A Newsletter Celebrating Mitchell College Alumni | Winter 2023❤️🖤 | |
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Friends for a Lifetime – Patricia and Gladys ❤️🖤
by Patricia Chapman Barnes '75
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There is an old expression I have found to be true: “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, one is gold.”
Gladys and I began attending Mitchell College in September 1973. Gladys was an international student, and I was born and raised in Connecticut. We lived next door to each other in Simpson dormitory where we studied together, partied together and played endless card games (mostly “Spite and Malice”). Gladys was welcomed at my parents’ house for holidays and long weekends when we didn’t feel like staying in the dorm. She soon fit in like a member of the family. Our two years at Mitchell passed quickly, and we graduated in May 1975.
Before long, Gladys got married and had a daughter, and I got married and had three daughters. Between the two of us, we eventually had eight grandchildren. We kept in touch at first by letters hand-written on pale blue airmail stationery, and in more recent years by email, text and phone calls. Gladys and her family lived and traveled all over the world, but when she was in the United States and our busy schedules allowed, we would visit in person, often reminiscing with great hilarity about our time at "Camp Mitchy."
Throughout the years I always knew that Gladys was only a text or a phone call away when I had big news—whether happy or sad—to share. I knew that just hearing her voice would make me smile and that, no matter what the circumstances, before long we would be laughing with the same joy that we had shared as young college students.
Unfortunately, Gladys died on February 15, 2022, after a long and very brave fight against cancer. As Mitchell College celebrates loved ones on Valentine’s Day, I celebrate the life and friendship of Gladys, whom I had the great fortune of meeting at Mitchell, just 6 months shy of half a century ago.
I wish current Mitchell College students a Happy Valentine’s Day and would like to tell them that the people you meet today have the potential to become lifelong friends; treasure them and stay in contact after you graduate so that one day you can look back with fond memories and know that their friendship has been both silver and gold.
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Celebrating Love Found at Mitchell College
From life partners to lifelong best friends, these Mitchell alumni will always be grateful to Mitchell College as the special place where they found each other. ❤️🖤
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Emma Quinn '21 & Nick Denilek '21
Emma and Nick met as student ambassadors and First-Year Experience transition mentors. When asked about how he sums up his relationship with Emma, Nick quotes Winnie the Pooh:
“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.” ❤️🖤
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Suz Barbosa '13 & Joshua Ford '14
It ended up being the perfect game plan when Suz and Josh met in Dean Roberts’ class. Some of the best times they had were at Mitchell, from both playing basketball to just enjoying the college experience. Life after college has been even better, as they welcomed a daughter in 2016 and a son in 2020. They are now engaged and getting married this June. ❤️🖤
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Lauren Snow '21 & Isaac Jean-Baptiste '21
Isaac and Lauren met on move-in day in 2017 in Caroline Vazquez’s First Year Experience mandatory class. They joked around, but weeks later Lauren and her roommate decided it would be a fun idea to have popsicles to give out to make friends. They met Isaac and his friends, exchanged popsicles and numbers! They’ve been together ever since—5 years, amazing jobs and an Aruban street dog rescue later…thank you Saunders Hall! ❤️🖤
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Jennifer (Hobbs) '11 &
Ryan Spiess '11
Jennifer and Ryan met on their first day as freshmen on campus in September 2007, both living in Saunders Hall. They stayed up all night in the Saunders Common Room and around 6am on September 18, Ryan asked Jennifer out. They continued dating through college and celebrated their birthdays and graduation at Turks and Caicos, where Ryan proposed to Jennifer in June 2013. He lived in New York, and Jennifer lived in Massachusetts while completing her graduate degree. They married on August 18, 2013, bought a house in 2015, adopted a Great Dane named Scooby in 2017, had their first child together June 2018, had their second child in March 2021 and are currently pregnant with their third, due in May 2023. ❤️🖤
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Julia Paoletti '20 &
Hunter Yaworski '22
Hunter and Julia first met when she was a senior and he was a sophomore. She was running the Winter Ball, and he was there helping DJ the event. “We didn’t really talk to each other that night but would awkwardly smile at each other at random points,” remembers Julia. After the ball, they started chatting through social media, and they reconnected when they returned from winter break—and the rest is history! Hunter played baseball at Mitchell, so most of Julia’s time was spent on the fields when she wasn't busy with early childhood education courses and serving as president of the Student Government Association. She even traveled to Florida to watch the team play for preseason! Flash forward 3 years this month (February), they are both proud Mitchell grads and looking forward to the next adventure and seeing where life takes them! ❤️🖤
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Emily Mitchell '19 &
Roland Thivierge '21
This pair hit a home run when they met in the Saunders Hall Common Room their freshman year and started talking about their “emo phases” and baseball, although they didn’t start dating until the fall of the next year. Some of their best memories happened on the baseball field celebrating the Mariners, while Roland played and Emily broadcasted games on the radio and posted from the Mitchell Baseball Twitter account. They now live in North Carolina where Roland plays baseball and is pursuing his MBA at Lenoir-Rhyne University, while Emily is working for the Charlotte Knights, Triple-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. ❤️🖤
