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For more than 2,000 alumni couples, the sparks that ignited a lifetime of love first flew at Baldwin Wallace. To mark Valentine's Day 2019, we celebrate the romance "origin stories" of six #YJ4L pairs.
Who
knew
a
snowstorm
could
play
Cupid?
Jackie
(Hayes)
Rodriguez
'85
and
Mark
Rodriguez
'83
were
among
the
BW
Health
and
Physical
Education
students
who
gathered
to
go
to
an
out-of-town
conference,
only
to
have
snowy
weather
force
a
cancellation.
Everyone
decided
to
go
to
breakfast
and
Jackie
met
her
future
husband
when
Mark
looked
up
from
a
three-egg
omelet
to
say,
"hello."
When they married two years later, Mark inscribed "Fit Forever" on Jackie's wedding band, since their passion for an active, healthy life helped bring them together.
Today, they celebrate more than their own BW bond. "We had strong mentors that we still connect with today, which provided not only guidance, but friendships that we cherish. BW is special - we will always be YJ4L!"
An
impromptu
knock
on
a
friend's
dorm
door
turned
into
a
forever
connection
for
Nicole
(Bell)
Mitchell
'04
when
Nate
Mitchell
'04
happened
to
be
in
the
room.
Unbeknownst
to
Nicole,
Nate
had
noticed
her
photo
on
her
door
and
hoped
to
meet
her.
The
pair
soon
discovered
that
they
had
a
lot
in
common,
including
running
track
for
BW.
Though they went their separate ways for 10 years, that BW connection would lead them back to each other. In 2017 they married and welcomed their "first little guy" on December 29, 2018. Nicole says, "BW represents such a significant time and place … where we not only fell in love, but … laid the foundation for our careers, community commitment and lives."
Pat
(Tinder)
Beckman
'61,
M.A.Ed.
'91,
and
Dave
Beckman
'60
met
following
a
football
game
at
a
Greek
Life
"Big
Four"
party
where
Dave
stood
out
because
he
was
wearing
a
cast.
Pat
took
note,
asking
a
friend
"who
that
cute
guy
was."
A week later, Pat was ushering at a campus play where she had the opportunity to talk to Dave away from the party. They clicked and have been together ever since.
Married in 1961, their BW ties have continued beyond their undergrad days. Pat worked for BW for 19 years, and they continue to volunteer and donate. Pat says, "BW has been a main focus for most of my life."
Lindsey
Mercer
'13
and
Erin
McCamley
'11
met
in
a
BW
production
of
"Moon
Over
Buffalo"
directed
by
Jack
Winget.
Erin
calls
the
casting
"remarkable"
because
she
was
not
a
theatre
major
and
randomly
auditioned
at
the
suggestion
of
a
friend.
She
landed
the
role
and
"the
love
of
my
life."
Lindsey and Erin married September 23, 2017 at the Cleveland History Center with BW grads in the bridal party and "multiple musical flashmobs." Erin notes, "BW completely changed my life in the best ways possible and gave me the best friendships for life." Lindsey adds, "BW changed the way I view the world and my place in it. Technically, all I needed to get from BW was my degree, but I'm lucky I got so much more."
A
random
course
selection
during
registration
placed
Mark
Danni
'88
and
Karen
(Molnar)
Danni
'87
in
each
other's
paths.
They
met
in
Dr.
Robinson's
history
and
literature
class
and
soon
made
plans
to
meet
up
for
a
first
date
at
the
old
Berea
Cafe
("the
BC")
on
Front
Street
across
from
The
Shoppe.
They describe BW as the place where they not only made a love connection, but where they met lifelong friends - both classmates and teachers - who they are in contact with to this day. "Our lives were forever changed by meeting these people and, of course, by meeting each other. We are not only husband and wife but great friends and partners in everything we do."
Dick
Scott
'68
and
Lanalee
Hanely
'69
were
introduced
by
Sparky
Adams
'69,
the
son
of
Dick's
BW
track
and
cross-country
coach.
The
1966
Winter
Homecoming
Dance
was
their
first
date.
In his senior year, Dick proposed on an outing to Wallace Lake in the Metroparks prompting Lanalee to ask, "Why here?" Dick responded, "It's the start and finish line of the BW cross-country course and I would like to start and finish my life with you." (Swoon!)
On the continuing, blessed path to that finish line, the couple just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Israel.
