leaving for work. She walked me to my office every morning after that until we got engaged. We married in 1962, and she taught maternal and child health nursing until we had our first baby. We moved to D.C. in 1968, and I passed the bar exam and worked in legislative areas.
In 1994, we attended both our reunions, and Carol Ann and I retired. She had worked at Georgetown University for almost 18 years, where she had also earned a second master’s, concentrating on Irish history, especially the Great Famine. She also made it possible for our six children to get Catholic grade school, high school and college educations without any loans and for us to have a second home in Ireland since 1980. She was most at home there, and I am working on that as well as the rest of our love story.
As you may have guessed by now, half of me has died. She had systemic scleroderma. In 2001 she had me promise I would use all my talents, and I try. I am still “in love," because that is human. Of course, we also had that higher tier love where you are completely in tune and start to look alike and can finish each other's sentences. But now she is on the top level, where she answers my prayers.
— Ed McGroarty, married to Carol Ann (Murray) McGroarty, Nurs ’59. While their love story didn’t happen at Marquette, Ed wanted to share it with other Marquette Magazine readers. “My wife loved Marquette, and she was the third of three sisters (Elaine, '58, and Kathleen, '57) to graduate from MU with nursing degrees. She kept in close touch with many of her classmates as well as with faculty members. After Carol Ann died, I decided to try to keep up her connection with Marquette just as I do with Mount St. Mary's. She was a great credit to her alma mater, and I so want her to be remembered especially by her classmates.”
The equation for love
Lynn and I met as students in an Analytic Geometry class at Marquette in the second semester, 1957-58. As a freshman math major, the course was a requirement for Lynn. With expectations of graduating that summer, I needed another semester of math to complete my B.S. in chemistry, and I was having problems in the class. It was obvious to me that the distractingly attractive young lady across the temporary classroom structure (the barracks) was having no problem in that class.
My “opportunity” came in early February when Lynn became ill and missed two weeks of class. I took very comprehensive notes in her absence and made it a point to invite her for a cup of coffee after her first class back, offering to share my notes with her. The coffee break soon developed into Mass at Gesu before our 8 o’clocks, basketball games at the arena and plays at Teatro Maria (Bellarmine Hall). Also included were many visits and study sessions on the fifth floor of the Science Hall, where I was working on a research project for my master’s thesis in chemistry.
We were married two weeks after Lynn graduated in June 1961. I subsequently completed my master’s degree in 1964. We have five children and a family that now includes 17 grandchildren. To this day, we still enjoy Marquette basketball and have regularly attended the Marquette Theatre presentations since our return to Milwaukee in 1973. We are both retired and live in Greendale, Wis.
— John Binder, Arts ’58, Grad ’64 , married to Lynn (Asp) Binder, Arts ’61
"I went to a dance looking for romance..."
In early February 1965 I saw a small notice on the bulletin board in the Marquette Law School that the dance club was having a dance on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, and anyone who wanted to learn ballroom dancing was invited to attend. Being the shy person I was in those days, I was hesitant to go. I had already been confronted by rejection in my prior efforts to find a date to go out on. But as the Beachboys declared: "I went to a dance looking for romance and found Barbara Anne." No, I met Barbara Katherina. Close enough for me!!
On tax day, April 15, Barbara picked me up at the law office I worked part time. The secretary gave my anemic weekly paycheck to Barbara. I should have seen this as an omen. That night I proposed to Barbara in the back of the Varsity Theatre, where we often sat to get a better view of the screen. Well, with us getting engaged after only two months, I am sure there were tongues wagging. These were silenced when we got married in late November.
We have been married over 42 years. I tell people its been the happiest 10 years of my life. But really it has been a great life for both of us, and we can't imagine what our lives would have been like without one another.
