Alumni News

In Memoriam

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:33:12 +0000

In Memoriam Anna Tolette Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:33

1940s

Shirley Sterling McKeever (Nurs ex’44)

Elisabeth Boatright Baxter (A&S ex’46)

Elizabeth Winchester Isaacs (A&S ex’46)

Chester L. Karrass (MechEngr’47; Bus’48)

William P. Taylor (MechEngr’47)

William K. Jann Sr. (MechEngr’49)

1950s

Caroline Steik Brehmer (Edu’50)

Anne Reynolds Conkling (Chem, Math’50)

Mabel Fulker Korbitz (Edu’50)

John M. Shepherd (Mktg’50)

Jane Waters Carlson (Engl’51)

Mary Brown Christopher (A&S’51)

Julia Meiklejohn Johnson (Engl’51; MCommDisor’67)

James H. Peacock (ArchEngr’51)

Joan Hubbell Shull (Bus’51)

Robert W. Throckmorton (Soc’51)

Laura Berger Bacon (Soc’52)

Charles F. Bogard (MechEngr’52)

Earl T. George Jr. (CivEngr’52)

Elizabeth Davis Holcomb (HomeEcon’52)

Charles W. Oertli (ElEngr’52)

Paula Lundell Wiseman (Anth’52)

Edie Keena Boulter (BusEdu’53)

James P. Kelly (ChemEngr’53)

David C. Knowlton (Law’53)

Judith Alberson Lutz (Edu’53)

Victor R. Meline Jr. (CivEngr’53)

Raymond Pollock (Phys’53)

Harvey D. Prace (MechEngr’54)

Marilyn Munson Ross (Soc’54)

Cynthia Skelton Weberg (Chem’54; MA’57)

Golda Clarkin Boeck (Fin’55)

Marcia Dumas-Fabian (PolSci’55)

Billie J. Kennedy (Acct’55)

Jo Hancock Martin (Edu’55)

Wayne P. Moellenberg (Chem’55)

Ruth Demaree Peck (Mus’55)

Terry Brown Rostamo (DistSt’55)

Marcia Toll Saunders (Law’55)

Janet Laxson Blanchard (Edu’56)

Susan Scott Foulk (HomeEcon’56)

Margaret Hirst Holdredge (Chem’56)

Bruce E. Lawrenson (MechEngr’56)

Joseph T. Mattson (ChemEngr’56)

James E. Tebay (EngrPhys’56)

James F. Walsh (MEdu’56)

Mary Boyle Boncelet (A&S’57)

John H. Drabing (DistSt’57)

Dianne Donahue Garrison (A&S’57)

Lee T. Johnson (Edu’57)

John S. Krebs (MechEngr’57; PhDGeog’73)

Nancy B. Miller (A&S’57)

William C. Peterson (PE’57)

Ann Leavitt Reno (A&S’57)

Kenneth G. Tallman (MechEngr’57)

R. Lee VanDeren (Fin’57)

Jane Weaver (Edu’57)

Karl A. Yost (A&S’57)

Robert S. Brooks (Engl’58)

John W. Dean (MechEngr’58; MS’58)

Robert B. Foster (MechEngr, Mgmt’58)

Charles W. Joslin (PE’58)

Nancy L. Morgan (A&S’58)

Robert Redford (A&S ex’58, HonDocHum’87)

Jane Hester Strauss (A&S’58)

Charles C. VanValin (MChem’58)

Gordon R. Bopp (ChemEngr’59; MS’61)

Neil R. Carroll (Mktg’59)

Violace T. Durnell (MechEngr, Mgmt’59)

Anne Price Goodnight (A&S ex’59)

Robert H. Hughes (A&S’59; MA’63; PhDSoc’71)

Edward R. Miller (Mgmt’59; MBA’59)

Jean Nott Misiaszek (MusEdu’59; MA’64)

Gerald C. Skelton (Phil’59)

Benedict N. Smith II (Hist’59)

Timothy D. Walker (Hist’59; MA’67)

1960s

Robert H. Butcher (Geol’60; MS’62)

Charles F. Donelan (Mgmt’60; MechEngr’60)

Barbara Kedro Heidbreder (Advert’60)

Michael D. High (AeroEngr’60)

Ann Gragg Lowdermilk (Math’60)

Dale C. Miller (MechEngr’60)

J. Lauren Andree (A&S ex’61)

Linda Haynie Gilmore (Acct’61)

Dwight L. Johnson (Mgmt’61)

Phyllis Miller O’Connor (Hist’61)

Paul W. Reimers (Mgmt’61)

Gordon N. Saunders (A&S’61; MHist’68)

Diane Kline Schroeder (HomeEcon’61)

Robert K. Wilson (PE’61)

Thomas M. Conley (Econ’62)

Gilbert J. Gross (ChemEngr’62)

Ralph A. Heck (A&S’62)

Alan R. Hoffman (Phys’62)

Raymond A. Miles (Mgmt’62)

Leo A. Noll (MA&S’62; PhDChem’76)

James C. O’Connor (Mgmt’62)

Bertil O. Olson (CivEngr’62)

Harvey B. Sperling (A&S’62)

Thomas F. Valleau Jr. (A&S’62)

Gary E. Walvoord (Art’62)

Randall L. Weeks (Law’62)

James F. Ellis (A&S’63)

John M. Hart (Mgmt’63)

Roger D. Jennings (PhDPsych’63)

Dianne Van Horn Moss (Bus’63)

Joann Mahaney O’Neill (Edu’63)

Reed D. Riner (ArtHist’63; MAnth’71; PhD’77)

Donald M. Sackschewsky (MMath’63)

Joel B. Short (Hist’63; Law’66)

William J. Ballas (Math’64; Law’69)

Gayle Gowdy Hamer (A&S’64)

Samuel J. Kiteley (Mus’64)

Peter C. Lev (Phil’64)

George R. Tyrrell (ElEngr’64)

Mary Roberts Arris (MA&S’65)

William R. Beckwith (A&S’65)

John L. Cheney (Fin’65)

John M. Hammerick Jr. (A&S’65)

Donna Perrella Knudson (PolSci’65)

Burnell G. West (PhDPhys’65)

Donald G. White (ElEngr’65)

Michael R. Chase (Bus’66)

Vaughn E. Huckfeldt (Math’66)

George L. Kiteley (MusEdu’66; MMus’68)

