They came from Wilmington, Dover, Seaford, Milford, Rehoboth, and Lewes, Del., from Annapolis, Elkton, Frederick and Baltimore, Md., from West Chester, Pa., and from Washington, D.C. In all, 200 University of Delaware alumni gathered in Baltimore to enjoy dinner and a ball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Alumni in attendance ranged from graduates of 50 years ago to those who earned their degrees just last spring.
Stanley Lemon, EG '49, a retired electrical engineer from Annapolis, brought his wife, Angela, and friends, Bob and Joan Santin, whose daughter, Elizabeth Angela Santin, is a 1980 UD graduate of the College of Business and Economics. It was the first time they attended an alumni event, Lemon said.
Michael Tudor, BE '92, of Falls Church, Va., and Mike Hahn, AS '90, of Dover, Del., gathered with a group of friends from Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. "We're devoted alumni," said Hahn. "We attend all of the alumni events in Baltimore or D.C., to see old friends and meet new people."
Michele Short, AG '83, of Cockeysville, Md., a sales representative for the largest food service company in the U.S., came to network with potential customers. "Being affiliated with the University really helps open doors," she said.
Others, like Beth Puffenberger, CHEP '98, of Newark, Del., and Katie Nietubicz, CHEP '97, of Havre de Grace, Md., are simply baseball fans. The former UD women's soccer team members came to watch the game and visit with friend and teammate, Julie Mastromonaco, BE '96, of Wilmington, Del.
And, a whole busload of baseball fans traveled from southern Delaware to watch the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers by a score of 1-0. Gary Simpson, AG '69, '72M, assistant director of alumni and University relations, said the group of 48 included retirees, young alumni and community members who heard about the trip and asked to join in on the fun.
But, for chemists Charles Bradley, AS '86PhD, and Patricia Bradley, AS '81,'87PhD, of Reistertown, Md., the event was a much-needed opportunity to leave their three kids at home with a sitter and enjoy an evening out. "Without the University of Delaware, we'd have no social life!" joked Charles. The couple welcomed their fourth child, Cassandra, on Feb. 5, but plans to make UD alumni events a regular part (if not the only part) of the Bradley social calendar.
-Sharon Roat, AS '87
It was a crisp, sunny day in October when hundreds of UD football fans descended on Williamsburg, Va., home to the Tribe of William & Mary. Walking down the streets of historic Williamsburg, one could easily have thought it was Blue Hen country, said John Mayer of Newark. "Everyone we passed was from Delaware!"
Among those cheering the Fightin' Blue Hens in their hard-fought battle against William and Mary were 220 alumni and friends who gathered for pre-game festivities at the Williamsburg Hospitality House. The UD Touchdown Club brought a busload, as did the Newark Country Club. Others made their own way to the event from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. The only requirement for attendance seemed to be a loyal devotion to the team.
"These people are completely immersed in University of Delaware sports," says Touchdown Club President David Biloon, EG '71, of his contingent. "They're a very fun group of long-time fans. They attend every game, and some of them are over 80 years old."
George Ziegelhofer of Newark and his wife, Frances, have attended home games for decades, and recently started traveling to away games as well. "In the 1950s, I used to sneak into the stadium to see the games," the 76-year-old fan recalls with a sly smile. "We've been getting season tickets since the 1960s, though. And now we travel with the Touchdown Club to all away games."
Charles S. Joanedis, EG '50, of Hockessin, Del., and his wife, Sylvia, have been season ticket holders for 35 years and travel to away games as well. Recipient of the University's Medal of Distinction, Joanedis has participated in numerous fundraising campaigns and recruitment efforts. "He's one of the University's biggest volunteers," says Sylvia. "We're going to move his bed over there soon."
After filling their plates with hearty helpings of chicken, ham, fish, salad, pasta, vegetables and apple cobbler, attendees got pumped up with a performance by the UD cheerleading squad and went off to the game with new seat cushions in hand (donated by Wilmington Trust).
Expecting an exciting game, the UD fans got that and more. A back-and-forth contest brought the Hens to a 45-45 tie before William & Mary's winning touchdown brought the final score to 45-52. You can rest assured, however, that the loss won't make a difference to these fans. "We love the University," says Joanedis.
-Sharon Roat, AS '87