Generation Next
April 01, 2010
By Leigh Perkins Brown
Can a college receive any higher compliment than having multiple generations of a family fall in love with it?
“I feel very deeply and passionately about Rollins,” said John Attwell ’80, whose daughter, Petersen, is a first-year student at Rollins. “I wanted Petersen to experience it and I do hope one of my children’s children will go to Rollins too. It’s a great tradition.”
The Attwells are one of a long line of families who have sent multiple generations to Rollins. Approximately 9 percent of first-year students at four-year colleges are legacies. Rollins’ rate is slightly higher at 13 percent. “That so many Rollins families want to continue their relationship with their college is an exceptional point of pride,” said Rollins president Lewis Duncan.
“The commitment of legacy families is a vibrant thread in the life of the College,” said Elizabeth Francetic, director of alumni relations. Parents of legacy students, for example, may provide additional financial support and often serve their alma mater in various ways, including as members of the Alumni Association board, the Board of Trustees, the Parents Council, and the President’s Leadership Council.
Alumni with a historic tie to a college—especially those with a cross-generational relationship to the school—are also enthusiastic recruiters. And, students who have a personal connection to the campus bring feeling of loyalty, tradition, and identity to the student body.
“I love having the sense that I’m walking right where my dad walked, where my brother walked,” said first-year student Elisabeth Flynn, whose brother, Robert, is a 2010 graduate and whose father, Dan, is an alumnus. “I love that we all did this together, even though it was a generation apart.”
“It’s an extraordinary phenomenon,” said President Duncan. “Each generation sees the College through its own lens and forms its own memories, but they all share their affection for Rollins.”
Daniel Flynn ’80 ’83 MBA, son Robert ’10, & daughter Elisabeth ’13
Dan Flynn says returning to Rollins is almost an out-of-body experience. “It’s all right there, all those good times. I have to catch myself when I start reminiscing too much with my kids. I want them to make their own memories.” Elisabeth and Robert are on it, full-time.
Hometown: Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Majors: Business (Dan); economics (Robert); psychology or education (Elisabeth)
Origin of the legacy: It was a fluke: A good friend of Coach Boyd Coffie ’59 ’64MAT ate at Dan’s father’s restaurant in Lenox, Mass. and told Dan he should look into Rollins if he was interested in playing baseball (he made the team as a walk-on and played all four years). (Dan’s sister, Sheri Flynn ’86, and her husband, Phil Baruch ’87, also graduated from Rollins.)
Legacy pressure? Dad exerted no coercion, but he was “more than happy” when they got into Rollins.
Biggest change in 30 years: “The tuition,” Dan joked. “As a full-pay parent of two students, I definitely wish the tuition was the same as it was 30 years ago.”
Common bond: The cafeteria staff. “I had a great relationship with the cafeteria staff, which came in handy when we had ‘steak’ night every Friday. When I returned 25 years later with Robert, a couple of the same folks were still working there and actually remembered me. Both my kids have taken the time to be nice to the cafeteria staff and that can provide some nice benefits when you want an extra dessert!”
Generation gap: “My kids are connected 24/7 to their friends. In my day we had more down time to relax. There was no technology to hunt you down,” Dan said.
Sweet spot: Dock on the lake behind McKean Hall (Dan); the Alfond Pool (Robert); Dianne’s Café in the Rice Family Bookstore (Elisabeth)
Flashback: Elisabeth’s Introduction to Theatre professor was Charles Rodgers, who also taught her father the same course 30 years ago.
Token from home: Robert and Elisabeth only took dad’s stories with them, which Dan believes makes them feel more connected to Rollins’ history.
The workaday: Senior vice president for People’s United Bank (Dan); “I already got a job with Fidelity Investments as an investment banker.” (Robert); working with children as either a psychologist or teacher (Elisabeth)
Unforgettable: “Beating Florida Southern. Boyd Coffie wanted it to happen so badly and we did it. That’s about as memorable as it gets.” (Dan); “Fox Day, definitely—heading to the beach and then having the barbecue on the lawn.” (Robert); “Discovering my professor knew about my dad in such detail and remembered him so well all these years later. That really stuck with me.” (Elisabeth)
Gregory Derderian ’80 & son Garrett ’12
When asked how he feels returning to campus not only as an alum, but also as a parent, Greg Derderian has a quick reply: “Jealous.” Now that his son is a student, Greg sees how much more the school has to offer. “It was a great school back in the day,” he said, “but now it’s a better place, a better education. These kids, they’re living the life.”