John H. McLean III (Geog’66)

Claudia Baidas Schwartz (PolSci’66)

Claude L. Fox (MA&S’67; PhDPhil’75)

Jack C. Hanley (Mgmt’67)

Gary G. Lager (ElEngr’67)

Warren B. Lange (MElEngr’67)

Douglas H. Marshall (Art’67)

Pepe J. Mendez (A&S’67; Law’70)

Bonnie Thompson Witkowsky (Edu’67)

Francis J. Garlitz (Phys’68)

Howard P. Herbst (PolSci’68)

Judith Walker Pippin (A&S’68)

Fred T. Seely (MechEngr’68)

Richard I. Yates (MEdu’68)

Joan Martin Betz (Hist’69)

Vincent V. Butler (DistSt’69)

Garneth Ludka Harris (Edu’69)

Charles B. Holzer (ApMath’69; MCompSci’71)

Erat S. Joseph (PhDCivEngr’69)

Eugene Harold “Jay” Knutson (IntlBus’69)

James F. Lathrop (PhDMath’69)

Lynn Edy Whitman (MEdu’69)

1970s

Ellen Bernstein Blickenstaff (Edu’70)

William E. Collins Sr. (Bus’70)

Derek E. Faison (Mktg’70)

David L. Gershon (Fin’70)

David W. Hardy (Econ’70)

Diana Krushnic Hopkins (PolSci’70)

Richard A. Lathrop (Jour’70)

Edythe S. Miller (PhDEcon’70)

Judith M. Axelrad (Anth’71)

Joseph M. Conncannon (MChemEngr’71)

Phil C. Klingsmith (Engl’71)

Kathryn Manning Gorman (Ital’72)

James R. Hermanson (Chem’72)

James H. Horsburgh (OrgMgmt’72; MBusEdu’73)

Robert L. Mathis (PhDBus’72)

Karin A. Pearson (Fren’72)

Alan K. Wong (ElEngr’72)

Eugene M. Baker (Psych’73; MA’75; PhD’77)

Michael L. Conkling (Mktg’73)

Robert B. Dallenbach (PhDEdu’73)

John L. Green (MElEngr’73)

Mike L. Mitchell (MChem’73)

Margaret K. Moschenross (MEdu’73)

Michael L. Fischler (PhDEdu’74)

Roberta Weinstein (MComm’74)

Robert W. Becker (MElEngr’75)

Luther K. Branting (Phil’75)

John Dakin (Hist’75; Jour’79)

Richard E. Poley (Psych’75; MAcct’78)

Myra Cohen Monfort Runyan (Law’75)

Bert Carollo (MCDBio’76)

Greg J. Hoiland (Acct’76)

Robert A. Shapiro (MCDBio’76)

David H. Williams (Soc’76)

Steven B. Wyatt (Mktg’76)

Dorsett W. Jordan (EngrPhys’77)

Michael R. Moore (Econ’77)

John C. Wolta Jr. (Phil’77)

Dale T. Dudley (EPOBio’78)

Sharon Nelson Fitzgerald (Soc’78; Law’82)

Patricia A. Gallegos (MComm’78)

Wilma L. Jones (DEdu’79)

1980s

Linda Neldner Sheridan (Mus’80)

Carol Skinner (Comm’80)

Randy K. Wilson (EPOBio’80; MBA’84)

Scott D. Hall (CivEngr’81)

Charles S. Ladd (ElEngr, Fin’81)

Ralph D. Rempel (CivEngr’81)

Nancy J. Simon (MCDBio’81)

John M. Verner (ElEngr’81)

Charles K. Albright (MechEngr’82)

Elizabeth A. MacDonald (Law’82)

Karen McCune-Barca (Anth’83)

Nancy A. Coderre (Econ’84)

Michael S. Fox (Econ’84)

Mary I. Goetze (PhDMus’85)

Nancy Kenny Rudolph (MBA’85)

Matthew Nitta (Hist’86)

Marjorie L. N. Sloan (Law’86)

Andrew T. Alexander (Psych’87)

Randall R. Ballweg (Acct’87)

Ammon A. Apple (PhDMus’89)

Chad C. Cerinich (OrgMgmt’89)

Adele G. Platter (PhDSoc’89)

1990s

Hua P. Chou (MCompSci’90)

Anthony A. Taylor (Ling’90; MBaSci’96)

Thomas E. Valeski (MBA’90)

Rose Nelson (Psych’91)

Donald F. Miller (Psych’92)

Joseph E. Berta (PhDPsych’94)

Hal S. Riker (Psych’94)

David M. Uhlir (MBA’94)

Charles R. Baily (Phys’95; PhD’11)

Samuel E. Bolton (Anth’95)

Sandra Ross Kruse (Mktg’96)

Kelly McLean Mudgett (MCommDisor’96)

Teresa Nettleton Hollingsworth (EPOBio’97)

2000s

Kathleen M. Beltrame (Psych’04)

Adam G.R. Gilmer (Arch’05)

Bradley J. Hager (Psych’05)

Brendan J. Kelly (Mgmt’05)

Stephen R. Blum (Fin’06)

Charles M. McGee (Fin’06)

Jacob R. Ellington (Econ’07)

Tyler D. Decker (Astro’09)

Alexander S. Newell (Mktg’09)

2010s

Braden I. Bingham (MechEngr’14)

Wylee M. Price (IntlAf’17)

Ian W. Sharp (StComm’17)

2020s

Christopher B. Greiter (Biochem ex’26)

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Ralph “Chris” Christoffersen, Friend

Frederick “Fred” Mathewson Denny, Religious Studies

Allen L. Kenney, Friend

Marie G. Kindgren, Electrical Engineering

Forever Buffs who have passed away.

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Fall 2025

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Honoring Outstanding Buffs

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:25:17 +0000

Honoring Outstanding Buffs Anna Tolette Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:25

April Driver

��ɫ��Ƶ’s Alumni Awards celebrate the university’s most inspiring leaders and changemakers.

Dave Sheanin guides individuals with disabilities in triathlons.

Dave Sheanin (MBA’99), receiving the Alumni Recognition Award this spring, is among the next slate of standout Forever Buffs.

A longtime coach for the University of Colorado Triathlon Team, Sheanin helped lead the team to seven consecutive combined and 15 individual national championships. In 2021, he was named the USA Triathlon Community Impact Coach of the Year. Whether working with elite athletes or teaching beginners to swim, his inspiration comes from the students.

