Whether it was in the classroom, a residental hall, or at an off-campus party, Buffalo State has a way of bringing people together. We asked alumni to share their stories about how they met their significant others as students on campus. For some, the connection was instant. While for others it took years of friendships, bad break-ups, and lost connections to create lasting love.
Thank you for all of the alumni who shared their stories! If you would like to be featured in a future Valentine’s Day post or on Bengal sweethearts, email alumni@buffalostate.edu with a quote and photo!
She Fell for Him on the Dance Floor
“I went to a party one night, there was a guy who continued to futilely attempt to dance with me .. As soon as I turned around, I gave him my full attention—I was about to let him have it—our eyes met and there was something kind and comforting about him. He danced with me like we had practiced this dance our entire life. Today, we have five children and have been married for 15 years … we live the way we dance and we love the way we live.”
—Melodie Baker, B.S. ’05, and Derek Baker, B.S. ’08, M.S. ’10
They Met in the “Least Likely Place”
“I met Ryan ten years ago at the Buff State fitness center (the least likely place I would be … must have been fate). We moved to California together, got married, had two kids, moved back to New York, and just bought a new home. We even visited Buffalo State in the fall to see the new art and design studios!”
—Amanda Stewart, B.S. ’09, and Ryan Stewart, B.A. ’09
From Total Disdain to True Love
“We met on his move-in day in Neumann Hall. I was a sophomore and was the RA in the building. I couldn’t stand him. The next semester we had a class together and became friends. We didn’t start dating until the next year but we've been inseparable ever since, seven years of dating and three years of marriage. He even proposed in front of Neumann!”
—Katie (Percival) La Vecchio, B.S. ’12, M.S. ’14, and Michael La Vecchio, B.S. ’13
A Proposal to Remember
“We started dating during our senior year of high school in Brooklyn. We decided to attend Buffalo State together despite people doubting that our relationship would work out. Four years later, Dayquan and I graduated together, and our college experience was fantastic! On graduation day, I received the biggest surprise—he proposed to me on campus. We had our wedding a year-and-a-half later in the Bahamas and shortly after bought our first house in Buffalo. Our precious baby boy, Devin, was born on December 26, 2014.”
—Erika (Severino) Mitchell, B.S. ’11, and Dayquan Mitchell B.S. ’11
Two Worlds Collide
“Her claim to fame at school was helping start the TV station on campus; mine was as a three-year member of the varsity hockey team. We live in Pittsford, New York, with our seven-year-old son, Griffin, and our four-year-old daughter, Peyton. This pic of us family is from early January cheering on the Buffalo State varsity hockey team!”
—Anthony Rizzi, B.S. ’00, and Shawna (Pierce) Rizzi, B.S.’99
A Sustained Connection
“We met at Buffalo State around 1987. We dated for a short while and had a bad breakup, although we never forgot each other. We both married other people and then divorced. I went onto Facebook in search of her, and to my surprise, she was looking for me as well. We re-kindled our relationship, although she still lived in Buffalo, and I live in a suburb of New York City. The connection was undeniable—and it was like we picked up where we left off. She sold her house, resigned from her job, and moved down to be with me—but before she did, I made sure to ask her to marry me. We got married in 2012 and are living happily ever after!”
—Brad (Goodstein) Gold, B.S. ’90 and Laura (Stempin) Gold, B.S. ’93
From Crosswords to Children
“Missy and I officially met in the Student Union during Bengal Pause at the very beginning of the spring 1990 semester. Our first ‘date’ was a trip to Butler Library to work on a crossword puzzle, quickly followed-up by an official date at JP Bullfeathers on Elmwood. We got married three years later and now have two wonderful children, Haley and Trevor. We still are proudly involved with Buffalo State and support our alma mater!”
—Gerald (Gerry) Cornish, B.S. ’90, and Michelle (Resnick) Cornish, B.S. ’91
Their Love for Each Other (and Buffalo State) is Still Strong
“I met met my wife in Porter Hall spring of ’92. We married in summer of ’93 and graduated a year later. We live in Delaware, but still cheer on Buff State! Pictured is us at the Buffalo State vs. Merchant Marine Academy playoff game at the Blue Hen Stadium in Delaware.”
—Stan Kosick, B.A. ’94, and Rachel (Itzka) Kosick, B.S. ’94
Sparks Fly After Returning to Campus
“She started at Buff State in 2011, the semester after I graduated, and she became friends with a lot of my mutual friends who were still there. I came back for grad school in 2012 and we met. Match made in heaven. Five years together and we’ve been married since September!”
—Josh Brown, B.A. ’11, M.S. ’15 and Kelly-Marie Brown
Bengal Pride is Passed Down
“My Bengal sweetheart parents and I at my 2014 graduation from Buffalo State!”
—Robert Wynne, B.S. ’86, Cindy Lazarz (Wynne), B.A.’86, and Molly Wynne, B.A. ’14