Hometown: Johns Creek, Georgia
Majors: Business administration (Greg); economics (Garrett)
Origin of the legacy: Greg’s father taught in the Hamilton Holt School and he grew up in Maitland, so he knew about the school early on.
Legacy pressure? “I never wanted to go to a big school,” Garrett said. “I went to Wofford College in South Carolina my freshman year. I decided it was a little too regional for me, so I transferred to Rollins. My family didn’t pressure me to come here, but I know they are happy with my decision.”
Biggest change in 30 years: Renovations and upgrades of the grounds, athletic facilities, and dorms (Greg)
Common bond: Salmon fishing in Alaska
Generation gap: Greg admits to not grasping Garrett’s resistance to picking up a phone to call.
Sweet spot: The Alfond Pool (Greg and Garrett)
Flashback: Greg always points to various buildings on campus to relate glory-days stories to Garrett—especially of the late great Pub.
The workaday: Partner with Ernst & Young in the financial services advisory business (Greg); after completing an internship, perhaps a career in real estate (Garrett)
Unforgettable: Freshman year Hell Night, when “we had a scavenger hunt that had to include getting thrown into jail; the cops obliged us by putting us in the drunk tank.” (Greg); “The professors are always there when you need them. They make themselves so available to us that I actually have their home phone numbers.” (Garrett)
Margaret Banks Czekaj ’77 & daughter Katie ’10
The post office made no profit from the Czekaj family the year Katie applied to colleges: she mailed out one, and only one, application—to Rollins. With her mom and two brothers, Andrew ’05 ’07MBA and William ’09, all alums, she knew Rollins was the only place for her.
Hometown: Naples, Florida, by way of Virginia
Majors: Studio art and education (Margaret); environmental studies (Katie)
Origin of the legacy: Margaret was a student at Menlo College when her father visited Rollins as a graduation speaker (he worked for Time Inc.). The rest is family and Rollins history.
Legacy pressure? “No, I knew from the beginning that Rollins was the place for me,” Katie said. “If I hadn’t gotten in, I would have been very upset.”
Biggest change in 30 years: Study-abroad opportunities (Katie went to the Galápagos and the Andes—“Those trips changed me as a person,” she said.)
Common bond: Horses (Katie, who learned to ride from her mom, became one of the top show riders in Virginia.)
Generation gap: Technology (“Katie would probably consider me to be technologically disabled,” Margaret said.)
Sweet spot: Studio in the art department (Margaret); Kappa Delta house (Katie)
Flashback: Both took a course taught by communication professor Carolyn Planck, 30 years apart.
Token from home: Gold bracelet with charms to commemorate important events in Katie’s life, given to her by her mom
The workaday: Selling her paintings for charity (Margaret); maybe an MBA after graduation (Katie)
Unforgettable: “The professors—they were all so excellent.” (Margaret); “The friends I’ve made. I’ll be friends with them for life.” (Katie)
Odile Perez ’06 (r) & cousin Ingrid Atiles ’10
Odile Perez had just graduated but was still working for the Office of Multicultural Affairs when her cousin started her first year at Rollins, allowing them to see each other often on the campus they’d both grown to love.
Hometown: Odile is from Rhode Island (she was born in the Dominican Republic) and Ingrid is from Florida (she was born in Puerto Rico).
Majors: International business & Spanish (Odile); psychology (Ingrid)
Origin of the legacy: Odile’s uncle worked in catering at Rollins and insisted she visit the campus, sure that she would fall in love with it. She did.
Legacy pressure? “I would say she guided me,” Ingrid said. “My cousin was always inviting me to visit when I was in high school and she made it seem pretty attractive.” Odile admits to a little gentle sales pressure because she was convinced Ingrid would flourish at Rollins.
Biggest change in four years? More diversity. (Both Ingrid and Odile said Rollins’ commitment to a diverse student body is more reflective of our society and an issue close to their hearts.)
Common bond: Their grandmother (Odile calls her the most inspirational person in their lives). They also share a commitment to improving the Hispanic community.
Sweet spot: The Olin Library (Ingrid, because she liked to study in the soundproof rooms; Odile, because she found the quiet of the fourth floor relaxing)
Flashback: Odile was visiting with a former professor, who showed her an exceptional project by one of her current students—none other than Odile’s cousin, Ingrid. Since they don’t share the same last name, the prof had no idea they were related.