“I fell in love with the students’ spirit and enthusiasm,” said Sheanin. “I love seeing young people reach their potential.”

Outside of the university, he volunteers with Athletes in Tandem, guiding individuals with disabilities in triathlon competitions.

“Helping athletes with disabilities experience the same racecourse as the elite competitors has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey,” he said.

Even with his many contributions and successes, he remains humble.

“I feel like I get back more than I give,” he said. “I’m built to want to make an impact; that’s the kind of life I want to lead.”

Sheanin’s story joins the larger history of alumni impact across generations. Eight other outstanding alumni, faculty, staff and students will be recognized at the Alumni Awards Ceremony as part of Alumni Weekend, April 10–13, 2026. (The event previously was held during Homecoming Weekend.)

The winners include Susan Taylor Mayne (Chem’82) for the George Norlin Award, Russell L. Moore and David Martinez for the Robert L. Stearns Award, Dave Sheanin (MBA’99) for the Alumni Recognition Award, Stephen Kissler (ApMath’14; MA’14) for the Kalpana Chawla Outstanding Recent Graduate Award, Dale Farrand (AeroEngr’93) for the Leanne Skupa-Lee Award, and Camden Dempsey (Fin, Mktg’25) and Aaditya Pore (AeroEngr, CompSci’25) for the Forever Buffs Student Award.

Award honorees represent the breadth of Buffs excellence, and, for many, CU is at the heart of their stories.

Learn more at colorado.edu/alumni/awards.

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Photo courtesy Dave Sheanin

��ɫ��Ƶ’s 2026 Alumni Awards celebrated outstanding alumni, faculty, staff and students.

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Blazin’ Joe: Brewing a Sustainable Startup

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:20:32 +0000

Blazin’ Joe: Brewing a Sustainable Startup Anna Tolette Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:20

Julia MacLean

Maddie Cataldo and Maya Nefs with their Blazin' Joe firelogs

In 2019, when freshman Maddie Cataldo (Mgmt’23) showed up to her first ��ɫ��Ƶ club hockey practice, she didn’t know anyone. But a spontaneous locker room conversation about skydiving ignited a friendship.

Maya Nefs (Mgmt’23), then a sophomore and fellow Leeds School of Business student, didn’t hesitate: “What are you doing next week? Let’s go.”

They went, tumbling into the air over Longmont, Colorado.

Years later, that same adventurous spirit fuels their company, Blazin’ Joe, which transforms coffee waste into sustainable firewood alternatives. Their business started in a college oven and now operates out of Nefs’ garage in Golden, Colorado.

Cataldo and Nefs’ journey as business partners is rooted in their shared CU experiences: business classes, a love for the outdoors and hockey.

“Being teammates really helped us work together,” Cataldo said. “We’re both super competitive, and there’s a level of bluntness that’s good and healthy to have. You could yell at each other on the ice and grab a beer right after.”

They’re also candid about the challenges of going into business together.

“I wouldn’t say it’s super easy going into business with a close friend,” Cataldo said. “We have a contract that tells us we need to spend a certain number of hours not talking about Blazin’ Joe, but just hanging out.”

Nefs added: “We’ll go play tennis or grab a happy hour drink. One of the most important aspects of the business is keeping our friendship healthy.”

It’s a priority that pays off personally and professionally.

“I wouldn’t be doing this with anyone else,” Nefs said. “Maddie has such a positive attitude, and I definitely find myself aspiring to carry the same positivity.”

The idea for Blazin’ Joe began in Cataldo’s senior capstone course, the New Venture Launch, taught through the business school’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Her class project pitch centered on a fire log made from used coffee grounds, which was inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial research in biofuels.

Blazin' Joe firelogs

“I remember using the oven in my college house 24/7 to dry coffee grounds,” said Cataldo. “My roommates were awesome because the house always smelled like coffee — even our clothes.”

Cataldo’s professor, Brad Werner, saw something unique in her.

“She wasn’t just presenting a business idea — she was sharing something she truly believed in,” Werner said. “I look for students who demonstrate genuine customer obsession — not just talking about their product, but showing they truly understand their customers’ pain points.”

Cataldo’s team won the pitch at the end of the capstone class, impressing Werner with their compelling presentation, and walking away with first-place recognition.

After graduation, Cataldo tried running the business alone until Nefs stepped in.

“She was thinking of putting it on pause,” Nefs said. “I told her, ‘Don’t do that. I’ll work on it with you.’ The company had so much potential, and people were buying the product; it just needed two people behind it.”

Today, Blazin’ Joe makes fire logs and fire starters from coffee chaff — the light, flaky skin of the coffee bean discarded during roasting. It burns clean, hot and efficiently, without the toxic chemicals found in traditional fire-related products.

“We started out using coffee grounds,” Cataldo said, “but realized drying them used too much energy. Chaff was the game-changer: it’s dry, burns well and it’s a huge waste stream in the industry.”

They now collect chaff from local Colorado roasters like Sweet Bloom Coffee, Otis Craft Collective and Copper Door Coffee Roasters. They use about four pounds of chaff per log, Cataldo said, and grind it down and press it to shape in Nefs’ garage.

“I’m grateful for the setup,” Nefs said. “We’re not paying rent on a space, and for a small startup, that’s critical. We’re growing sustainably, on our own terms.”

Since launching into retail in January, Blazin’ Joe has found traction in farmers markets and local stores like McGuckin Hardware and Lucky’s Market. In May, they also won the Next Cycle Colorado Pitch, which supports companies repurposing waste streams in Colorado.

Cataldo is eager to grow the business more.

“Our ultimate goal is to work towards making the coffee industry circular,” she said. “We’d love to partner with bigger roasters on a larger scale and repurpose as much waste as possible.”

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Photos courtesy Graham Gardner (Sparrow Creative)

Maddie Cataldo and Maya Nefs turned a shared love of adventure and entrepreneurship into Blazin’ Joe, a sustainable startup that transforms coffee waste into firelogs and fire starters.

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Dan Carlin Is the Ultimate Time Traveler

Anna Tolette — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:19:22 +0000

Dan Carlin Is the Ultimate Time Traveler Anna Tolette Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:19

Tori Peglar

Dan Carlin (Hist’89) is 4 minutes and 41 seconds into an episode of his Hardcore History podcast when he pauses to catch his breath. Alexander the Great has just watched his father, King Phillip II, get assassinated. It’s a milestone moment that Carlin likens to the 9/11 attacks, where anyone watching knew in those terrifying moments that everything would change.