— David Leifker, Law '66, married to Barbara (Hessler) Leifker, Arts '65
Love is in the air
It was the Marquette/Wisconsin game in Madison in December 1964. I was in the Varsity Bar (better known as “Var Bar”) with five girlfriends in Madison before the game. Patrick and two of his friends walked in, and they came over to our table. Patrick said he knew me from campus because I was a friend of his sister who was in my class. I did not know that Genevieve had a brother. Then he tried to tell me that HE was Willie Wampum, the MU mascot. Well, to prove it to me he said he would throw his hatchet to me during the game. It wasn't a Valentine arrow, but it was Willie's hatchet, and now we have been married 40 years. We have four children (two of our sons graduated from MU), and we are blessed with eight grandchildren.
WE ARE MARQUETTE!
— Jane (Gramling) Carlin, Sp ’67, married to Patrick Carlin, Bus Ad ‘65
The blind date
It all started as a blind date to a Marquette basketball game back in early l968. I was a little frightened by the tall, handsome student with a mustache who came to pick me up at my apartment near the campus. We had a terrific time cheering at the game and ended the evening at a bar which had a sing-a-long. We dated through the rest of the year, walking hand in hand, discussing whether we wanted children and how much we had in common (both only children, mothers who were nurses, etc.). We were married on Dec. 28, 1968.
We've now been married 39 years and have three grown sons and three granddaughters. We still cheer for the Marquette basketball team and sing in a choir together.
— Charlene (Cherry) Siewert, Arts '68, married to James Siewert, Eng '68
“May I have this dance?”
In the Warrior years, I played bass for the group “Trinity Road.” We would practice acoustically in the 3North hallway of Schroeder where our lead singer resided. Carol Hanus, the floor RA, introduced Lisa and the other freshmen.
At an October performance, I noticed Lisa wasn’t dancing. During a break, I went and asked her why. She claimed inability and lack of rhythm. Small talk ensued and I apologized to jump back on stage.
A month later, Carol came to me during a practice to ask what I did to Lisa. Like Bart Simpson, I denied any wrong doing, citing my personal whereabouts for the entire month and then some. Calming me down, Carol informed me Lisa was wondering if I really intended on taking her to the Dinner Dance. It seems Lisa understood me to say during that band break, “you better learn to dance so we can go to the Dinner Dance in December.”
Confused, I sheepishly strolled down to her room. Lisa allowed me to back out since it was quite obvious I had no recollection of the conversation. But being a man of my word, I held her hands, took a breath, the song “Reasons” by Earth, Wind & Fire began to play and I properly asked her to the dance.
We bumped and swayed by the table and danced real slow.
Married 25 years this June. Our girls dance with me now. ...but the slow ones are still all hers.
— Jeffrey Artero, Arts ’79, married to Lisa Del Pizzo, Bus Ad ’82
Admired from afar
It was my sophomore year in 1980 that I began to spot the most beautiful girl in the world everywhere I went. She was on campus in the Brooks Memorial Union (BMU), and she was at the hospital where I worked part-time. And, as a commuter, I even saw her around town in her Ford Maverick as I came and went from campus. I was not shy, but I could not get myself to speak to her, and it was driving me crazy!
One day, as I met my friend Dan for lunch, I spotted her sitting alone, and said “You want to see the woman I love?” As I pointed her out, Dan simply said “Julie Sirna?” I was stunned that he knew her, and thrilled when he shared all the people she knew that I, too, knew. Finally I had the ammunition and courage to speak to her. A few days later we were sitting at adjacent tables in the BMU when I coolly said hello. We struck up a conversation, I found out that she was a nursing student (I couldn’t wait to see her in her blue and white nurse’s uniform, complete with hat!), and I dropped a few names of mutual friends to impress her.
I was out one night with friends when Julie showed up with a sister of one of the guys. Our eyes locked and we both smiled widely. We talked all night, and went to an after-hours party at one of her friends’ apartments. She agreed to go out with me, and I still remember how beautiful she looked in the falling snow (in April!) outside of Grunts bar, with her green raincoat and duck shoes. It was months later that I found out she had carefully plotted our chance encounter that evening.