The workaday: Earning her graduate degree at the London School of Economics while working on global development issues for a British NGO (Odile); after Rollins, pursuing a PhD in psychology (Ingrid)
Unforgettable: Camp Alliance rope course day, the first day on campus—“From the onset, it made me feel empowered and like I was part of a community.” (Odile); Fox Day!—“My one worry about studying abroad [in Australia] was that I would miss Fox Day.” (Ingrid)
Robert Ourisman, Sr. ’78 & son Robert Ourisman, Jr. ’12
Robert Ourisman, Sr. had a very simple philosophy about his son Robert’s Big Decision to apply to Rollins: “If your kids are happy, their grades are more likely to be good, so it’s a smart idea to have them at a school where they’re having a great time.”
Hometown: Washington, DC
Majors: Business & economics (Robert Sr.); economics (Robert Jr.)
Origin of the legacy: Robert Sr. transferred from a business school in Boston for the warmth of Rollins, where his older brother, Johnny ’75, was enrolled. Robert Jr.’s mother, Eugenia Castleman, also attended Rollins in the ’70s.
Legacy pressure? “My dad’s obviously a big advocate, but it was really a last-minute decision for me. After I got accepted to all the big schools, I realized that I wanted a small school, so I took a chance, applying to Rollins after the deadline had passed,” Robert Jr. said.
Biggest change in 30 years: “That I’m not a 20-year-old student any more!” Robert Sr. joked, adding that he admires the school’s advances in “global” education.
Common bond: Golf, skiing, and Jamaica, where the Ourismans have long had a vacation home
Generation gap: “Real-time technology has taken some of the innocence away from these kids,” Robert Sr. said. “But it’s also helped this generation be more global and sophisticated in their thinking.”
Sweet spot: X-Club (Robert Sr.); Sutton Place Apartments (Robert Jr.)
Flashback: “There’s nothing bittersweet about visiting the campus. It’s all sweet. No bitter.” (Robert Sr.)
Token from home: Dad’s X-Club T-shirt (although Robert Jr. ended up pledging Phi Delt)
The workaday: Operating the family’s auto dealerships with his brothers (Robert Sr.); possibly joining the family business (Robert Jr.)
Unforgettable: First day on campus, hanging out at the X-Club with his older brother: “I was thinking, ‘It’s real. I’m really here.’” (Robert Sr.); bid day for Phi Delt: “It was exciting to get the one I wanted and to be part of their traditions.” (Robert Jr.)
John T. Attwell ’80 & daughter Petersen ’13
Building up your alma mater to your child has its risks, but John Attwell was unreserved in his praise of Rollins, feeling certain that if his daughter chose the school, the experience would be as rewarding for her as it had been for him. Petersen says Rollins “totally exceeded my expectations” in just one semester, so it appears father knew best.
Hometown: Carmel, California
Majors: Political science (both John and Petersen)
Origin of the legacy: A sister of a friend from Houston, where John grew up, was a senior at Rollins when he was a senior in high school, so he made a weekend visit and felt like he’d come home.
Legacy pressure? “None. I knew from the second I walked on campus it was where I belonged,” Petersen said.
Biggest change in 30 years: “Ancient campus buildings have been replaced with more modern facilities,” said John, who gives credit to campus administrators as “incredible stewards of the Rollins tradition, yet improving all the time.”
Common bond: Music (Petersen was a radio DJ for three years and introduced her father to her generation’s music; in turn she came to appreciate his music, even signing off her final show with “Baba O’Riley” by The Who)
Generation gap: “Petersen and I are great friends, so we understand a lot about each other’s generations,” John said.
Sweet spot: The benches behind McKean (both John and Petersen)
Flashback: “We learned not to touch Mystery Meat at Beans, but we really looked forward to steak night on Fridays,” John said. “Students don’t realize how well they eat compared to our day.”
Token from home: Dad’s vintage Rollins beach chair
The workaday: Founder of Attwell & Co., investment fund (John); law school might be an option (Petersen)
Unforgettable: Hoyt Edge’s graduation speech imploring students to make sure that whatever they did in life, they enjoyed it (John); Orientation, making six fast friends—“something my dad always said happened at Rollins for him, but I never expected to happen for me.” (Petersen)
Bailey Johnson Schuerer ’78 & daughter Allie ’10
Even with hilarious stories about her mom’s college days (did you know the Phi Delts used to steal the Kappas’ mattresses and put them on the roof?), Allie Schuerer never thought she’d be a Tar. But the coincidence of a dorm-room assignment and parallel experiences separated by three decades suggest that some legacies were just meant to be.