Beyond the walls of his podcasting studio, Carlin’s millions of listeners wait expectantly at the edge of their proverbial seats. Was Alexander a victim, innocently watching the assassination of his royal father in the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon? Or was Alexander a traitor who orchestrated his father’s death to seize the throne? Carlin’s audience ponders this question as they drive through their neighborhoods, prepare dinner in their kitchens, and jog through parks, all while listening to Carlin.

“Dan Carlin is one of the world’s greatest storytellers, and anyone who has spent any time listening to his audio, even for a few minutes, understands that this is the case,” said Clint Kisker, an entrepreneur and former president of MWM Interactive, an entertainment company that has collaborated with Carlin.

A trailblazer in the podcasting space, Carlin was part of the early crowd of people in 2005 to tell stories about history via the Internet in an audio format. In the 20 years since, more than 100 million people have tuned into his tremendously popular shows. In Common Sense, Carlin, a self-described politically independent pragmatist, looks at events shaping the world. Hardcore History delves into riveting historic moments, and Hardcore History: Addendum features interviews and material that don’t make it into the main program.

For Carlin, who’s disarmingly gregarious and humble, a knowledge of history and its cast of characters is essential for understanding the present moment. Moreover, he said it enables us to see how groups of human beings tend to behave, especially under pressure.

“Life, as someone once said to me, is like living inside a television soap opera,” Carlin recalled. “If you don’t go back and watch the previous episodes, you’ll never understand what’s going on — or why — in the story currently.”

Path to Podcasting

In his 20s, Carlin worked in broadcast television in Los Angeles before moving to Oregon and becoming a television reporter, then a radio show host. But when the tech version of the Gold Rush began in the late 1990s, he and five friends formed a startup. The goal was to launch a novel product — amateur content made by the public and hosted on a platform. It would have been something like what YouTube turned out to be. After he left the startup, what Carlin eventually produced was a podcast, but it wasn’t recognized as such yet.

In 2004, the term “podcast” first appeared in print when Guardian reporter Ben Hammerstein used it to describe a new type of audio blogging that could be played on an Apple iPod. The origins of the word? A mash-up of “iPod” and “broadcast.”

Plunging into new territory, Carlin launched his Common Sense podcast in 2005, followed by Hardcore History a year later. The Hardcore History format is unique, even by today’s standards.

“Podcasters doing true crime or sports entertainment are all folks who took an existing medium and adapted it to meet their needs,” Kisker said. “Dan created a medium. There was no prior ‘Dan Carlin.’ It wasn’t a thing.”

Each of Carlin’s Hardcore History episodes is an extraordinarily deep dive into a slice of history — and because he spends an inordinate amount of time researching, he only releases one to two episodes a year. Each one runs between three and five hours.

Carlin’s show takes on a conversational dimension as he doesn’t prepare a written script — his storytelling style is all improv. Episodes include the famous World War II battles that shaped modern naval warfare, the Atlantic slave trade, the Asia-Pacific War of 1937–45 and the Viking sea kings of the 10th and 11th centuries.

“Every show is on a subject I’ve been really interested in, so I have a foundation,” Carlin said. “Then I start reading, so I’m trying to update my knowledge — what’s true, how history has evolved and become clarified over time.”

But Carlin doesn’t just regurgitate important dates on his podcasts. He uses empathy to slingshot his listeners back in time, making people like Alexander the Great fallibly human and their decisions topically relevant. In doing so, his audience stands on the sidelines of pivotal historic moments, cheering and jeering on characters they once knew only by name but now feel a personal connection to.

“Empathy for historical personalities is vital if we want to try to see them more as three-dimensional figures rather than two-dimensional ones,” Carlin said. “Put yourself into the shoes of President Harry Truman having to make the decision about dropping atomic bombs in the Second World War. How could you even begin to assess such an event without trying to imagine yourself in his position?”

Having an empathetic understanding of the human experience is essential to help us navigate our complex world, said William Wei, one of Carlin’s ��ɫ��Ƶ history professors and a former Colorado state historian.

“As historians have demonstrated since time immemorial, history functions as humanity’s collective memory and the means for understanding the consequences of human choices,” Wei said.

Empathy for historical personalities is vital if we want to try to see them more as three-dimensional figures rather than two-dimensional ones.

Dan's Favorite Episodes

“Blueprint for Armageddon”

A six-part exploration of World War I that immerses listeners in the human experience, chaos and unprecedented scale of the first modern global war.

“Supernova in the East”

A six-part chronicle of Japan’s rise and ruin in World War II, tracing how cultural pride, militarism and desperation led to one of history’s most ferocious conflicts.

“Ghosts of the Ostfront”

A look at the Eastern Front of World War II, where Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union waged a merciless fight for survival.

“The Destroyer of Worlds”

An exploration of the birth of the nuclear age and the uneasy moment when humanity gained the power to erase itself.

“Death Throes of the Republic”

A retelling of Rome’s unraveling — from civic virtue to corruption and civil war — as a republic gives way to empire.

History functions as humanity’s collective memory and the means for understanding the consequences of human choices.

At Home in Hollywood

Carlin grew up on the edges of Hollywood’s golden spotlight. His mother earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the 1968 film Faces. His father, Ed Carlin, was a movie producer. Carlin spent his childhood in two towns at opposite ends of the San Fernando Valley — first Toluca Lake, then Calabasas. Back then, Toluca Lake was home to celebrities like Bob Hope, Bette Davis and Frank Sinatra. Yet Carlin describes both towns as Brady Bunch-type communities filled with camera operators, production folks and just regular people.

“Neither area was what it is now,” Carlin said. “Next door lived a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. Bob Hope lived in town, but we never saw him. It didn’t feel glitzy.”

Even so, it wasn’t a big leap for Carlin to get highly involved in his high school’s improv program and plunge deeply into theater classes for a brief stint at California State University, Northridge. And when he decided to finish his studies out of state, ��ɫ��Ƶ felt like the right fit.

“My dad really liked CU. He said it reminded him of UCLA in the 1950s when he was a student,” Carlin recalled. “It’s like [Coach] Bill McCartney said, ‘If you get the recruits to town, they’ll come.’”

