Remembrance of things Graham
Graham Memories
Earlier this year, the Alumni Association asked alumni to submit their favorite memories of Graham. Here are the responses. Add your own memory using the comment box below.
1984
Charles Costello
I use to work at Graham Central Station, the snack and movie joint under Graham. I was able to bring my foosball table which had a coin slot into the area for others to pay and play. It was a nice way to supplement my income a little, a few extra dollars in my pocket. They use to have movie nights there and just a place to get snacks and study a little. I live in the men's dorm across from Swig (mcglaughlin...) one year and off campus my senior year but worked at Graham and spent a lot of time there.
1983
Mary Noe
Most of my favorite Graham AND Santa Clara memories began during Freshman Orientation, 1979. That was the first year that freshmen were allowed to live in Graham, which had been a seniors-only "resort" up till then. My best memories began then because the other freshmen I met that week became lasting, life-long friends. Since we were the only freshmen on "the other side of the campus," we bonded immediately and strongly. Although we all made lots of friends all over campus, and created many other SCU memories, those Graham friendships remain very special. Mary Doyle Noe Class of 1983
1982
Timothy Flaherty
1. PIPE STAGE: The shows, the late-night food, the atmosphere and, of course, the pipes. 2. THE POOL: A spring time favorite and testing ground for the latest concrete canoe design. 3. MASSES: Simple Masses for Complex People (or were they Complex Masses for Simple People?) 4. BBQs: Enough said.
Cynthia Gonsalves
I lived on first floor Graham 300 my junior year, and moved upstairs poolside my senior year. I remember getting munchies at Pipestage, seeing a boat sunk in the pool after a toga party my freshman year, and being part of the Convent of Our Lady of Perpetual Indulgence (Graham 300 was all women when I was there). I've got floor photos of my neighbors both years by the pool.
Mary Hoshiko Haughey
-I remember the intense rivalry with St. Mary's and one year, St. Mary's decapitated a full size stuffed horse, threw it in the pool along with red dye. We all woke up to a red, yucky mess and no pool for a while -I also remember the food hangout in the basement. Music, pool, dark, yumm quesadillas, and good friends.
Leslie Roberts
1. For great music and quesadillas, had a blast spendingtime in "Pipestage" (now called Graham commons) 2. Laying out and studying by the Graham pool. 3. Fire alarms going off in the middle of the night and seeing gals and guys coming out of their rooms in various states of undress.
1981
Michael Archer
"Studying" by the pool. Salami and jack cheese quesadillas and toasted cream cheese bagels at Pipestage. Working at Pipestage. Annual Graham 400 Russian River canoe trip.
1980
Frances Basich Whitney
Escaping to late night study breaks with Patrick Neary down at Pipe Stage -the best place on campus!
Christopher Best
Wine and Cheese at Dan German's room in Graham 100. Enjoyed living there with other students.
Peter Draeger
Taking the windows out and BBQing outside the room. Miss the pool!
Gina Levy (Ebert)
While I never lived in Graham (I was in Campisi), I spent much of my time there. Every Thursday night was wine and cheese in Fr. Dan German's room. I also worked in the basement of Graham 100, known then as PipeStage, wondering if anywhere there is a list of who perfomed in PipeStage. I recall Steve Martin did during my freshman year, fall of 1976. Many student acts did also.
1979
Sue Fry
Full-size power boat that somehow made its way into the pool one night we were even thinking of bringing shovels and trying to ressurrect teh much-loved "watering hole"
Mike Grogan
I meet my wife, Stephanie McShane Grogan 1980 in Graham in 1976. My two sons are Broncos, Patrick Grogan 2008 and William Grogan, 2012. Will's first dorm assignment was the very Graham dorm where his mother and I meet. Back then Graham was the counrty club of campus dorms. I remenber seeing Robin Williams and Steve Martin preform in the basement, I belive it was called "the pipe stage", admision was 25 cents. Father Pauls work and vision in re-routing the Alameda has really brought the campus together. We are honored to have gone there and so proud our son's chose to attend.
Priscilla Kisling
Hanging out at the pool. Ah, those were the days... helped to have a dorm room on the pool side. Steve Martin at Pipestage for $1. Yes, $1! I saw both shows, thanks to a tip from a good friend - who knew the act verbatim - and said the punchline seconds before he delivered it (thanks, Tina!) :-). So glad I had the ticket to the second show. Steve Martin appeared in Pipestage about a month before he appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. What luck!
Kay Mascoli
Building lofts in the room!
1978
Ann Duncan Fitts
I met my husband David Fitts - he was in Graham 200 (we were married in 1980). I met one of my dearest girlfriends, Sally Falasco Perry in Graham 300. We spent our junior year in England together which led me into the travel business for 20 years. So, Graham has had a major impact on my whole life! I also fondly remember Father Dan Germann's wine and cheese parties around the pool on Tuesday nights. And I loved my loft in Graham 300 sophomore year with roommate Linda Hater. And freshman year we had the "Graham Crackers" powderpuff football team!
Jim Esposito
Pipestage...Where do I begin...freshman year I was asked by a couple upperclassmen to help with the construction of a new stage for the years upcoming performances..Who would have ever imagined that so many great acts such as Steve Martin, Mike Bloomfield, Harvey Mandel, Michael Franks, Sammy Hagar, and a host of other great 70's musicians would end up playing in the basement of this dorm? I think I must have seen twenty shows in that venue over the four years It was also a great honor to get the opportunity to personally perform on that stage in Pipestage many times. In fact the last public gig Magner & Esposito ever played was in Pipestage in the spring of 1978 as the opening act for Michael Franks. I really enjoyed going down to Pipestage on many nights when there was no entertainment to just hang out with friends and have a snack. It truly was a very cool place. Between Club 66 and Pipestage students did not have to wander very far to keep entertained....Like Club 66 the closing of Pipestage was the end of a very special era in the lives of many students...But the memories and the fun ...they will live on forever.
