Reunion Brings Generations Together

Keene State alums spanning many generations and living in locations near and far made their way back to Keene State for Reunion 2015 (June 6–7). They connected with old friends and shared stories as they strolled again down Appian Way or across Fiske Quad in the heart of campus.

“It’s heart-warming. It’s great to see all these generations of people come back to celebrate and enjoy the institution where they went to school,” said Keith Couch ’86, the 2015–16 Alumni Association president.

Many reunion attendees swapped stories and talked about the major impact Keene State had on their lives—fostering life-changing experiences, lifelong friends, and a good education that led to jobs. “World War II was still going on, so we had a very small group,” said Nancy Scripture Ashford ’45. “Everything was done to accommodate the war effort. I grew up. I think that was the main thing. In college, that’s what you do.”

“Keene State was an important part of my life and sent me on the path that I ended up taking,” said Donna Kuethe ’75,  a physical education teacher who went on to become the Director of Parks and Recreation in Moultonborough. “The friends that I met here are still my friends today. I never thought when I chose Keene State that these people would be so important in my life 40 years later.”

“I absolutely loved Keene State. It was the best four years of my life,” said Jane Stark ’87, who currently lives in New York and works as a vendor in the publishing field.

“I miss it. Even though I still have nightmares about not passing a test or not getting to class on time, I loved living on campus and hanging out with my friends,” said Karin Goscinski-Breton ’85, a psychology major who is now working as a therapist. “I would come back in a heartbeat.”

“We came out of Keene State much more confident. We had jobs immediately—it served us well over the years and opened a lot of doors,” said Madeline Despres Saulnier ’64, a foreign language major and English minor, who worked in politics, running offices for Sen. Warren Rudman and Congressman Charlie Bass.

“I owe a lot to Keene State. I enjoyed every single minute on campus,” said Dr. Fernand Prevost ’57, whose math-teaching career spanned 51 years.

Keene State’s reunion has a way of bringing alums together, and this year was no different. Edith Wirling Lovering ’40, the oldest alum in attendance, came with her daughter Janet Lovering ’76, while Karen Cherella Haining ’84, who now resides in London, traveled the farthest distance to get here.

Haining said she enjoyed being a part of Greek life at Keene State and reconnecting with her sorority sisters from Kappa Gamma, including Michelle Roulx Pope ’85 and Stacey Cotter-Freer ’85. Keene State has been a family affair for both Roulx and Cotter-Freer. Not only did Roulx’s parents, Dr. Kenneth Roulx ’58 and Doris Courteau Roulx ’59, attend the College, but her son Matthew Roulx will be entering his junior year this fall. Meanwhile, Cotter-Freer’s sister Deidre Cotter-Garfield ’90 followed her to Keene State. Their parents Richard Cotter and Joanna Juliano Cotter are both 1960 Keene State grads. A member of the reunion committee, Deb Murray ’99 had several connections to the College: Her parents Robert Murray ’60 and Mary Lou Stevens LaCoste ’57, as well as her aunt Pricilla Stevens Hutchinson ’45 were KSC grads. The Murray legacy might not be over. “I have a six-year-old daughter, so we’ll see.” said Deb Murray.

As expected, the Class of ’65 came out in force to celebrate their 50th reunion. Name tags bearing their graduation photos were passed out so classmates could identify each other. A member of the reunion committee, Richard Doyle ’65, was pleased with the turnout and was happy to see so many of his classmates. “It’s a great time to come back and see the alma mater,” he said. “It’s changed so much since we left 50 years ago.”

Several members of the 1965 class, including Eileen Dlugosz Labrecque ’65, Elizabeth Morin ’65, and Catherine Fuhrel Gilbert ’65, recalled the March to Concord to protest the cuts in education. “It was my first and only chance at rebellion,” said Fuhrel Gilbert.

Back on campus for the first time in 50 years, Robert Porter ’65 had a chance to catch up with fellow members of Alpha Pi Tau fraternity, including Arthur Nadeau ’65. Porter, who taught and coached in several states, also worked at three Olympic games.

The 1965 class brought several classmates together. David Greene ’65 and Laurie Lacheta Greene ’65 met the first day of sophomore year and got married three weeks after graduating from Keene State. Richard Doyle ’65 and Barbara Loughlin Doyle ’65 waited a little longer before tying the knot. The two were friends in college and got married 18 years later. Classmates from other years also found their way to the alter. Winifred “Winnie Langtry ’52  and Rev. Robert Langtry ’52 and Denis Joy ’64 and Joan Arnold Joy ’65 met at KSC, while Robert Coll ’68 and Betsy Richardson Coll ’67 have been married for 44 years. Allan Saulnier ’63 also met his wife Madeline Despres Saulnier ’64 on campus. “On our very first date, he told me he was going to marry me, and I looked at him and told him he was crazy,” she said. “We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, so I guess he was right.”


Attending reunion has become an annual tradition for many in attendance. “I always come to reunion,” said *Ronald Williamson ’64. “I love coming back to Keene.”
 
Keene resident and Golden Circle member Caroline Nichols Pregent ’43** has come over to the College almost every year to partake in reunion festivities.

Now working as a certified safety professional and risk manager for colleges in the Springfield, MA, area, Scott Kuhnly ’88 says “I love coming back Keene. It’s a big part of my family and I wouldn’t miss it.”


Several recent alums have started a new reunion tradition. “We’ve been coming to reunion since 2008 and every year we make a new Owl shirt for reunion,” said Stacey Geisler Bell ’03, who works for the state’s Division of Travel and Tourism Development. Classmates Lea Kisselbrack ’03 and Jennifer “IY” Evans Kelly ’03, who picks out the Owl every year, proudly walked down Appian Way during the Parade of Classes showing off their red and white shirts that bear the slogan “KSC Reunion: Every year for the rest of our lives till we die.” “We use reunion as a way to get together every year,” said Kelly. “It’s fun. We get to re-live our glory days.”