Our first official date was to see the new movie Coal Miner’s Daughter, and I still have the ticket stubs. As I dropped her off at her parents’ home, and just before I met them on my way out (as they came up the walk with their bowling balls), she grabbed me and planted the biggest kiss on me – a moment I’ll never forget and that I share freely to her great embarrassment.
I almost made the worst mistake of my life when I failed to call her for a follow-up date the next week, simply because I didn’t have much money. She stalked me at the BMU and I had to admit my impoverished state. She told me we would go out again and I said “Yes, ma’am.” Shortly after, when we successfully commuted together for three weeks straight to a summer school session, I knew we could stay together through anything, which we have. My friends were shocked when I got engaged the summer before my senior year.
Julie and I were married in September after graduation in 1982, and celebrated 25 years of marriage in 2007 with our three wonderful children – Tony and Andy, current MU students, and Christine, a high school senior set to join the Class of 2012 next fall.
— Tim Simmons, Speech ’82, married to Julie (Sirna) Simmons, Nursing ‘82
Thanks to God and the Navy
My husband was accepted to the University of Notre Dame for fall of 1979. However, not having room in the dorms for him, he was placed on a waiting list. He decided to go to Ball State instead. Late that summer, John received a call from Marquette’s NROTC Marine officer instructor telling him that there was room for him there if he would accept the NROTC scholarship he was awarded. He accepted. Meanwhile I had moved with my parents to Milwaukee and began studying at UW-Milwaukee. I received a mailer from Marquette’s NROTC unit about cross-town enrollment and decided to sign up. I had always wanted to join the Navy and I was interested in a good Catholic college. John and I met and fell in love the first week of school at Marquette. We believe that God and the Navy brought us together. We both graduated from Marquette in May 1983, the day after our wedding at Gesu Catholic Church, Father John Naus witnessing. After almost 25 years of marriage, four children and two grandchildren, we continue to be grateful to Marquette and the wonderful way it brought us together.
— Kathleen (Kilper) Kindt, Bus Ad ’83, married to John Kindt, Bus Ad ’83
A case of mistaken identity
...I landed in a political science class at Lalumiere, where of course all seats were taken, and I had to sit in the front row as this guy was giving a presentation.
At the end I asked my best friend Helene who he was. She introduced us and he barely acknowledged me. I was so upset and felt he was the biggest jerk and the most stuck-up kid on campus! I said, “Forget him,” and moved on. A semester went by and the day I was flying home for the holidays he called and convinced me to go out dancing and promised to get me to the airport on time.
I came back in January and did not hear from him at all until late April when he called and asked me to the senior dance at the Pfister. I agreed, thinking it was another Pat I was dating at the time. The day of the dance I got all dressed up and as I opened the door, I almost died when I realized it was the Pat who is now my husband!
— Consuelo Callan, Arts ’83, married to Patrick Callan, Arts ’83
From Cobeen to D.C.
I met Anne Kiley on the first day of school. One of my friends pulled the delayed pivot move to “check out” her group of friends as they walked past us on Wisconsin Avenue. Anne caught him (it just dawned on me — she must have done the same move?!). That got us talking. The next October, Anne and I were the only two people (at least I didn’t notice anyone else) in Cobeen’s cafeteria as I babbled on about the wonders of the peanut butter sandwich (slightly toasted) and began to fall in love. A few days later I was (in her words) “pinning her” to the wall at O’Pagets from where we high-tailed it to the Cobeen “passion pit” so that I could fall asleep while Anne watched guard over me.
I left in January for a semester in D.C. Unbelievably to me, Anne had asked her parents (for Christmas) for a plane ticket to D.C. Unbelievably to her, they gave her one! We had an amazing week learning to drive stick shift on a friend’s car (sorry, Chuck) and enjoying spring in D.C. A few weeks later, I answered a bulletin board posting from a crazy folk tale teller for a weekend ride to Milwaukee for a surprise visit (never mind that I never again saw him or his 15-year-old Pinto and I had to scrounge up the cash for a return plane ticket). The temporary absence did make the heart grow fonder (oh the ridiculous love-sick letters and expensive phone calls), but it was the time together that spring that moved us from infatuation to love.