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Anouchka (Sofia) '15 &
Jack Calabro '14
It all started with a storm. New London was hit with the Storm Nemo and the next day Anouchka attempted to get her car out from under a few feet of snow. Luckily, Jack was helping a friend who was stuck in the parking lot. Jack and his roommates dug out both cars and a grateful Anouchka delivered donuts to the shovelers the next day. It was a sweet match from there. The two were married in October 2019 and welcomed their beautiful little girl Sophia on November 11, 2021! Now backyard firepits bring them back full circle to their bonfire memories on Mitchell Beach. Anouchka works in probation, and Jack was recently promoted to assistant general manager at Marriott. ❤️🖤
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Amanda (Brighindi) '17 & Alex Rodriguez '16
These student standouts met in March/April 2014 at an interview to become orientation leaders. They stayed in touch, took a few courses together, became RAs and remained friends. Some of their favorite Mitchell memories include going to Michael's Dairy, sitting on duty together as RAs and going to New York City together on a school trip. They began dating during Amanda's senior year and eventually moved to New Hampshire for work opportunities that have kept them there ever since. They were married in August 2022. ❤️🖤
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Mariah Zell-Martin '18
& Joey Martin '17
Little did these two know that when they met in 2016 during RA training, they would share more than nightly duty rounds. They realized pretty quickly that they had a lot of similar interests, including playing Pokemon Go. After forming a friendship around shared interests, such as video game nights, beach walks and trips to Fred’s Shanty, they decided to give dating a try.
After Mariah graduated from Mitchell, they packed their cars full and traveled halfway across the country to Minnesota, where Mariah graduated in 2021 from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis. They are now happily settled in the Minneapolis suburbs, where Joey is a route sales driver with Cintas Services, and Mariah is a judicial law clerk for the Ramsey County District Court. They married in New Hampshire last October surrounded by loved ones and many Mitchell friends. ❤️🖤
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Fabiola (Lizaire) '11 &
Stevenson Dominique '11
Stevenson majored in business administration and minored in marketing.
Although they met during freshman orientation, Fabbie has no recollection of this initial meeting. Luckily, they met up again and soon became fast friends. They enjoyed hanging out at the library together, being with friends, late night talks sharing their dreams and laughing until their bellies couldn't take it. Through surprise birthday parties and cupcake fights, they grew close and remained together after graduation, even when Fabbie was pursuing a master’s degree as a mental health counselor at St. John’s University, and Stevenson was promoted to a job in another state. They are now living in Massachusetts with their son, who was born in 2020. Fabiola works as a clinical care manager and has launched her private practice, Guided Healing. Stevenson has achieved his dream of starting his own business and is now a financial advisor at Northwestern. ❤️🖤
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Mary Volpe '19 & James Harland '20
James and Mary met at Mitchell and were good friends throughout their time as Mariners. They enjoyed hanging out with their mutual friends and some would say Mary had eyes for James. After graduation, they both remained in touch and would hang out regularly with their mutual bestie, James' roommate and fellow lacrosse teammate (and their “Mitchell Matchmaker") Adam Liudzius ’19. The spark grew stronger and they became an official Mitchell Match! James enjoyed his time at Mitchell so much that, after graduation, he moved down to New London to take a job. Mary and James’s favorite date nights in the summer always conclude with a sunset walk along Mitchell Beach. ❤️🖤
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Andrea (Giacoman) '07 & Don Parsons '07
Andrea and Don first connected when they both hung out in “The Cove” (now the Percy Dining Room) between classes. With a little nudging, they became a couple and took full advantage of the Mitchell social life together by joining the Gaming Club and Drama Society; going to sporting events, bingo and karaoke nights; taking trips to the city; and attending the Spring Soiree, Winter Ball and more. They both served as resident assistants in their senior year. After graduating in 2007 (the couple has three Mitchell degrees between them!), Don became the assistant director of student activities and then transferred to the campus safety department. With the help of Dr. Alicia Martinez, the couple got married in the Weller Center in 2008. The family they have built together now includes two amazing children. Don now works as a nuclear security officer for the Millstone Power Station. He remarks that he “wouldn’t be where I am today without any of this. It all started at Mitchell, the best decision and life choice for me.” ❤️🖤
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Heather (McAllister) Bowns '66 &
John Bowns '65
When Heather and John arrived on campus, they were greeted by two new buildings, Simpson Hall and Saunders Hall. Simpson was the women’s residence where Heather resided. A house mother lived in the building and ensured the rule of "no men permitted in a woman’s room" was strictly enforced. Women had to sign in and out when going out on a date, perhaps heading off to Mitchell Beach or to Pequot Pizza (best grinders anywhere) but always returning to their residence by the mandatory midnight curfew.
