Anniversary on Westhampton Green
Sept. 27, 1980 was a gorgeous day, and newlyweds Brian Lee, R’80 and GB’86, and Dawn Newlon Lee, W’79, decided at the last minute to walk from the chapel to their reception in Keller Hall.
On the couple’s 25th anniversary, they returned to Westhampton Green to watch the premiere of the television show Commander-in-Chief. The show featured the University prominently, and the premiere was shown on a big screen on Westhampton Green.
“It was a perfect way to commemorate our anniversary,” Dawn says, noting that the couple’s two sons, Aaron, ’06, and Cameron, who hopes to be in the Class of 2012, joined them as they sat among about 150 excited students, faculty, staff and alumni. “We enjoyed seeing the University’s television debut,” Dawn says. “It brought back memories. I wouldn’t trade the walk across the green—on Sept. 27, 1980 or on Sept. 27, 2005—for anything.”
How bizarre!
As a student, I remember thinking it was sort of bizarre to get married on campus, so it always makes me laugh that I ended up being one of those people who did.
When we were first engaged, we were just moving to New York City, and my parents were living in the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. New York did not feel enough like home at that point to have a wedding in the city, and I did not think Abu Dhabi seemed like a viable option (if we wanted any guests to attend).
Since Eric Runquist, ’93, and I began dating at the very beginning of my sophomore year and we both had so many happy memories and friends from UR, Richmond became the natural choice.
—Amanda Bedford, ’95
Elementary school sweethearts
My wife, Irene Howard Higginson, W’86, and I attended Richmond for nearly three years before we finally met—not on campus but at an elementary school reunion in Washington, D.C. We both had attended Potomac School in McLean, Va. Our mothers have fond memories of us playing together at birthday parties as young children. I left after third grade to live in Algeria, North Africa, Rome, Italy and Luxembourg.
At the elementary school reunion, one of my friends said that I must know Irene because she attended Richmond, too. Our paths had not crossed at Richmond, but we had many mutual friends. Irene asked me to the Ring Dance that spring and the rest is history.
Today, we are the proud parents of three daughters. Our eldest announced last week that she is working hard to keep her grades up because she wants to go to Richmond!
—Phil Higginson, R’86
Gazebo engagement
We did not get married on campus, but my husband, Brian Foster, ’02, proposed to me in the gazebo.
I was living and working in Philadelphia at the time, and he was in med school in Detroit. He flew to Philly and said that he had a surprise for me. I thought he was going to take me to New York to see a show (I love musicals!). Instead, we headed south on Interstate 95. Once we passed D.C., I knew we were going to Richmond.
He drove directly to Crab Louie’s in Midlothian, which is where we had our first date. Afterward he drove back to campus, and we walked around the lake. (At this point, I kind of knew what was coming!) He stopped in the gazebo and got down on one knee!
The rest is history.
—Stephanie Allen Foster, ’02
Hottest wedding on record
My wife, Kim Bowles Jessee, B’80, and I met our sophomore year at a Greek Theatre party. We got engaged in the spring of our junior year at the Gazebo. We married in July 1980 in the Chapel. So it definitely was a complete U of R romance!
At that time, the chapel was not air conditioned, and the temperature that day was well over 100 degrees, and it did not cool down much that night. Even today our friends still remember it as the hottest wedding ceremony they have ever attended. In fact, I think a few of the candles in the church actually melted.
In addition to many of our classmates who attended the wedding, there were several faculty members, including Dr. Jung (economics) and Dr Bramer (report writing). I think this is reflective of the close relationship the U of R faculty has had with its students.
Twenty-seven years later, Kim and I have five children and live in the Boston area.
—Jim Jessee, B’80
‘I love you, Phil. I always will.’
Anne Page, W’83, and I were married in the chapel on Oct. 26, 1985. Dr. David Burhans performed the ceremony, and there were seven other Spider alumni in the wedding party. My wife’s maid of honor, Pam Finley Carnahan, W’83, and matron of honor, Nell Dorsey O’Neil, B’83, will verify that during our vows, Anne called me “Phil” instead of “Bill” and stated “you’ll promise to be my loving and faithful wife.” I still think this could be a loophole to annul the marriage, but after 21 years and two daughters, I guess the statute of limitations has run out.
—Bill Henry, R’81
Will you marry me … again?
Stacy Jones Patten, ’95, and I met right in front of the chapel in the first few days of our freshman year in 1991, although we didn’t start dating until our junior year. It was the only place we wanted for our wedding. It was a place that held a connection for both of us, and it was special to have all of our college friends there with us. Before we even got engaged, we checked on the availability of the chapel. The only date that worked was Dec. 19, 1998, so I proposed on Dec. 19, 1997 to make it one year to the day.
When Stacy was pregnant with our first child, she had a lot of swelling in her hands and had to have her wedding ring cut off. She was happy to get it off because it was uncomfortable, but when it was actually cut, she burst into tears. I took her to the chapel and proposed again on the steps of the chapel with a temporary ring that she wore until our son was born and she could fit into the real ring again.
—Brad Patten, ’95
The ‘relaxed’ UR bride
There was nothing particularly funny, sad, dramatic or unusual about my wedding reception, which was held in Keller Hall on June 15, 1974. However, the morning of the wedding caused some stress for my Mom.
I have always found the UR campus to be very relaxing. In fact, I still do. When I am stressed or need a quiet place to think, you will find me walking around the lake or sitting in “my” chair in Boatwright Library.
As you can imagine, getting married was a big event, especially for a 20-year-old junior at Westhampton College. The morning of my wedding (to John Byron Clarke, R’73) I headed to the UR campus to relax. I checked out the reception setup in Keller Hall, strolled around the campus, and watched a track event at what is now First Market Stadium.
The wedding party was supposed to be at the church (St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal) at 1 p.m. for pre-wedding photographs. I was having such a restful time wandering around UR that time slipped up on me. My VW bug pulled to a stop in my parent’s driveway at 12:30 p.m. and I still had to eat lunch, do my hair and get dressed. I thought I had plenty of time and had everything under control, but my parents—especially my mother—were in a panic! My mother was afraid that I was going to back out of the wedding at the last minute by not showing up.
I had no intentions of being a runaway bride, I was just a relaxed UR bride. Well, I made it to the church on time.
—Becky Grandstaff Clarke, W’76
Dirty Rush serenade
My husband, Will Poole, R’91, and I met after college at the UR alumni tent during the Strawberry Hill races. We got married in the chapel on Nov. 18, 2000. Twelve of the 14 members of our wedding party, including both of our sisters, are UR grads, and we had many more alumni in attendance.
One funny moment from our ceremony was when my sister, who was my maid of honor and in her first wedding, dropped my husband’s ring on the wooden steps and you could hear it rolling down each step. Also, during the seating of the parents, my Mom and Dad walked down the aisle to light the unity candle, but then, instead of my Dad seating my Mom and walking back out of the chapel to escort me in, he walked my Mom out, then had to turn around and walk her back in. You can hear everyone laughing on the video, and it definitely added some humor.
That night at our reception at The Jefferson, some of my husband’s fraternity brothers, who had a band called Dirty Rush in college, reunited to play a Bruce Springsteen song for us. It was a total surprise and one we’ll never forget.
—Alissa Mancuso Poole, ’94
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