We’ve been married for 18 years, have children ages 10 (Claire) and 12 (Jack), and we’re living the dream.
— Jim (“Rocky”) Carey, Arts ’86, married to Anne Carey, Bus Ad ’86
A memorable midterm review
My husband and I met in Dr. Chris Wolfe's Constitutional Law class in fall of '85...or spring of '86, depending on whose story you hear. He targeted me in the fall, but was too intimidated to say anything. I noticed him during the spring semester midterm review.
The day the midterms were handed back, he got up the nerve to sit next to me. As Dr. Wolfe made his way around the room, distributing blue books that were almost universally greeted with groans and deep sighs, John leaned over and whispered, "If the grades are bad, we should go drown our sorrows at the Mugrack."
Then, as he tells it, he wanted to kick himself: I was acing the class, and (obnoxiously) I'd made sure everyone knew it. "There's no way her grade is going to be bad! What a stupid pick-up line!" he thought.
Fortunately, my other major was philosophy, so I didn't fall for the fallacy of denying the antecedent. Even if my grade wasn't bad, I could still go with him to the Mugrack. I did; we stayed there the rest of the afternoon, went out to O'Pagets that night...and have been together ever since. (Incidentally, I use this story to illustrate "denying the antecedent" to my philosophy students at Auburn.)
Back in the day, we were a fairly high-profile campus couple: John was the Tribune news editor, and I was the editorial editor.
We were married in 1988, three weeks before my graduation, at Gesu. Following the example of the professor in whose class we met, we had a houseful of kids — nine, to the Wolfes' ten — the oldest of whom, JJ, entered the College of Engineering last fall.
— Kalynne Hackney Pudner, Arts '88, married to John Pudner, Jour '87
Marquette romance gives parents joy
Our love story is not our own but it makes as happy as if it was. When we sent our daughters to Marquette University we were sure of three things: It was expensive, far from home and they would receive a good Jesuit education. Knowledge, faith and service, as the Jesuits explained, were assurance for us as parents.
Not only did our daughters, Kristi and Amy, receive what we expected from their MU experience and education, but we also got two excellent bonuses. Two great Marquette students, Tim Curoe and Steve Rabatin, fell in love with our daughters. The boys were already friends and worked together during the summers. Rev. William Leahy, S.J., was the resident chaplain at McCormick Hall, the dorm where the boys lived. He witnessed both couples’ love grow and bloom and presided at their wedding masses after their graduations. Tim and Kristi have been married 15 years and Steve and Amy 8 years. Father Leahy also baptized our grandchildren.
What a blessing and how grateful we are.
— Jim and Susan Hall, parents of Kristi (Hall) Curoe, Nursing ’91, who married Tim Curoe, Eng ’91, and Amy (Hall) Rabatin, Eng ‘93, who married Steve Rabatin, Arts ’93.
Stand by me
In 1988, I stepped onto campus as a freshman from a small town, feeling both excited and a little dazed by the web of buildings, streets and so many people! At the same time, my future husband walked onto campus confidently: the fifth of six children to attend Marquette, his father a longtime professor, Nick was well versed in campus life.
The first night of freshman orientation, his guy friends called their girl friends in O'Donnell to get together and meet for the movie at Varisty Theatre, Stand By Me. Swept along with the "getting to know you" fun, I came along. Lucky for me, Nick was there too.
We sat next to each other in the movie, talked, and started what was the beginning (even if we didn't know it) of a lifelong relationship. We dated through undergrad and our Jan. 1, 1994 marriage was celebrated by Father Andy Thon. We have two little boys, whom Father Andy baptized.
Fourteen years of marriage (19 years together), "Stand By Me" is still our motto. It's hard to sum up how much Marquette gave us. Yes, excellent educations, prepared us for our careers, longtime friends, but most of all each other and ultimately, our children.
I hope many years from now my two boys can say the same thing and that they'll credit Marquette, as we do.