Hometown: Washington, DC
Majors: Elementary education (both Bailey and Allie)
Origin of the legacy: Many of Bailey’s friends from the DC area went to Rollins and she followed suit. She still gets together with more than a dozen of them.
Legacy pressure? “I didn’t even want to look at Rollins just because my mom went there,” Allie said. But the warm weather, beautiful campus, and feeling that she knew the ins and outs of Rollins from her mom clinched her decision.
Biggest change in 30 years: “Where’s the pub?” Bailey said. “I go downstairs to order a Miller Lite and a cheeseburger and I walk out with a book. It just does not feel right!”
Common bond: They’re both Kappas.
Generation gap: “The one thing I will never understand about Allie’s generation is their obsession with expensive designer handbags and shoes!” Bailey said.
Sweet spot: The Pub (Bailey); outside of Dianne’s Café (Allie)
Flashback: Allie’s room in Ward Hall her first year was the very room her mother lived in 30 years ago (when it was called New Women’s Dormitory).
Token from home: Allie took Bailey’s L.L. Bean tote bag (with the initials ABJ) to Rollins; Bailey had also used it when she was a student. Allie also took Bailey’s Kappa key when she was initiated into the sorority.
The workaday: Running her firm, Capital Financial Advisors (Bailey); after student teaching and graduation, teaching elementary school (Allie)
Unforgettable: “The incredible friends I made, lifetime friends.” (Bailey); “Fox Day. It’s such a good time.” (Allie)
Lenny Barrett ’11HH & son Michael ’13
They’re a tandem legacy—Lenny and Michael Barrett, a mother and son experiencing Rollins at the same time. She’s at the Hamilton Holt School and he’s in the full-time Arts & Sciences program, and they both share a passion for the mission of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Hometown: Orlando (Lenny was born on Java to Chinese parents and speaks Indonesian and Sudanese, in addition to English; she plans to study Mandarin.)
Majors: International affairs (Lenny); environmental studies (Michael)
Origin of the legacy: Michael liked Rollins’ small class sizes and the feel of the campus, and was attacted by the sustainable development minor. He inspired his mom to return to school in the Hamilton Holt School evening program (she has a degree in English as a foreign language from an Indonesian university and needs 12 credits to earn a BA from Holt; at an average of two classes a semester to accommodate her work schedule, she plans to graduate at the same time as Michael).
Biggest difference in their experiences? “I don’t have time to hang out on campus,” said Lenny, who teaches yoga at the local YMCA and Gaylord Palms Resort. “Michael lives on campus, so he is really a part of everything that goes on. And Holt students are probably a little more serious about homework and getting our assignments in on time, but we have to have good time management because we’re all working people.”
Common bond: An infuriatingly efficient metabolic system—“My mom is 4 foot 9 and a size 2, and I can eat almost anything without much worry, and people say it’s unfair—like we have a supermetabolism,” Michael said. It probably helps that they both practice yoga and Lenny has been a dancer and martial artist for most of her life.
Sweet spot: Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). Sponsored by OMA, Lenny teaches a weekly relaxation course for Rollins faculty and staff and Michael works in the office, helping to organize events such as a dialogue about multiracial families (Lenny was a guest speaker).
Token from home: Tingsha bells from Tibet, a reminder of Michael’s Asian heritage and also of yoga sessions from last summer (Mother and son were in a televised yoga class with Rollins alumna Dawn Marie Marzlock ’87.)
Workaday: Working toward the 500 hours required to enhance her credentials as a registered yoga instructor and perhaps studying Eastern philosophy at the graduate level (Lenny); undecided, but he may go into urban planning or landscape ecology (Michael)
Unforgettable: Getting to know the OMA staff—they are really wonderful people. (Lenny); “First day back to campus from winter break—it was great just to hang out with my friends. We walked down Park Avenue and to Winter Park Village.” (Michael)
Patrick McTigue ’99 (l) & nephews Daniel ’08 (r) and Mac Jacobs ’13
Sometimes a family legacy is more than just a tradition—it’s a physical gift to the school to be enjoyed by generations. Such is the case for Mac Jacobs, who can relax on the terrace his grandparents donated to Rollins, just like his brother, Dan, and uncle, Patrick McTigue, did before him.
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale (Dan lives in Boston now)
Majors: International business (Patrick); economics (Daniel); chemistry (Mac)
Origin of the legacy: Patrick’s father (Mac and Dan’s grandfather) donated the sculpture Barbaric and the R. Emmett & M. Diana McTigue Sculpture Terrace in front of the Cornell Campus Center.