Jim Litschi
Lived in Graham 100 for 3 years. We were the country club with the pool!
Sharon McCarthy Dean
Before we celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary in July, the building where my husband Tim (BS, 75) and I met and began our courtship will be demolished. Graham 423 was my home for the four years I spent at Santa Clara. Very few, if any, graduates can claim that they were in the same room for all four years. And I guarantee that my roommate Susan Hayes Raffo, (BSc, 78) and I are the only two alums who can say that they married the guy who lived in the room downstairs. Sue & I lived together 3 of our 4 years (with a one year hiatus, just for variety), and when Tim graduated and moved out, the next door neighbors, Rob Boragno and Bob Raffo (BA 77) decided to move in. Sue and Bob had begun dating in the spring of 75. So, it took awhile, but both of us married the guy in the room downstairs Tim and I in 78, and Susan and Bob in 83. Due to current housing regulations and trends, I dont think that will ever happen again! Graham 400 was, during my Freshman year in 74/75, an Experimental Living dorm ours was earmarked for Community Living, and residence required an essay for entrance. I dont remember what my essay said, but I know it was heartfelt, as I sat at my familys kitchen table crafting it carefully. God clearly had plans for me, because that first year brought me everything that is precious in my life today dear, lasting friends with whom I am in frequent communication (which is how I learned of Grahams demise), the love of my life, and a stash of stories and experiences I dont think will ever be matched. Ours was the dorm which held the first Valentines flower sale (3 carnations, complete with gift card and free delivery); a hilarious Russian River rafting trip; Secret Santa-giving during Dead Week, &Both of our RAs, Mary Beth Cahill and John Cheap, were terrific and did their best to maintain order, but were often reduced to mere spectators as the lunatic residents pretty much ran the joint. The complex was a great location (known as the country club side of campus) next to the library, across from Benson, close to Lifeboat Theater. Graham 100 was home to Fr. Dan Germann and Tuesday night Wine & Cheese (back when Wednesdays had no classes) and concerts in Pipestage. 200 was home to all the smart, nerdy guys, and 300 was for the well-behaved, elegant and quiet women. If you were fortunate enough to live in 400 during the 74/75 academic year, then you remember, and dont need an explanation of why I feel the way I do. If you didnt live there, no amount of explaining can convey the deep love and affection we all had for one another which is probably why, from that group of 80+ residents, there were at least 5 (and probably more if you tweak the qualifications) happy, successful marriages that are still going strong today. Its probably a good thing that I live too far away to attend the Farewell celebration, as much as Id like to; I think Id get way too emotional, and most people would think I was nuts. But 423 was home to me in ways Ive never forgotten. I welcomed Tims first kiss in that room; I learned to fall asleep to the traffic noise on El Camino; learned to do the Hustle in the upstairs lounge; learned of my fathers death during exam week in December 77. Ive asked some friends to see if they can purloin the door to 423 when demolition begins Im sure the killer loft we had during sophomore year is long gone but I know that I will have to be content with the memories in my heart and minds eye. No matter what replaces the Graham complex, those memories will live forever.
Canice McLaughlin
Snow! In January 1967 it snowed and we ran outside with coats over our nightgowns!
Fall 2011
See all articles from this issue
Features
Change the world
The U.S. Peace Corps turned 50 this year, with more than 340 Santa Clara grads (and faculty and staff) having served as volunteers.
How can you defend those people?
Public defenders in the Homicide Task Force in Chicago have some answers about representing accused murderers.
Mission Matters
Welcome home, Fr. Rewak
SCU's poet-president returns to the Mission Campus as chancellor.
Putting cleantech on the map
The Center for Science, Technology, and Society tracks where off-the-grid solutions are lighting the way.
Bronco Profile
Tradition Shattered
Fifty years ago, Santa Clara admitted the first class of women into its undergraduate program. Gerri Beasley '65 shares some memories.
Memories . . . Steve Martin at Pipestage . . . what a deal! And who could forget the quesadillas . . . Wine and Cheese on Tuesday nights and the great dance parties that included doing the hustle in Graham 400.
When I started at SCU I was a little disappointed that I ended up on the "upperclassman" side of campus, thinking I would miss the fun associated with Swig. Soon I realized that I I had the best arrangements - I mean a pool right outside my dorm? What a community we built. Thanks for the memories.
Deb
Forgot to mention I lived in Graham 300 for two years before moving off campus and then spending my senior year as a RA in Swig on the 8th floor. Debbie Medeiros Carey Class of 80
Graham 200 was the best dorm on campus, period!! Playing frisbee over the pool and off the sides of the dorm wall all afternoon was a great stress reliever! Some even made it into the open windows! Then there were the post finals jam sessions out on the pool deck, fun stuff!! Those were the daze...
I lived in Graham 100 and I remember seeing a poor quality b/w flyer for " A Wild and Crazy Guy" with a silly balloon hat affixed to the light post outside Graham 100. Would sure like to have that now! As I recall the Doobie Brothers also played Pipestage. I also recall Huey Lewis and the News playing for a Law School function. But the most memorable was being part of the inaugural class of the "Living Learning Dorm" where I was exposed to all matter of things, including about 30 people who all went to see " The Exorcist" and then were too scared to go to sleep!