— Angela Mihm Nigro, Comm '92, married to Nicholas K. Nigro, Eng '93
The power of a bumper sticker
My husband and I met in St. Louis, my home town and his graduate school location. We might not have met had he not seen the MU window sticker in my car parked outside my apartment (we met in our apartment building!) We still credit our landlord and that MU window sticker for bringing us together. ...and funny thing, turns out we had an American Lit class together and found the class roster to prove it a little later on in our relationship.
— Sarah Krueger, Arts ’97, married to Andrew Krueger, Arts ’95
From teammates to marriage
Hans and I both came to MU in 1992 where we met the first week of school. We were both on the track team. We saw each other every day at practice and traveled with each other to meets on the weekends. However, we participated in different events, so we never really got to know each other. Over the four years, we each dated different people. My senior year, I had recently broken up with a boyfriend and had heard that Hans had been interested in me all this time. In track we had a tradition of an SYT (Screw Your Teammate) party. Let me clarify: you were to “screw” your teammate by setting them up with someone they didn’t know well. So, finally being both single, Hans and I were set up and we went to a pig roast together for our SYT party. That was on April 13th, 1996, and we haven’t been apart since.
We got married in 2000 and now have three beautiful children: Mya (2002), Sophie (2004) and Niko (2005). We both still feel nostalgic when thinking about our Milwaukee/Marquette experience and have hopes to move back someday.
— Kym van Zanten, Arts ’96, married to Hans van Zanten, Arts ’97
Luck of the Irish
My first semester sophomore year at Marquette I lived at Schroeder Hall and would go down to the hall store to buy candy for studying and got to talking to the cute guy who worked there. I didn't know his name, but I had seen and admired him around campus. He was so handsome and looked so Irish. I would tell my friends he was my "Irish cute boy, but I still never knew his name." I would find reasons to go down to the hall store and ask my friends if they needed anything, just so I could go talk to him. At the end of the that semester while my roommate and I were waiting for our rides to go home for Christmas, I saw my Irish cute boy carrying lots and lots of things out of the dorm (way more than you need for Christmas break). After trying to figure of what he was doing, on one of his trips out of the dorm, I asked him. He told me he was studying in Galway, Ireland the next semester so he was moving out of Schroeder. I blurted out, "Send me a postcard." He said he would, and when he walked away, my friend said, "Carol, he doesn't even know your name!"
So, I didn't get the postcard, but fast forward to the beginning of our junior year, when he was back at MU and we ran into each other at a party. (I had since found out his name by this point!) We were playing a card game called "Spoons" and he was next to me at the table giving me the good cards. Afterwards he convinced me to walk to another party at Black Door (the name of the house) and when we started walking his first line was, "So, I hear you are from a big family..." Well, it turned out we are both from families of ten kids, and that night we talked for hours about every possible thing you can imagine. I was smitten from that moment on, and we've been together ever since.
We are about to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary this July and we have three gorgeous kids (what can you say, they have those great Irish genes). Mary is four, Tess is two and Frank, two months. I am still as smitten and feel so blessed to have gotten such great Irish luck. We adore our friends from MU and the many, many great memories.
— Carol Zanoni Curran, Arts '97, married to Tim Curran, Arts '97
Going Greek
My husband and I met in 1995 when we were both pledging for Delta Sigma Pi. Since we were in the same pledge class, we were just friends but shortly after it became more than that. The following semester I was going to study abroad and thought our relationship had no chance of surviving. But Jim surprised me by coming to visit for Spring Break and it was clear we were meant to be together.
After seven years of dating and figuring out what we wanted to do with the rest of our lives, Jim proposed at the St. Joan of Arc chapel. We were visiting Milwaukee one weekend and came over to visit campus. We always go to the chapel because of the all the times we spent there in school. Jim waited until everyone left and popped the question! It was the most amazing to be back where it all began. As much as we joke about meeting while pledging, it was the best thing either of us did because it brought us together!