Boulder Backstory

When Carlin arrived on campus, Coach McCartney was in his fifth season coaching the Colorado Buffaloes, finishing second in the Big 8. It was CU’s best conference record in 25 years. But you were more likely to find Carlin protesting CIA recruitment on campus and CU’s investments in South Africa’s apartheid than standing in line for football tickets. Clad in his Ecuadorian sweater purchased near the Alfred Packer Grill, Carlin pursued his passion for history, with an emphasis on military history. One of his courses was “Sociology of Peacemaking,” which he joked was “a CU way of talking about the military.”

“When I decided to transfer to CU, none of my theater classes transferred,” said Carlin, who initially thought that it was all a wasted effort. “But the great thing is, I’ve used the theater and history stuff every single day in my work.”

Carlin remembered the history department had a pamphlet printed on green paper titled something along the lines of, “What to Tell Your Parents About Choosing History as a Major.” None of the professions he pursued after graduation — journalism, broadcasting and podcasting — appeared on the pamphlet. Carlin addressed this discrepancy in 2020 when he served as CU’s first virtual graduation speaker.

“CU gave me the skills to put myself in a position to be offered these gigs,” he told the graduates. “And [it gave me] the knowledge, not the specific knowledge about how to do those jobs — after all, I didn’t study journalism, broadcasting or podcasting in school — but CU gave me the lifelong ability to know how to keep learning.”

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Illustrations by María Jesús Contreras

CU gave me the lifelong ability to know how to keep learning.

Dan Carlin has pioneered long-form, deeply researched history podcasts like "Hardcore History" to make pivotal historical events relatable.

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In Memoriam

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:50:45 +0000

In Memoriam Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:50

1940s

Audrey J. Oliver (CompSciAp’45)

Harriet McPhail Hampton (Mktg’46)

Mary K. Ohman (A&S’47)

Joanne Sinden Hagerman (MBioChem’48)

M. B. Harris (Acct’48)

Donna J. Kilgore (DistSt’48)

Nathan B. Meiches (ElEngr’48)

Patricia St. Clair Ostwald (Art’48)

Yvonne Goodier Charles (Art, Chem’49)

1950s

Irving Barrack (Chem’50)

Alex Ferkovich Jr. (ElEngr’50)

Ann Reynolds Hendricks (Btny’50)

William Hobbs (Bus’50; Law’50)

Mary Beeley Phillips (Edu’50)

Barbara Templeton Buckley (Mktg’51)

William A. Merrick (Mktg’51)

Albert L. Yunko Jr. (A&S’51)

Teddy R. Barnhart Jr. (ChemEngr’52)

Felma Gleue Doane (A&S’52)

Wilminor C. Gardner (Fin’52)

Paul E. Hammond (Geol’52)

Joseph L. Campbell Jr. (MChemEngr’53)

Donald A. Melbye (Law’53)

Patricia Work Stermitz (A&S’53)

Gail Van Hine Young (Geol’53)

Ernest P. Moore (ElEngr’54)

Ronald A. Piotraschke (PE’54)

Billie B. Jensen (Hist’55; MA’59; PhD’62)

Marcia Saunders (Law’55)

Eric W. Schmidt (Mgmt’55)

Robert L. Weber (Geol’55)

Ervin J. Dunham (Mus’56)

Russell M. Holdredge (Acct, MechEngr’56; MMechEngr’59)

Herbert T. Miller (ElEngr’56)

Richard T. Putney (Psych’56)

Cle Cervi Symons (Jour’56)

George R. Baumli (CivEngr’57)

Bertram H. Benedick (PolSci’57)

Ellen TeSelle Boal (Mus’57)

Margaret Clarke Bowyer (DistSt’57)

Lyle R. Bratton (Law’57)

James W. Buckel (CivEngr’57)

Gretchen Purdum Coffey (Edu’57; Thtr’57)

Carole J. Cooke (Art’57)

Gary C. Curtin (Geol’57; MS’65)

Donald W. Harmon (Psych’57)

Howard T. Johnson (AeroEngr’57)

Bonnie Reese Musgrove (A&S’57)

Susie Wright Rowland (A&S’57)

Kenneth A. Baker (LatAmerSt’58; MPolSci’63; Law’64)

Wilson W. Coleman (Fin’58)

Robert W. Heller (MechEngr’58)

Raymond P. Lamb (A&S’58)

Margery Dryden Lincoln (HomeEcon’58)

William P. Mytton (Hist’58; Fin’60)

Mary W. Wilson (A&S’58)

Judith Paynter Wolf (A&S’58)

Fred A. Avi (MechEngr’59)

Harold D. Hampton (Geol’59; MHist’61)

John R. Kochan (ElEngr’59)

Erwin A. Reschke (MMgmt’59)

Roxy L. Root (Mgmt, AeroEngr’59)

Robert D. Smith (ElEngr’59)

Ann Dubuisson Sturgill (Engl’59)

1960s

Mark P. Addison (Geog’60)

Linda J. Baumann (Mus’60)

Charlotte Blakeborough (MEdu’60)

Charles G. Brown Jr. (Geol’60)

Robert B. Bruner (PolSci’60; MBA’63)

Robert H. Butcher (Geol’60; MS’62)

Richard W. Dowell (MEngl’60)

David L. Greene (Anth’60; MA’62; PhD’65)

Donald L. Loose (MechEngr’60)

Nancy Johnson Lucke (A&S’60)

Karl L. Marks (Law’60)

Elisabeth B. Brown (A&S’61; MA&S’80)

DeWitt C. Hackett (ApMath’61)

Deborah Hansen Beresford (Art’61)

Larry F. Schofield (A&S’61)

Dale N. Amend (MechEngr’62)

Nancy C. Baggs (MMath’62)

Thelma Hartnagle Bishopp (Ger’62; MA’67; PhDEdu’82)

George H. Chronis (ElEngr’62)

Evelyn P. Griggs (Advert’62)

Shirley M. Hughes (Edu’62)

Morton Schreiber (Hist’62)

Rawley D. Smith (Mgmt’62)

Judith M. Witmer (Edu’62)

Edward S. Wrasmann (Chem’62)

Alexandra H. Cramer (Mus’63)

Thurmon L. Deloney (ElEngr’63)

Nick C. Graham (A&S’63)

