Thank you, UConn Nation, for letting us know that you loved reading our Spring special issue as much as we loved creating it (I guess it’s like childbirth — you forget the pain!). It was especially gratifying to hear that the 24-hour tour made you feel as if you were back on campus, whether your time here was a few years or many decades ago. Here’s a small sampling of the torrent of web, social media, mailed, emailed, and phoned-in comments on that and on our Fall issue (much love for Dan Orlovsky).
Letters are edited for clarity and length. Join the conversation at magazine.uconn.edu or email me at lisa.stiepock@uconn.edu.
Dan Orlovsky Is All In
Reading the Dan Orlovsky article reminds me of one of the worst predictions of my life. After getting my MBA at UConn, I was working for a cable TV company in Denver, Colorado. Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN, came to pitch us on his idea for a 24-hour sports network. I thought he was nuts. I grew up in Orange, Connecticut, and my father was a sports fanatic. My mother berated him for his infatuation with “those ball games.” I predicted ESPN would lead to divorces all over the country and fail.
Bill Fogarty ’73 MBA
Alpharetta, Georgia
He’s comes a long way since having life-size posters in dorm rooms all over campus! I love seeing Dan on ESPN.
Gigi Bennett
Reston, Virginia
Great article...it highlights and emphasizes so many of the important things of life...
@arinluke2
"This War Mattered"
Humbled to be part of the Afghanistan War Commission, and proud to be serving with fellow Huskies Jaime Cheshire and Jeffrey Dressler. We hope to bring some degree of closure, answers, insights, and recommendations following 20 years of war in Afghanistan. Thank you UConn for featuring us this month in your magazine, but also for giving us the education and skills to be able to do our part in contributing to this country’s national security processes.
Daniel P. Fata ’94 (CLAS)
Washington, D.C.
Tom's Trivia
Gampel is closer to the old orchard than I remembered. Across Hillside Road from the orchard, extending to Hawley Armory, were the track, athletic fields, and tennis courts. Directly across from the apple building was the baseball/football field. On baseball days we would rush from the Storrs Grammar School to the field hoping to be J.O. Christian's batboy. I usually ended up chasing foul balls that ended up in the orchard area. I do enjoy the UConn Magazine!
Quentin Kessel, Professor Emeritus
Storrs, Connecticut
Missed Connections
I am looking for the UConn alum in Michigan who honked at me several months ago, on I-94, who had a plate with UCONN 8. My plate is UCONN52.
William J. Vollano ’52
Ann Arbor, Michigan
24 Hours at the University of Connecticut
I just finished reading the Spring 2025 UConn Magazine and felt compelled to tell you how much I enjoyed it, how beautiful it was, and how it unexpectedly moved me. You managed to capture the beauty, energy, bigness, and at the same time smallness, of that special campus. The images and beautifully written captions transported me back to my time at UConn. The concept for this edition was so unique and well executed.
I could go on, but I'll just say that it left me with a tear in my eye and warmth in my heart for the nostalgia of Storrs. Thank you for creating such a lovely product!
Meryl Gersz ’14 (BUS)
Killingworth, Connecticut
What a terrific concept with dazzling creative content. The fabulous photographers captured campus life in all its myriad magical ways. And the pithy copy summarized how the UConn community innovates, creates, and exudes Huskyness (new word).
Meg Malmborg, former director of UConn's Lodewick Visitors Center
Hebron, Connecticut
This UConn magazine was the absolute best I’ve ever seen! Feelings of nostalgia and pride and a renewed desire to visit were overwhelming.
Dino DePellegrini ’82 (BUS)
Stafford Springs, Connecticut
Each turn of the page brought a new slice of the overall UConn experience or a description of what’s involved in maintaining the campus. Congratulations to the creative team that assembled this issue and especially to the photographers who captured the spirit of the messages.
Dave Armen ’76 (CLAS)
Niantic, Connecticut
Just got the 24-hour magazine and wanted to say thanks — it was much needed in these days when so much of the news seems bad. Seeing all the photos and the richness that is a day at UConn was really uplifting and surprisingly emotional — so thank you for that! What a great idea beautifully executed.
Daniel D. Burkey ’23 MA, professor and associate dean, College of Engineering
Middletown, Connecticut
The new issue of the magazine was captivating, interesting, so human, and brought back so much nostalgia for my alma mater and former employer, all of which is what the publication should do. Be proud!
John Sponauer ’92 (CLAS), ’10 MBA
Southington, Connecticut
This latest issue really brought on “the feels” for me. Even though it’s been nearly 40 years since I graduated from UConn, all the cherished memories came flooding back while turning the pages. Granted, the landscape has changed significantly since I attended, however that Husky pride came flooding forth and brought me right back to my days at Storrs. Thanks for putting out such a great edition of a great alumni magazine. Once a Husky, always a Husky!
K.C. Hendricks ’90 (CLAS) Wilton, Connecticut
I spent more time with this issue than I have with any past issue, and I found myself showing off various pages to my (non-Husky) husband with pride for the campus and for your work. I felt more connected to campus than I have in a long, long time thanks to you and your team. Brava, truly.
Melanie Deziel ’12 (CLAS)
Raleigh, North Carolina
Oh, how it has grown. Loved it there — wind blew across campus when it snowed, and no buses or bus booths. A real memory!
Leslie (St. Germain) Watson ’66 (ED)
Wethersfield, Connecticut
I graduated from UConn in 1978. I cannot believe how much the campus has grown. Holy smokes. It’s beautiful.
Sharon Vartanian ’78 (CLAS)
New Boston, New Hampshire
The 24 Hours at UConn is one of the coolest magazine issues I’ve ever read. Such a cool idea and so well executed. I read it to my 10-year-old son at bedtime and he loved it.
Matthew B. Carlson ’07 (BUS), ’08 MS
Westport, Connecticut
I just wanted to tell you how much many of us enjoyed the 24 Hours at UConn Magazine. It made us feel so good, we felt like we were back in time almost, and it just captured everything that we loved about UConn. This is something we will be saving.
Lorraine Valente ’73 (ED), ’79 MA
Windsor, Connecticut
If anyone in the world wants to understand the powerful magic of a 4-year university education, they should spend a minute with the latest issue of UConn Magazine. It was both enchanting and electrifying to read as the sun rose and set on a glorious institution. The beautiful photographs and spare but compelling prose spoke not only to the range of offerings at UConn, but to its quiet beauty, its raucous sprit, and its devotion to learning and community. Well done, UConn. A total triumph.
Deb (Pierson) Sawch ’80 (CLAS)
Westport, Connecticut
I picked up a copy of the 24-hour issue. It is first-rate. Vicki raked through it this morning and thought it marvelous — she is acerbically and brightly critical of many publications, but she raved about the 24 hours. What a good idea and how well done.
Samuel Pickering, Professor Emeritus
Storrs, Connecticut
Pickering was purportedly the inspiration for the teacher played by Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society.”
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