Letters to the Editor

Earlier in the fall, I was visited by Mike Brown, who had uncovered a letter to the editor written by his mother, Mary Miniter, but never sent. Going through his mother's belongings following her death last year, Brown came across the letter tucked inside the Fall 2004 issue of Seattle University Magazine. The cover story, "Making Her story"—which focused on the maverick women who shaped Seattle University— was of particular interest to Mary, who was among the first women to attend SU when it began to admit women in the early 1930s. Below is that letter.  -Tina Potterf

It is great fun to read the Seattle University Magazine and follow the changes that have occurred since I first came to the old Seattle College in 1933. I read with great interest [the article on] Jane Prouty in the Fall 2004 issue about women, "Making Her story," at Seattle U. Jane and I went through Holy Names together. We were friends and I was happy to see her name. I thought I would fill in some of the missing pieces.

Seattle College had always been a men's college. The only women were the off-campus nursing students at Providence Hospital and they were mostly nuns. The college decided to admit women as regular students for the fall quarter of 1933. Five women were admitted. They included me (Mary Brandmeir), Betty McConnell and Mary McMullen.

I don't know which of us registered first, but there were five of us that first quarter. The second quarter there were eight. And by the third quarter, there were 25 women.

There was some controversy about admitting women. At first the 96 men at Seattle College were not pleased that we had invaded their territory, but that soon changed. By spring quarter, we were all getting along fine.

I had planned to attend the University of Washington, but Father John Prange met with my mother and explained how that might not be the place for a young graduate of Holy Names Academy. So my plans were changed. As a result, I helped make history at Seattle University.

Being in the first group of women at Seattle College was quite an experience. Truth be known, the ratio of men to women was very much in our favor and we had a pretty good time that year.

Our winter cover story on love found at Seattle University had special meaning for a number of readers, who shared their own stories online. Here are some of those comments: 

Jeremy Corwin, '93, and Laurie (Roshak) Corwin, '93, met their freshman year on the first day in Winnie Guy's calculus class and married six days after graduation. Nine children later, Laurie says Jeremy "is still my best friend. It was the best thing that ever happened to me at SU!"

Butch, '69, and Marilyn Hrnicek, '68, met at a sock-hop in the gymnasium in November 1965, and married June 1968.

Michael Lowenstein, '64, and Lonnie Veeder, '65, married May 15, 1965. The couple met in the Chieftain in 1961 and, according to Lonnie, was inseparable thereafter. Mike worked as an underwriter in insurance for 10 years, went back to SU to get a degree in psychology and then became a social worker/supervisor for DSHS. Lonnie became a teacher for the Northshore School District. The couple raised two daughters. Unfortunately, Mike, died in 1997, while waiting for a lung transplant. Lonnie's marital advice: "Cherish the moments and fill the moments with love. Time passes quickly and your life as a couple will end before you are ready." Lonnie would love to hear from anyone who knew her and Mike during their days at SU.

Andrea Albenesius, '92, and Rookie Gleich, '93, met at SU while playing basketball for the Chieftains. Says Andrea, "We became best friends after graduation, and that friendship blossomed into true love so we decided to become teammates for life." They married at the Chapel of St. Ignatius in August 2001, with many of their SU friends and teammates cheering them on. "God has blessed us with two beautiful boys, Treyson and Ryan. And, if they are fortunate to get their mom's basketball talent, they may one day play for the Redhawks," Andrea says.

Juliana, '00, and Brian Stachurski, '00, were married at the Chapel of St. Ignatius June 17, 2000, by Father Stephen Sundborg and with Juliana's parents and grandparents [Jeannie and Dayton Balinbin, '78, and George and Rita Krsak, '47] in attendance to receive a special blessing honoring the three generations of SU marriages.

Derek Dunn, '67, and Kathie Fennell Dunn (attended through 1965) met and married while at Seattle University and have been married 45 years. The couple, now retired, lives in Portland, Ore.

Daniel Bootz, '03, and Jeanne Ryan, '03, '06 MIT, met during orientation and dated all four years of college. They were married in the Chapel of St. Ignatius the weekend after graduation, on June 21, 2003, and now live in Madison, Wis., with their daughter, Esme. Another baby is due in July. "I am so grateful that SU brought my husband and me together," says Jeanne.

Elizabeth (Cox), '98, and Daniel Murray, '98, met at SU in 1994, and married in 1998. They have two children, Ryan and Julia, and live in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Enjoyed the spring issue of Seattle University Magazine, particularly the school pride article. Recalling the Chieftain’s glory days was great fun, especially the team Elgin Baylor led to the NCAA finals, the Super Bowl of college basketball. Certainly a source of pride. I feel a profound pride in having attended an institution that can change a person and provide a foundation for the balance of one’s life. My story is somewhat different from most.

I was on my own at age 15. Went to sea as a merchant seaman. Had other entry-level jobs. Was drafted during the Korean War and discharged Dec. 8, 1952. I attended my first class at SU Jan. 5, 1953. I naturally had trepidation. After all, I was entering a territory foreign to me filled with people obviously much smarter than myself. But after four years at SU I emerged with a BCS, selection to Who’s Who among students in American universities and colleges. I was president of the Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi and was recruited on campus by General Electric Company where I spent almost 30 years experiencing a successful, rewarding career. Moreover, during 1959, I took an educational leave from GE and was accepted as a teaching assistant by the University of Washington, where I earned an MBA. Not bad for a street kid from the docks of Seattle. All I can say is thank you so very much, Seattle University.

Just a note of condolence and appreciation for the late Joseph Gallucci [In Memoriam, Spring 2011]: I had the honor of taking one or two classes from him back in the early 1970s, when he was a professor in the music department.

First of all, he was a brilliant instructor and talented pianist. When he taught music history, he knew his material inside and out; he rarely ever referred to notes when he lectured,
nd his insight into the construction of music made you stop and listen.

And once in a while, during class, he would sit at the piano and play whatever came to mind. One morning he had heard a song on the radio as he commuted to campus from Tacoma. Somehow, the song excited him enough that he just had to sit down and play it on the piano. The song was the theme from the film, Love Story. First, he played it the way he heard it and then in a variety of musical styles. That day it sounded as if he had been playing this song for a long time.

Secondly, he had to have been the sharpest, most dapper-looking man on campus, well-groomed, nails manicured, suits and ties classically styled with matching socks and well-shined shoes. But then he decided teaching music was no longer a personal challenge. He would go to law school and become a lawyer.

Dr. Gallucci was a simple and brilliant man, a very exciting, social and decent human being and a great teacher. Thanks for the opportunity to express my appreciation for Dr. Gallucci.