Legacy pressure? When they were little, Dan and Mac visited Rollins for the sculpture donation ceremony and the idea of Rollins was planted in their minds, but mostly Dan wanted to go because Patrick had been there and Mac wanted to go because both Dan and Patrick had been there.
Biggest change in 15 years: “The renovations of Beans, the gymnasium, and the Cornell Campus Center have been astounding,” Patrick said.
Common bond: All three have held office in Chi Psi (Mac is vice president; Dan and Patrick were both president in their day.)
Generation gap: Mac is living his Rollins experience, while Dan and Patrick have to make do with “reliving it when we visit and then we have to shake our heads and get back on the plane to go back to our real lives. Those were the four best years ever,” Dan said.
Sweet spot: Chi Psi house (Patrick, Dan, and Mac)
Flashback: All three lived in the same room at the Chi Psi Lodge (they all spent the night together there when Pat and Dan visited Mac on campus this spring).
The workaday: Operations manager for United Rentals and realtor (Patrick); sales rep for Jeld-Wen windows and doors (Dan); probably grad school for a PhD in chemistry to work in pharmaceuticals (Mac)
Unforgettable: “Fox Day—total euphoria to have an extra free day.” (Patrick); “Fox Day—having a party with the girls at the Lodge first, going to the beach in a limo, and having the barbecue afterwards.” (Dan); “I always wanted to go to Rollins. I love the campus, love the people, love the professors.” (Mac)
Brad Lang ’82 & daughter Lexie ’11
As an alum, Brad Lang looks to Rollins’ past with fondness, but it is Rollins’ mission for the future that is most important to him as a parent. He’s confident his daughter’s education at Rollins is preparing her for the “rest of the wide world, because that’s where her future life will be.”
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Majors: Economics (both Brad and Lexie)
Origin of the legacy: “I was attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and it happened to be the winter with the most snow since the Civil War.” Transferring to Rollins was a rather easy choice, Brad said. His father attended the Hamilton Holt School and his youngest daughter, Lyndsey, starts Rollins in the fall, in Lexie’s senior year.
Legacy pressure? “I applied early decision to the University of Miami, but then changed my mind. But the great thing was my dad never pressured me either way. He just helped me decide if a big school or a small school was the better choice for me,” Lexie said.
Biggest change in 30 years: How much it’s changed for the better, Brad said—especially in its mission to educate global citizens.
Common bond: Travel (From the mountains of North Carolina to the Sistine Chapel, they’ve visited sites together in more than 10 countries.)
Generation gap: “Twitter and Facebook and all the information that one freely puts out there for the whole world to see is anathema to my way of thinking,” Brad said. “Dad wishes when he went to school they would have pushed study abroad more,” Lexie said. “I’m going to study for six weeks in Italy over the summer and he never got the chance to do that kind of thing.”
Sweet spot: The Pub (Brad); Chi Omega house lounge (Lexie)
Flashback: Both Lexie and her younger sister were baptized in Knowles Memorial Chapel.
Tokens from home: The obligatory Rollins sweatshirt and shorts and “a lot of stories,” Lexie said.
The workaday: Practicing law at his own firm (Brad); after Crummer for her MBA (she’s in the 3/2 program), maybe work in the fashion industry in Italy (Lexie)
Unforgettable: “One of my business professors senior year told us to take advantage of what’s available and seize opportunities, so I took the hour drive to the Space Coast to watch the Space Shuttle launch, which was amazing to experience up close.” (Brad); “The one-on-one attention from the faculty has been great. I always feel like someone is willing to help me if I need it.” (Lexie)
Frank ’79 and Jana Slavens Ricci ’80 & son Austin ’12
When asked how he feels returning to campus not only as an alum, but also as a parent, Greg Derderian has a quick reply: “Jealous.” Now that his son is a student, Greg sees how much more the school has to offer. “It was a great school back in the day,” he said, “but now it’s a better place, a better education. These kids, they’re living the life.”
Hometown: Winter Park
Majors: Business & economics (Frank); education & business administration (Jana); physics (Austin)
Origin of the legacy: Frank’s mom drove through the campus on a visit to Florida and he applied, sight unseen; Jana grew up in Winter Park and chose Rollins over faraway Montana State.
Legacy pressure? “I wanted to be close to my family. Family is huge for me,” Austin said. “They left the decision to me.”
Biggest change in 30 years: School spirit: “The sidelines at the baseball games were lined with people and the gym was packed for basketball games. It’s just not as rah-rah as it used to be,” Jana said.