— Virginia Sara (Czekalski), Bus Ad '98, married to Jim Sara, Bus Ad '97
“No, not yet!”
I truly believe I was brought to Marquette to meet my husband. I transferred to MU my sophomore year and met him that first semester. It just so happened that my best friend was dating his roommate at the time when I was introduced to my future husband, Greg. As odd as it seems, I knew the moment I saw him we would be married one day.
However, we didn’t date right away. We were friends for two years. We did a lot, from going out to Murphy’s, shopping and doing laundry every week together. Everyone I knew who saw us out would always ask me, “Is that your boyfriend?” and I would always respond, “No, not yet!” And come our senior year, when they would ask that, I would say, “No not yet — next semester.”
You see, I knew once we started dating, Greg would be the last person I would ever date. I wasn’t ready for that at the time, being so young and all. Sure enough, come our last semester senior year, Greg asked me out and the rest is history! We finally got married after eight years of dating and have a beautiful life together! I am forever grateful for Marquette not only for the amazing education I received, but also for the reason why I wake up every morning.
— Tracey (Joerger) Heiden, H Sci ’98, married to Gregory Heiden, Bus Ad ’98
Bowled over by love
As a Pi Beta Phi senior, Greek Bowling had been a tradition for my entire Marquette career. Luckily, it was also a tradition for the Sigma Phi Epsilons, and Jim Bathie.
In 2000, on a typical cold January Monday night at the Annex, Greek Bowling began again for the second semester. I found myself in a lane next to the Sig Eps and noticed someone I had seen before but had never really spoken to. As the night progressed Jim and I pretended to share bowling tips over a pitcher or two of Annex Brew. But as the present proves, we were both interested in more than just getting a good bowling score. Jim walked me home to my Marquette II apartment on 17th Street that night and since that very evening, we’ve been Frazier & Bathie; Katie & Jim; and now the Bathie’s. Both of us were Milwaukee “transplants” so our families met in May of 2000 during graduation weekend and saw what we saw that night in January.
We just celebrated our third wedding anniversary this past August and will be welcoming a future Marquette grad (class of 2030) into the world in February 2008. Thanks MU — we owe you!
— Katie (Frazier) Bathie, Arts ’00, married to Jim Bathie, Eng ’00
Cross-cultural romance
He was helping with introducing the international students to Marquette. A trip to Chicago was organized yet my roommate and I had decided to skip it. Our Spanish Campus Town neighbors returned speaking wonders of their “driver,” a Marquette senior! He lived in our building and coincidentally was throwing a party. We went and it was love at first sight. Things started rolling quickly. He was a Muslim from the Middle East, I, a Catholic Latina, but it didn’t matter.
We spent three and a half years of our life together. Unforgettable years: daily pickups at Lalumiere (where I worked), races to Starbucks for Chai and Hot Vanilla Cremes, late night cramming at Memorial Library and Cudahy, visits to Papa John’s for Banana Pepper pizzas, lunches at Jimmy John’s! We’d both occasionally assist at Sunday Mass at Gesu; he’d sometimes go to the mosque. We lived a regular life away from our family and culture. Marquette was great at bringing out the best in us. He was senior speaker at his graduation. I graduated a semester ahead with a triple major. We were both ready to succeed in life, and so we did.
Sadly, our relationship did not make it outside of Marquette. The world is tough on religious and cultural differences. He is now a world traveler and successful businessman. I am happily engaged and finishing my doctorate degree in France. We remain great friends and keep the best memories of Marquette, the one place in the world where people can really be themselves!
— Paloma Trejo, Arts ’02
Sidewalk small talk
I met my future husband the spring of my sophomore year at Marquette in 2001. We had some mutual friends/acquaintances because I was in the MU band, so he had seen me around. The first time I talked to him was one spring morning on my way to class. I was walking down the sidewalk on Wisconsin Avenue, and this guy walked up to me as I was walking and started chatting. He made some small talk and then let me know he was done with class for a couple hours and was going to go back to his apartment to watch Sports Center and invited me to come along. I passed, but that suave guy and I did eventually meet up (not during Sports Center) and five years later we were married.
