By George S. Dominguez
Wilton (CT) High School 1981, University of Connecticut, 1985
While I’ve lived in the South for close to half of my life, I occasionally have the chance to return “home” to Connecticut to catch up with friends and family. I had one such opportunity this fall, and really got my money’s worth—indeed, it never ceases to amaze me what a great place relatively tiny Connecticut is, and how fortunate I am to have grown up and gone to high school and college there.
I learned and learned how to learn in Connecticut, a blessing and a gift that continues--still.
High School class reunions evoke a whole range of emotions for people, and as one of the organizers of mine I constantly learn new things about my school, my classmates and the different way we view things. Deep into our 40’s, a very small amount of adolescent tension remains, sure--but we all seem to genuinely enjoy each other’s company. There’s a bond one develops with childhood friends and classmates that sticks with most of us forever, and perhaps my class has a particularly strong one: we have lost 16 of about 335 classmates in the thirty years since we graduated in 1981-- including one since our reunion in October.(Ugh. Not good. As one classmate put what I’m sure is this above average oddity, “Frankly, it’s a bit unnerving”).
Nevertheless, there we all were, reveling in each other’s company, laughing about old times and, at least for a few hours, forgetting the downside to the challenges of life in America in 2011. There was little pretense, and everybody seemed to have a “we’re-all-in-this-together” spirit that I found extremely comforting and, yes, even a tad inspiring.I am indeed a proud member of the Wilton (CT) High School Class of 1981.
We said our goodbyes, and having downed my first huge portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul, I now set my sites on the following weekend’s activities, centered upon The University of Connecticut’s annual Homecoming festivities.
I graduated from UConn in 1985 with a BA in Economics--way back when everybody thought we were part of the Alaskan Territory. And while my grades could have been better, it’s hard to envision how my experience there could have been.
Storrs, CT is a remarkable place. Nestled in the northeastern hills of the state close to midway between Boston and New York, there is both a calm, rural New England beauty and a zestful vibrancy to it—even on a rainy, Friday autumn afternoon. I hadn’t been back to Storrs but a handful of times in 25 years, and had maybe once been back while classes were in session. But they were that day, and I really enjoyed driving around campus and taking it all in—from the awesome man-made improvements on campus to the stunning natural beauty of Horsebarn Hill, to me at least UConn is everything a World-Class University should be.
While I was there, I had a unique opportunity to meet with two individuals who are key figures in making sure that my beloved alma mater has the resources it needs to continue its mission: John Martin is the President of The UConn Foundation, and Brian Otis, its Vice President for Development & Campaign Management. John and Brian would humbly tell you that they are only two small players in a greater purpose, but the work they and their colleagues do on the school’s behalf is something the entire university family should be aware of and appreciate. And while money’s important, when I asked them what I could do to help the University of Connecticut, their answer was simple and inexpensive: “While athletics are important, please tell your classmates and friends about the great things going on throughout UConn, and how important their support is”, John suggested. “Maybe even write a blog. We’re going to increasingly need the support of private companies and individuals, and we think once people know what we’re doing here, they’ll support us”.
Since that meeting, I have done just that. While basking in that glorious New England fall tailgating at the football game the next day, I asked a few of my friends if they’d been to Storrs recently or, in my at times blunt manner, if they had considered giving money to the school. Money’s tight and my friends and I are not wealthy, but I was more than a bit surprised that many couldn’t remember the last time they were up there for something other than a basketball game. Remarkably, given the targeted emails and direct mails from them, most were relatively unfamiliar with the activities of the UConn Foundation and The Alumni Association.
But seeing that it was something that I was passionate about, I was glad that they were getting past the irony of me promoting UConn’s primary mission, and were interested in hearing more about their respective and collective activities.John, Brian and I had discussed this very issue. Other colleges have class reunions and such, but in a school the size of UConn it is difficult to closely identify with former friends and classmates on the basis of year of graduation alone. Indeed, most of the close friends I still have from UConn graduated in a different year or different semester than did I. Some were commuters or went to one of the branches or the Health Center in Farmington. Some didn’t graduate. Some have kids enrolled now, and some are just fans.
Since our meeting, I’ve given a lot of thought to how the University and its network of friends and alum could feel the kind of kinship that my high school classmates and I share. Is it possible to dovetail the passion we have for our athletic teams and other parts of the university into something that could serve the greater interests of the school? In fact, let’s cut to the chase: can that passion be channeled such that when it comes time to consider where ones financial resources are best invested, The University of Connecticut is among the first things we think of?
I think so. But before people open their hearts and wallets, perhaps first we need to make it easier for folks to intimately identify with a place as large as UConn by chopping its infinite activities into manageable, bite-sized pieces. I am absolutely certain that after doing so, there is almost certainly going to be an aspect of the
school that directly or indirectly touches each of our lives for the better. To find out what that might be, I’d encourage everyone to visit both the UConn Foundation’s and Alumni Association’s websites and Facebook Pages—you’ll no doubt find something that interests you, maybe even inspires you like it did me.I live in South Carolina now, and drive everybody in town crazy because everything I wear says “UConn” on it--even my jeep’s spare tire is covered with a huge Husky head. I think of what John and Brian said about the lesser known activities of the University, and it’s occurred to me since I returned to Charleston that I’m not just cheering for the athletics program, but for the entire University. Indeed, even when missing the obvious, it appears that I continue to benefit from what I learned at The University of Connecticut—then and still.
So come along and join all of us who support UConn in any way we can, won’t ya? We have an awful lot of which to be Husky Proud. Just take a look. Maybe start by just bookmarking the websites and visiting them once in a while. Maybe tell a friend or two.I bet you’ll be pleased with what you learn.
(George S. Dominguez is a 1981 Wilton (CT) High School and 1985 UConn graduate, the Leader of the UCAA—South Carolina Chapter, and creator of the Facebook Group “I Was at UConn in the ‘80’s”. He and his wife Margaret own and operate Margaret Le Van Designs, LLC. They live in the Charleston, SC area with Goliath the Golden Retriever.)