Ann E. Kastler (Edu’63)

Hildegard R. Kuse (PhDEdu’63)

Thomas D. Merrell Jr. (EngrPhys’63)

Patricia F. Richardson (Edu’63)

Joel B. Short (Hist’63; Law’66)

Clinton W. Baccus (Mgmt’64)

Louise R. Beale (A&S’64)

Marilynn K. Camerlo (Hist’64)

Halcyon Dahms Enssle (Engl’64)

Diana Files Roeseler (Anth’64)

Lynn Fuller Rundstrom (DistSt’64)

Julius M. Kunz (ElEngr’64)

Dewayne L. Misterek (MCivEngr’64)

Dennis V. Seabourn (Phys’64)

Lewis Smith Jr. (MMgmt’64)

Robert L. Leutwiler (Fin, MechEngr’65)

John R. Parmater (CivEngr’65)

Sandra Cook Peterson (A&S’65)

Nicholas G. Benigsen (A&S’66)

Kathryn E. Berg (A&S’66)

Carol Priest Chotard (MMus’66; DocMus’71)

Susan DeSmet (Art’66)

John L. Gelber (ElEngr’66)

Jerry L. Hansen (MechEngr’66)

Thomas A. Larimer (CivEngr’66)

Gayla McRae Lindquist (A&S’66; MEdu’74)

Charles H. Reddien (ElEngr’66)

Jerry G. Rutledge (A&S’66)

Susan A. Winchester (A&S’66; MRuss’68; PhDSlav’72)

Julian Garcia (Acct’67)

John A. Hurt (A&S’67)

Debra Cohen Romans (PolSci’67)

Donald E. Welsh (A&S’67)

Bonnie J. Witkowsky (Edu’67)

Ronald J. Beaton (PolSci’68, Fin’72)

Earl E. Hasz (MMath’68; PhDEdu’70)

Ernest H. Henninger (Math’68; Phys’68)

Judith Walker Pippin (A&S’68)

John A. Purvis (Law’68)

Carl F. Randall (Acct’68)

Carroll Stanley Senn (Mgmt’68)

James E. Soule (Mktg’68)

E. T. Hunt Talmage III (Engl’68)

Richard A. Wildau (Psych’68; MA’72)

Bart E. Bortles (Mktg’69)

Michael J. Collins (A&S’69; MCommDisor’71; PhD’74)

Alice Fechheimer Martin (Soc’69)

Pamela Noaecker Howard (DistSt’69)

Michael A. Imhoff (PhDChem’69)

David N. Larson (Fin’69)

Charles T. Miller III (A&S’69)

Marcia M. Peteranetz (MMusEdu’69)

Robert L. Saviteer (Engl’69)

Paul Turner III (Stat’69)

1970s

Walter B. Currier (A&S’70)

Joseph A. Dodson III (ApMath’70; MBA’74)

Lowell M. McBride (ElEngr’70; MBA’72)

Stanley W. Sadava (PhDPsych’70)

Barbara A.C. Smith (Soc’70)

John V. Smith (MA&S’70)

James M. Armstrong (Fin’71)

David C. DiRito (Psych’72; MA’89)

Michael Goldfogel (DistSt’72)

Judith Taddonio Vineyard (Psych’72)

Richard L. Wolf (MCommThtr’72)

June Robison Wright (MEdu’72)

Eugene M. Baker IV (Psych’73; MA’75; PhD’77)

Larry P. Gough (PhDBio’73)

Dennis R. Strout (ElEngr’73)

John S. Behnke (Mktg’74)

Daniel J. Boynton (Mktg’74)

John S. Bunting (MAcct’74)

Nancy F. Carter (PhDEdu’74)

Judith A. Hakes (PhDEdu’74)

Jonathan Holden (PhDEngl’74)

Jeffrey E. Trundy (MRec’74)

Luther K. Branting (Phil’75)

William K. Childers (EPOBio’75)

Mary Brockway (MEdu’76)

Mary A. Brooks (MEdu’76)

Antonia K. Johnson (Psych’76)

Gregory R. Mueller (Mktg’76)

Francis I. Frazier (Mus’77)

Elisabeth L. Hallgren (PhDHist’77)

Richard E. Heapes (EnvDes’77)

Arthur L. Shearin (Mus’77)

Karen Lehr Benner (MEdu’78)

Leslie S. Burnau (MEdu’78)

Janet L. Robinson (Acct’78)

Rodney J. Rothlisberger (DMus’78)

Gigi Maloney York (Art’78)

1980s

Jan L. Johnson (Advert’80)

Brian R. Vogt (Class’81)

Helen E.S. Browne (Acct’82)

Scott Bradford Weaver (Fin’82)

Gerald A. Ligrani (PE’86)

David L. Alles (EBio’87)

William D. Baylis (Hist’88)

Carrie L. Shrallow Dussault (IntlAf’88)

1990s

Hua P. Chou (MCompSci’90)

Peter W. Strickholm (MMus’90)

Herbert K. Wilson (Econ’90; MBA, MTeleComm’00)

Judith M. Falco (Art, ArtHist’91)

Kevin A. Pierce (Geog’91)

Lisa A. Weaver (Art’91)

J. Kurt Marrs (MCDBio’92)

Darcy A. Wendland (EPOBio’93)

Heather Eversley Jovel (Law’97)

Darrel T. Davis (Law’98)

Jeffrey F. Johnson (CompSci’98)

2000s

Shannon L. Meadors-Oscar (IntlAf’01)

Emory J. Zeiger (PhDThtr’01)

Clark L. Branscum (Comm’03)

Brenda F. Mitchell (Soc’05)

Sarah E. Steinwand (Mktg’05)

Andrew P. Decoursey (Anth’06)

Alison E. MacDonald (Mktg’07)

Sara Bernardi Martinez (Dance’09)

2010s

Elizabeth R. Stewart (Mktg’12)

Jarrod S. Hanson (PhDEdu’13)

Christopher W. A. Black (IntPhys’18)

2020s

Elizabeth A. Vossler (Jour’20)

Draden E. Hoover (Fin’22)

Ari Pargman (ExplSt’29)

Megan P. Trussel (Film’29)

Faculty, Staff and Friends

Charlotte Corbridge, Staff, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Sandra A. Figgins, Buffalo Belles

Russell Hayes, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Jan Mycielski, Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics

Frieda “Fritz” Satterley, Staff, Alumni Association and CU Foundation

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Forever Buffs who have passed away.