— Kristina Heaton, H Sci ’03, married to Kyle Heaton, Arts ’02
The best assignment of all
Looking back, I can’t possibly pick one favorite professor from Marquette or one favorite class, but choosing my favorite assignment is easy. It was fall of 2002, the beginning of a terrific year for Marquette basketball and for romance. Professor Michael Duffey assigned Jeff and me to a project together for our Theology of Non-violence course. (I doubt he intended to play matchmaker; more likely, the decision related to desk proximity.) Regardless of the intent, this assignment was the catalyst for a series of seemingly chance encounters around campus, which only in retrospect hints at divine design.
That fall, I began to repeatedly run into Jeff at Cudahy Hall, where I spent many long nights studying. He was good company during study breaks and chivalrously offered me a ride home late at night. I wanted to ask him out when the semester ended, however, I had to compromise with my inner coward. Instead, I invited him to an open lecture one night on non-violent resistance. My friends were incredibly supportive — they referred to this as our “geek date.”
I began to wonder if our friendly encounters were not merely coincidences following the Final Four men’s basketball game. As rowdy students flooded the intersection of 16th and Wells, somehow I ran into Jeff in the crowd. I finally scored my first real date with him. Of course we’re together years later; after all, he was assigned to me, and I took all of my assignments at Marquette very seriously.
—Trudie Gauerke, Arts ’04, and Jeff Miszczyszyn, Arts ’03
Nice to meet you…again
My husband, Joe, and I met as only two socially awkward nerds can. The second semester of our junior year, we had a very small class together. The first day, we all introduced ourselves and that was about it — the professor handed out the reading list and let us go. I headed over to Sweeney’s to pick up a last book. It was very crowded and the line was long and slow. I was waiting, checking out the books while standing there, when I heard someone ask, “What did you think of that class?” I looked up to see a complete stranger, albeit a very cute one, and replied, “What class would that be?” Turns out this guy had also just come from my class, where we all introduced ourselves not 10 minutes earlier.
Joe thought he was turning over a new leaf that semester — he had new glasses, a sharp new coat, and a renewed commitment to actually talk to girls. He thought it was the perfect opportunity since we’d just met a few minutes earlier. He claims I completely crushed his spirit by not remembering him. I maintain that he should be honored that I actually managed to carry on a conversation with him in the bookstore line after he explained who he was (in addition to being unobservant of classmates, I’m rather shy). At any rate, we started dating that summer and have been together ever since. We celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary in June.
— Ann Engler, Arts ’04, married to Joe Engler, Arts ’04
One LEGO at a time
Patrick and I met at Marquette University while participating in the Service Learning Program. We were enrolled in the program as a requirement for our respective theology and education classes. Because I was eager to engage in an activity that involved children, I was happy to learn that an after-school project with young children was available. This project, held at Calvary Church on the university’s campus, allowed Marquette students to build LEGOS and friendships with numerous elementary students from Milwaukee. However, Patrick had something else in mind. As an avid athlete, he was interested in a sports-oriented project. Upon the news that the soccer camp was full, Patrick enrolled in the LEGOS project. Patrick and I began talking with each other on the first day and found out we were graduates from rival Illinois high schools! Nevertheless, Patrick did everything to grab my attention. He even made it a habit to walk to my group of students to find a LEGO piece — even though he would have the exact same one at his table! After forming a friendship, we began dating and have been together for six years. Patrick recently proposed, leading me through a scavenger hunt around Milwaukee. And yes, the final destination in which Patrick asked me was at Calvary Church, involving a box of LEGOS!
— Kathryn Hadley, Comm ’05, engaged to Patrick Brown, Bus Ad ’04.
An unusual proposal
Cevin Moses, Arts ‘98, made a very public marriage proposal using Christmas lights on the east side of McCormick Hall. Ten years later, Giovanna, H Sci ‘97, is still glad she said “yes.”
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