Common bond: Sports (Frank was a Tars pitcher and went on to play six years of minor-league ball for the Yankees; Austin is on the lacrosse team.) and music (Jana loves music and Austin plays the guitar.)
Generation gap: Texting: Jana wonders if Austin’s generation will even remember how to communicate face to face.
Sweet spot: The Pub, “but you had to be there by 8 o’clock or you wouldn’t get a seat” (Jana & Frank); Hooker Hall or the gazebo behind the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (Austin)
Flashback: Jana’s parents hosted the entire basketball team for Thanksgiving and New Year’s for 16 years; now Jana and Frank arrange for barbecue to be smoking on the sidelines at Austin’s lacrosse games.
Token from home: Austin took his dad’s baseball cap with him.
The workaday: Commercial real estate and coaching girls’ lacrosse at Winter Park High (Frank); director of marketing for a Winter Park retirement community (Jana); finish undergrad first (Austin)
Unforgettable: “We’re losing 4 to 3 in the bottom of the ninth against Florida Southern and the smallest guy on our team is at bat, full count, fouls four of them, then hits a grand slam. Best day ever.” (Frank); “Back in the day we could drive our cars up to the baseball field and park along the right field side…and get a tan.” (Jana); “Joining Chi Psi. I really love all the guys in the fraternity, their whole principle of being gentlemen.” (Austin)
John Steele, Jr. ’75 & daughter Allie ’11
Tennis is the Steele family’s passion. So it’s no surprise that Allie, who was undefeated in high school, followed in her father’s footsteps to hold court for the Tars.
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Majors: Economics (John); international relations (Allie)
Origin of the legacy: A guidance counselor pointed John to Rollins, thinking it would be a good tennis school for him (he played on the team all four years).
Legacy pressure? “My Dad is one of the most important people in my life and he’s on the alumni board, so I knew I’d get to see him if I went to Rollins,” Allie said. “That made the decision pretty easy.”
Biggest change in 30 years: “The academics keep improving. It’s much more challenging than when I was there,” John said.
Common bond: Tennis (Like her dad, Allie is also a member of the Tars tennis team.)
Generation gap: Facebook—“Although I’d be willing to give it a try,” John said.
Sweet spot: Tennis courts (John and Allie)
Flashback: Allie’s tennis coach is Bev Buckley ’75, who played for the Tars at the same time as John.
Token from home: “A shared sense of adventure,” John said.
The workaday: Running his concrete and aggregate business, Hilltop Basic Resources (John); gaining some work experience before grad school (Allie)
Unforgettable: “Every day at Rollins was wonderful.” (John); “The professors really amaze me, how much interest they take in our success. My adviser comes to all of our tennis matches to support us.” (Allie)
William B. MacLean ’76 & daughter Grace ’12
When you grow up in snow-weary Minnesota, Rollins is hardly a tough sell. Even so, Bill MacLean was careful not to push Rollins on his daughter, Grace, who fell for the sunshine—and the small classes, the volleyball team, and Kappa Delta—with no undue influence from dad.
Hometown: Edina, Minnesota
Majors: Psychology (Bill); religion (Grace)
Origin of the legacy: Bill transferred from Florida Presbyterian College when his sister, Katherine MacLean Swan ’77, enrolled at Rollins.
Legacy pressure? “I looked at other schools, but I kept comparing them to Rollins. It was ingrained in my memory and no other school compared,” Grace said.
Biggest change in 30 years: “The vision and strategic planning of the school’s leadership,” Bill said.
Common bond: Running and theology (it was a religion class with Dean Arnold Wettstein ’06H that planted the seed for Bill’s interest in faith; Grace calls Creston Davis’s Christianity: Thought & Practice a life-changing course)
Generation gap: Texting —“Why don’t they just give a call?” (Bill)
Sweet spot: The Pub or Harper’s (Bill); the Alfond Pool (Grace)
Flashback: Grace, who played on the volleyball team freshman year, runs a favorite route through a lakeside neighborhood near Rollins; Bill, who rowed on the crew team, used to run Genius Drive.
Token from home: Grace took all of Bill’s old holey crew shirts to Rollins—she wears them as pajamas.
The workaday: Ordained ministry, after retiring in May from a lifelong career as a CPA and institutional investor (Bill); Crummer for the MBA, part of the 3/2 program (Grace)
Unforgettable: “Rowing Lake Maitland and all the great friends, the closeness of the experience” (Bill); “One perfect sunny day” that included the Farmers’ Market and a pick-up game of volleyball on the sand court (Grace)
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