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The Rebuiling of a Family Business

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:49:45 +0000

The Rebuiling of a Family Business Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:49

Julia MacLean

After graduating, Rachel Etzler (MediaSt’22) began to rebuild Business Development Institute (BDI), her family’s events marketing agency, after COVID-19 dismantled the events industry. Etzler took a leadership role alongside her father, Steven, the company’s founder and CEO. As both a strategic leader and hands-on operator, Etzler has played a pivotal role in BDI’s recent success, which has included producing around 60 highly curated events annually and increasing long-term partnerships in the technology industry.

How do you describe your position at BDI?

We serve leading tech companies like NVIDIA, Adobe, Microsoft, HPE, Equinix and AMD. I support our clients directly while working closely with my dad to manage our sales. Because I have a bird’s-eye view of all our client events, I help prioritize tasks and ensure we’re aligned and efficient across every project.

What inspired you to rebuild BDI?

Entering the professional world in a post-COVID environment made me reflect on where I wanted to invest my energy. If I was going to dedicate 40-plus hours a week to a company, I wanted it to be one that truly mattered to me. BDI has played a huge role in my life — it helped make college possible for me — and I saw an opportunity to make a real difference.

What was it like stepping into a leadership role at a company your parents built?

From our earliest conversations, my dad showed a lot of trust in my leadership potential, which was a rare and meaningful opportunity for a 22-year-old. In many ways, it felt like a natural evolution as I grew up watching my parents run the business. I’ve always admired their entrepreneurial spirit, and stepping into a leadership role felt like honoring that legacy, while also building something of my own.

Looking back now, what advice do you have for yourself as you were graduating?

Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, and it’s important to let your journey unfold naturally. Progress isn’t always linear, and that’s okay.

What else should we know about you?

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished so far — and how energized I feel about where we’re headed. Rebuilding BDI has been a mix of challenge, creativity and deep purpose. I’m grateful every day to work with my family, collaborate with an incredible team and create experiences that connect people in meaningful ways. We’ve hired my sister, Elizabeth Etzler (Edu’23), and two other employees are also Buffs: Matthew Jacobs (CritMediaSt’20) and Emi Veliz (Anth’20). BDI is a CU-powered company!

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Photo courtesy Rachel Etzler

Rachel Etzler stepped into a leadership role to help rebuild her family’s events marketing agency, BDI, guiding its post-COVID comeback and strengthening partnerships with major clients.

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The Scoop on Sweet Cow’s Journey to Success

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:48:50 +0000

The Scoop on Sweet Cow’s Journey to Success Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:48

Julia MacLean

Drew Honness opened Sweet Cow in 2010.

A college job at an ice cream shop shaped the rest of Drew Honness’ (Hist’96) life. At age 39, he opened Sweet Cow in Louisville, Colorado. Now with seven locations, Sweet Cow is a beloved Colorado staple with lines out the door and stickers plastered around the state.

What inspired you to start an ice cream business?

When I turned 20 years old, I got a job at a mom-and-pop ice cream shop on The Hill called Josh and John’s. It originally started in 1992 in Colorado Springs by two Colorado College graduates. I worked for them for 13 years. From this job, I learned what a great environment the ice cream industry is and how it builds community.

I discovered some wonderful friendships working there and learned how an upbeat atmosphere can change your life, day in and day out. The uniforms are the best: T-shirts, sneakers, shorts, a hat, and you’re jamming out to great music all day. People come in, and they’re excited to see you.

Within a couple of years, I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. After graduation, I got the opportunity to run two of their shops.

What qualities does Sweet Cow prioritize when hiring staff?

75% of our staff is high school- and college-aged people. We find that the best workers are students who have a decent GPA. They go to school, they go to class, they study and they come to work two to four times a week. They also might play an instrument, sing in the choir or play a sport. The busiest people tend to make time with intention for what they’re doing. It’s one of the things we look for when thinking about location. I usually want a high school and a college nearby to help with our staffing needs.

What sets your ice cream apart?

All of our ice cream, cookie sammies and ice cream cakes are made within the seven shops, so we’re completely self-sufficient. The three key ingredients are high-quality milk, cream and sugar. What differentiates ice cream from ice cream is the percentage of butterfat, the quality of ingredients, the batch freezer or ice cream machine, the freezing process and the temperature of dipping cabinets. Everyone does it differently.

What’s your most unique flavor?

Larry’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Madness, created by my son, is a chocolate peanut butter ice cream with dark chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, along with a fudge swirl and peanut butter swirl. Another fun flavor is Vermont Maple Walnut, made with maple syrup directly from Vermont and walnut pieces.

I’ve seen your stickers all over town. What’s your marketing strategy?

I thought to myself, ‘Alright, what can we do that’s going to be grassroots and budget friendly?’ I was collecting stickers for years, so it just made sense. We had this cool logo, and just let people take these stickers home. And the next thing you know, we would see them on a car, on the side of a building or on a mailbox — they were everywhere.

What’s your go-to Sweet Cow order?

It’s an impossible question. It was Oatmeal Cookie with hot fudge for a while, but I also love the Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Cinnamon, Vermont Maple Walnut, Ginger Snap Molasses — and it just keeps going.

What’s your most popular flavor?

Cookies and Cream, hands down. Most cookies and cream recipes are simply vanilla ice cream with Oreos thrown in at the end. We sprinkle our Oreos throughout, from the first minute, in the middle and again at the very end. If you get a bite without a cookie, it still tastes like a cookie.

What advice would you give those looking to start their own business?

Starting your own business should be something that gives you purpose every day and not about money. A decision based on finances may hinder one’s ability to find success, create the best work environment and service the community and its customers. Be passionate about what you’re exploring in this adventure.

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Photos by Maureen O'Neill

Drew Honness turned a college ice cream job into a thriving Colorado business, Sweet Cow, known for its quality flavors, community focus, and loyal following.

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Kevin Fitzgerald: Vet, Comedian and CU Legend

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:48:02 +0000

Kevin Fitzgerald: Vet, Comedian and CU Legend Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:48

Sophia McKeown

Kevin Fitzgerald (EPOBio’73; MBio’78, PhD’82) is a bit like Forrest Gump — always in the right place at the right time. He joined CU’s swim team in 1969 and began working as a bouncer at The Sink and Tulagi to put himself through school. From there, he worked security for rock bands like the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. Eventually, he dedicated his life to veterinary medicine and starred on the reality show Emergency Vets, which ran for 11 seasons on Animal Planet and was filmed at his Denver veterinary practice. Kevin also found a passion for stand-up comedy and has opened for George Lopez and Joan Rivers.

