For some people it may be the first trip back to their alma maters in many years, while for others it will be one of many frequent visits to the campuses of Saint Vincent College and Seton Hill University where good memories always come rushing back. To celebrate the more than 600 Saint Vincent/Seton Hill marriages the “Union Reunion,” an informal gathering and reception for the couples, has been set for Friday and Saturday, July 18-19 at both institutions.

“There is a lot of excitement leading up to this event because of the number of Saint Vincent/Seton Hill couples who married between the 1940s and the 1980s,” commented Laurene Kristof, SHU’64, and Zoltan Kristof, SVC’63, co-chairpersons of the Union Reunion. The planning committee also includes: Richard, SVP’65, SVC’69, and Joanna, SHU’69, Stillwagon, Clyde, SVC’68, and Nancy, SHU’69, Smith, Tom, SVC’69, and Joyce, SHU’69, Kennedy and Alumni Directors Jim Bendel, SVC’60, and Ellen Greiner, SHU’59.

The Union Reunion begins at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18 at the Bishop Connare Center in Greensburg with a welcome back party. Saturday’s activities begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration at Seton Hill’s Alumni Center. Events at Seton Hill, including a prayer service at St. Joseph Chapel, brunch in Lowe dining room and tours, are scheduled between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Activities will begin at Saint Vincent College at 4 p.m., including Mass in Mary, Mother of Wisdom Chapel and a dinner in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.

“Couples will be traveling from across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico, California and Maryland,” Mrs. Kristof explained. “We think the draw, of course, is the opportunity to see friends from your era, and not just your classmates, at both schools. For some couples coming back is going to be a huge deal because so many people haven’t seen the significant changes that have taken place on both campuses.”

Prior to co-education at both institutions, Saint Vincent and Seton Hill collaboratively planned many events so that students could socialize with one another at dances, concerts, and fall and spring weekends. Students also participated in other activities together like theatre productions, Seton Hill girls cheering for Saint Vincent men’s basketball, and orientation. The Kristofs remembered students riding in buses that frequently traveled between the two campuses.

The hope is that the “Union Reunion” will become a regular event happening every few years. The deadline for registration is Thursday, July 3. For more information or to register contact the Kristofs at zoltanjk@comcast.net or either school’s alumni office.

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