John and Heather met in Bingham Hall where they were in an art history class together, and they became engaged in the parking lot of Simpson Hall in John's red 1963 VW Bug. Shortly after, John left Mitchell in 1965 and went to University of Vermont. They were married in August 1966, just 3 months after Heather’s graduation. They made many friends at Mitchell who were in their wedding and are remembered to this day. ❤️🖤
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Donna Leonard '72 & David Weller '72
Their paths first crossed at Mitchell as multisport athletes and a common group of friends. That led to lots of time together traveling in various groups to the Blue Sands Bar at Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, RI, for dancing and other fun activities, such as dinner at Chuck’s Steak House (now On The Waterfront on Pequot Avenue). After graduating together they went their separate ways, David to UConn and Donna to Central Connecticut State University. David went on to raise his daughter and worked at Electric Boat for over 30 years. Donna wound up having two children and lived in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and various cities in North Carolina, during which time she was a teacher, women’s basketball coach at Scranton University, worked in the banking industry and was a financial advisor with various financial firms. Fast forward to Saturday, October 17, 2015, over 43 years since the last time they saw each other at Mitchell. Donna and her Mitchell roommate Paula Conte came back to campus to attend the fall weekend activities at Mitchell. Donna and David bumped into one another at an alumni function going on at the the Umbrella House (where David lived when his father was the president of Mitchell during their college years). After a few phone exchanges initiated by Donna, the two, joined by Paula and Nancy Dolan (another Mitchell alum), met at Tony D’s in New London, where they reminisced and reconnected. David and Donna then embarked on a long-distance relationship until March 2018 when David retired and moved to Raleigh, NC. Today, Donna and David are married and continue to support Mitchell in many ways, while splitting their time between homes in North Carolina. They enjoy traveling, golfing, boating and living life to the fullest. They have two grandchildren and are looking forward to two more family weddings in the near future. ❤️🖤
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Besties...BFFs...Best Friends Forever | |
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Class of '72 Crew
Louis Monteleone, Lori Wagner Kattner, Alan Mandel
This group attended Mitchell from 1970–1972. Fifty years later, they are still in touch with many Mitchell friends and all think fondly of those fun and carefree years at Mitchell. ❤️🖤
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Morgan Sproul '18 & Mary Volpe '19
Morgan and Mary met at orientation leader training, hitting it off instantly. Thanks to a little push from one of their favorite staff members, Cheri Ouimet, they decided to test out being roommates for the following year. Safe to say, the test worked. They lived together throughout their duration at Mitchell and became besties instantly. It was very odd to see one of them on campus without the other! Morgan, being a New London County native, showed Mary all the awesome places near Mitchell (some of their favorites still to this day are the Book Barn and SIFT Bakeshop), and they enjoyed going to events on campus, especially athletic games and the Block Party—their favorite event of the year! Since graduating, they have remained besties ever since, talking almost every day and seeing each other on the regular. Morgan still lives on the Connecticut shoreline, and when Mary comes down to visit, they are always down to enjoy a clam chowder from Fred’s Shanty and then head up to campus for a scoop from Michael’s Dairy!❤️🖤
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Britt Porter '17 & Kate (Perry) Roche '17
These besties were inseparable while on campus as hospitality and tourism majors together and have remained close after graduation. Britt even traveled to Disney World to be part of Kate’s wedding day! ❤️🖤
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Brandon Gennotti '19 and Steven Pagan ‘19
Steven and Brandon met during their freshman year at Mitchell College. They became great friends through involvement in activities, from laser tag to serving as resident assistants and teammates on the baseball team. Even though they are now living on opposite coasts, they remain close. Steven is now a director at a YMCA in California, and Brandon is working at Mitchell as a residence hall director and leadership development coordinator. ❤️🖤
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