In his new memoir, It Started With a Turtle, Kevin recounts these sometimes strange and always interesting experiences, starting with his days at ��ɫ��Ƶ.

Tell us about your memoir. What do you hope readers, especially CU grads, take away from it?

I decided to use the COVID-19 pandemic time to get all my stories down on paper. I hope any CU students reading it would take away this: Your education doesn’t end with graduation. Your life is just beginning, and you should never be afraid to try new things.

As someone who’s worn so many hats — vet, comedian, author, conservationist — what is the common thread that has guided your career?

I have learned we weren’t put here to be sad, and we must live life to suck the orange dry! If we do anything, we should do it well and put a bow on it. The common thread is that love and kindness save the day. Always.

Of all the animals you’ve worked with over the years, which is your favorite?

I love anything with a heartbeat. However, I have to say I have a special feeling for turtles.

Looking back on your time at ��ɫ��Ƶ, how did the university shape the path you’ve taken?

I came through Boulder during a special time, but I would have to think that anyone’s college years are special. The professors and instructors that mentored me at ��ɫ��Ƶ helped mold me into who I am and what I have become. They have stayed with me in how I live and how I act with others.

How do you find the courage to try so many new things?

We have to be fearless. What are we afraid of? Failing. Failing is how we learn; failing is how we grow. If we always play it safe, there is little reward. We have to take a chance, and we have to put it out there. Once in a while, sometimes, we win one. But we never win if we don’t play.

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Photos courtesy Kevin Fitzgerald

Kevin Fitzgerald shares his adventurous life journey from working as a bouncer for rock legends to becoming a celebrated veterinarian, comedian and author of a memoir.

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Alumni Association News

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:11:20 +0000

Alumni Association News Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:11

This April, 145 Forever Buffs attended Alumni Weekend, a three-day event that included lunch at The Sink, a hike at Chautauqua, a tour of the university’s Media Archeology Lab and dinner in downtown Boulder. Current students attended several events to share about their ��ɫ��Ƶ experiences.

“Sko Forever Buffs! What a fun and fabulous weekend with local and out-of-town alums,” said Phil Caragol (Comm’75) on social media. “Let’s do it again in 2026!”

The Alumni Association also hosted a special recognition ceremony for the classes of 2020, 2015, 1985 and 1975.

Next year, Alumni Weekend will include the Alumni Awards Ceremony, which previously took place during Homecoming Weekend. The annual ceremony is the second-longest-running tradition on campus and celebrates the outstanding achievements of CU Buffs. The 2025 award winners will be announced this fall.

Visit the Alumni Association website for more information.

Celebrate at Away Games

Buffs Bashes are the ultimate away-game tailgates, uniting hundreds of CU football fans. Hosted by the Office of the President, Office of the Chancellor, Advancement and CU Athletics, these events feature the CU Spirit Squad and concession-style food and drinks. Buffs Bashes occur before every away game near the opponent’s stadium. The events are free, but registration is required.

Learn more about the Buffs Bashes.

Mentorship Opportunities

Grow your professional skills and make a lasting impact on fellow Buffs through the Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program. Access free mentoring or sign up to mentor alumni and students. The program runs from October through May, with options to meet online or in person. Participants receive training and invitations to program events.

You can also mentor incoming ��ɫ��Ƶ students through the Alumni Guide Program to help ease their transition to college. The program supports two calls with an incoming student: one before classes begin and one six weeks into the semester. The first six weeks of college are a critical time, and mentorship helps lend your best support and advice.

Find out more about the mentorship programs.

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Photo by Paul Wedlake

Alumni Weekend hike at Chautauqua Park.

2026 Roaming Buffs Trips

The Panama Canal, Pearl Islands and Darién Jungle

Jan. 9–16, 2026

Antarctica Discovery

Jan. 9–20, 2026

Treasures of Peru

Jan. 26–Feb. 5, 2026

Patagonia Explorer

Feb. 7–20, 2026

Journey to Southern Africa

Feb. 17–March 3, 2026

For more information about these trips, visit the Roaming Buffs webpage.

The Alumni Awards Ceremony moves to Alumni Weekend.

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Love Rekindled at CU's Homecoming

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:10:33 +0000

Love Rekindled at CU's Homecoming Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:10

April Driver

For most Buffs, Homecoming is a celebration of friendship, college memories and campus life. But for Laura Williams (A&S ex’87) and Randy Royther (Econ’88), ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Homecoming sparked something special — a rekindled love story.

It all began in the fall of 1984. Williams, part of the Delta Gamma sorority, met Royther at a college party.

“He flung open the door and said, ‘Hello, I’m home,’” Williams recalled with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Who is that? I’m interested.’”

The spark was instant. They dated throughout their sophomore year until things got too serious for then-20-year-old Royther.

“When she mentioned marriage potential, I panicked and broke it off,” he said.

Heartbroken, Williams transferred to San Diego State, leaving Boulder and Royther behind.

They lost touch for over 30 years. At Homecoming in 2017, Royther and Williams ran into each other at a tailgate party.

“All of a sudden, someone says, ‘Randy Royther, are you really going to walk by and not say hello?’” Royther recalled.

It was Williams. The couple still had friends in common and spent the weekend with their old college crew. At that time, both were still married. But in 2019, the couple attended Homecoming again. One was widowed, and the other was divorcing. This time, their reunion developed into more than just friendship.

“We looked at each other and said, ‘Should we try this again?’” Williams said.

They’ve been together since and got engaged this past March.

They live on separate coasts, with Royther residing in Pennsylvania and Williams living in California. The couple frequently makes trips to visit each other.

“We already have plans for Homecoming this year,” Williams said. “It’s where we fell in love — twice.”

Plan your visit for Homecoming 2025, Oct. 30–Nov. 1, and see how your Buffs story unfolds.

Share your own CU love story

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Photos courtesy Randy Royther and Laura Williams

Two former college sweethearts reunite at a ��ɫ��Ƶ homecoming event, sparking a second chance at love decades after their first.

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