UMBC at 40 - Exceptional by Example

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Memories from the Class of 1970

September 14, 2009

Hello All,

It’s been fun looking through this new site. Just wanted to add some personal memories from my years at UMBC. It was a pleasure to be among the first graduating class in 1970, having started as a freshman in 1966. I was a psychology major. Met Carol Hesson, who became my wife in 1970, which makes us now married for 38 years. By the way, we noticed some comments about the first mascot, the retriever. Carol was given the privilege of taking the retriever to lacrosse games in the spring. I played on the lacrosse team, and also participated in student government.

Some memories, not in any particular order: working construction, especially on the new library during the summer breaks, going to the “mixers” and dancing like fools, (ah, Motown and the soul music!) watching the ladies (including Carol) doing modern dance in the gym, the Casino Night in our Junior year, staying home and missing a concert by a new group because I just figured they would be some kind of way out psychedelic group (turned out they were “Chicago” and we all know how that story turned out!), lots of concerts and plays, great friends on the lacrosse team for four years, favorite professors like Janice Goldberg and Joel Jones, the tug of war across the pond in front of the library, seeing how radical some friends got after the now-historic summer of 68, so many great friends, particularly of varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds which enriched our lives, so many truly talented folks, I'm resisting the temptation of listing names!

I cannot resist congratulations on some great years of the lacrosse team, especially now under the leadership of long-time friend Don Zimmerman.

Two years after graduation Carol and I moved to Connecticut. As a result we lost touch with many folks from our college days. (BI, Before Internet!) After twelve years in Connecticut we moved again, to Southern Florida, where we reside today. The years have been good to us and we’ve been blessed with great kids and now three grandchildren.

Dick and Carol (Hesson) Bond, Class of '70

Posted by jogrady on 9:09 AM | TrackBack (0)

Favorite Athletic Moment of 2003

September 8, 2006

It was the last men’s basketball game for UMBC in the NEC. The first of several down years following the unbelievable 20-9 season from 2001-2002 was coming to a close, and the team was hosting Quinnipiac, who clearly was looking past that night towards the following week’s NEC tournament. A completely sold-out RAC (many students grabbed season-ticket seats, since that was all that was left) was very loud, as UMBC downed the Bobcats, 80-58, which was being broadcast on television in Central Connecticut, Quinnipiac’s market. Many remarkable instances that happened was the unusually large student population at the game, let alone overall crowd (total of 3034 in attendance), freshman John Zito shaking off an intentional tackle while the entire arena was shouting “Zito! Zito! Zito!”, and the crowd encouraging the referee to award a technical to Bobcat coach Joe DeSantis.

This night was also special in college basketball lore, where it marked the retirement of fellow NEC member Mt. St. Mary’s men’s basketball coach Jim Phelan. Phelan remains the third winningist basketball coach in NCAA history, and his retirement was celebrated all across the country by coaches wearing Phelps’s trademark bow-tie. Then-UMBC coach Tom Sullivan wore one, but DeSantis did not, and drew heckles from the UMBC crowd behind and around him.

Neil Apfel '06

Posted by jogrady on 7:48 PM

Fab Four Memories

I am a 1970 graduate of UMBC and a member of the 1st class to be on campus. The majority of us (if not all) were commuter students from the surrounding neighborhoods. I know personally that I would not have been able to go to college if it were not for the opening of UMBC and its nurturing attitude. Our first couple of weeks on campus we walked on wood planks from building to building because it was very muddy from all the construction. The students were excited and the professors were trying to find supplies but were excited as well. Financial assistance was a must and UMBC stepped up and offered me up to 30 hours a week of on campus work which was a life saver. I worked every available moment in the Biology Department for Dr. Koneska (sp?) and his secretary Sharon. My husband of 36 years, Frank Kormann, also worked on campus at Hillcrest with Mrs. Randolph. I had attended a small Baltimore City high school where there was no gym and therefore no sports of any kind. I was welcomed with open arms by the women's sports director and played Basketball and Field Hockey and had a blast. The most important source of information for students working on campus was Cil (sp?). She was the switchboard operator, extremely friendly and had a couch next to her switchboard, where we stopped for a quick update on who's who at UMBC. Between answering incoming calls, she offered great counseling on who to date. Many of us who visited her in that office eventually married and are still together today. Working 30 hours on campus with all my friends, meeting my husband Frank Kormann, working side by side with all the original professors of UMBC all seems like a dream now. However, the memory which is vivid and fresh is the UMBC "family" of faculty and staff who pioneered through incredible odds, starting a campus from scratch with just the neighborhood kids. They constantly reminded us that we were attending a campus that would be famous someday and here we were the first class on campus. It always made us feel special. I have been a Realtor for 28 years, I have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren. My successful business where I am a partner with my husband Frank has a strong foundation in business and people skills. Thank you faculty and staff of UMBC 1966-1970.
Fran Kormann '70
Leesburg Virginia

Posted by jogrady on 7:44 PM

Hurricane Gloria

I was living in 1st South, a co-ed floor in Patapsco, when Gloria rolled in. They made us tape the glass windows, pull our mattresses into the hallways and keep our doors shut in advance of the storm. It was a sea of mattresses and one big slumber party. Much ado about nothing as far as the storm was concerned, but we had a lot of fun with it.

Bennett Moe '88, visual arts

Posted by jogrady on 7:25 PM

Meaningful Relationships at UMBC

August 21, 2006

As a Humanities Scholar and Honors College student, I was able to form meaningful relationships with faculty and staff at UMBC. Participating in cultural events around campus and in Baltimore provided me with great memories such as going to Cirque du Soleil, The Walters and The Hippodrome. I even met my husband through the Humanities Scholarship Program and the Honors College at UMBC.

Crisandra Harrison '05, English Literature

Posted by jogrady on 8:55 PM

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