Afterwords: David Coyle '81

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afterwords archive
>	Are we on the air? By Linda Buchanan Wagner ’79
>	A generation in search by Nancy Obrien ’94
>	For you, A.J. by Ed Ziegler ’72
>	Whit one day, world the next by Marie Ranoia Alonso ’90
>	My brother’s keepers by Jim Koscs ’85
>	Can you say, “College is super-dee-dupor?” by Moira Jablon-Bernstein ’92
>	Project Santa from a New Perspective by Lisa Shea Linden ’86
>	The train to college by Dorothy Ciryak Clark Leonard ’76, ’84
>	Debating the future by Ron Weisberger ’65
>	A deeply-rooted relationship by Harriet Clevenger Lockwood ’88
>	Curtain or copy: a major decision by Susan Goodman Magod
>	The bear necessities of friendship by Qraig R. de Groot ’93
>	Special delivery by Darlene Beck-Jacobson ’74
>	A room of my own by Melissa F. Sherman ’86
>	The diploma by Ros Psolka ’90
>	Remembering Sabrina by Ros Psolka ’90
>	Who wants my 33s? By Jim Koscs ’85
>	Looking for a sign By Wendy Weber Crawford ’75, ’79, ’88
>	An ode to 27A South Main Street By Keith Forrest ’88
>	Our flag in the window By Lori Marshall ’92
>	Mail, mortality and American mettle By Brian Kass’85
>	Christmas trees in the Kremlin By Don Dunnington’97
>	Aimless and malcontent no more By Tim Zatzariny, Jr. ’94
>	Bringing the family By Susan Parker ’74
>	A little too soon for golden oldies By Keith Forrest ’88
>	Tale of a tile man By Sabatino Mangini ’01
>	Remembering Reagan By David Coyle ’81
>	Time well spent By Leigh Koebert ’97
>	Still a college kid... By Gregg Clayton ’81
>	What’s at the end of your “If only…”? By Carol Servino ’75
>	Catching the moment and the meaning By Casey Christy ’92, M’03
>	Starting at Glassboro, finishing at Rowan By Lori Samlin Miller ’77
>	Room to grow By Casey Christy ’92, M’03
>	Lifelong friends in spite of themselves By Patricia Quigley ’78, M’03

Remembering Reagan
With plenty of differences between them, a former president and a former GSC student had compassion in common..
by David Coyle ’81

The year was 1979: Jimmy Carter was President, American hostages had been held in Iran for months, inflation was rampant, disco infused the culture and we were upset that the price of gas had hit a dollar a gallon.

I arrived at Glassboro State in August to complete my degree, got myself settled in a Crossings apartment and became familiar with the campus. Being a communications major, I noticed the college radio station and spent a great deal of time there over the next two years as a disc jockey and newscaster.

Fast forward 10 years. I moved to the San Francisco Bay area. After the big earthquake in October, I decided to become more involved helping the community and took a marketing position with the local United Way. In July 1991, I worked on a project securing celebrity endorsements for a United Way campaign, writing to dozens of celebrities with ties to California, hoping to get a few to provide public service spots for the state’s radio stations. I began to get tapes from the likes of singer Eddie Money, test pilot General Chuck Yeager, guitarist Robert Cray, weatherman Willard Scott and TV’s Batman, Adam West.

One day I received a call from former President Reagan’s office in Los Angeles inviting me to record some spots. During the ’50s and ’60s, he had made speaking appearances on behalf of United Way and other community causes. He was glad to pitch in again. On the morning of August 8, 1991, I headed to Los Angeles with United Way Executive Vice President Carl Ware.

We took an elevator to the top floor of the office building and were escorted into the conference room. It was impressive, with photos of the President with heads of state and dignitaries lining the walls. The picture window at one end had a sweeping view of the adjoining 20th Century Fox movie lot.

Mr. Reagan entered from his adjoining office with a broad smile. At 80, he looked more his age in person than he appeared in the media. True to his reputation, he was friendly, humorous and willing to help.

After introductions, he sat at one end of the long conference table in front of the microphone and we rolled tape. His experience as a sportscaster, actor, two-term governor and two-term president showed as he nailed each spot in a single take. We then had just enough time for a brief photo session.

Several weeks later I sent an 8 x 10 photo from the meeting to Reagan’s office for his signature. Within a week, the signed photo was returned to me. Now, 13 years later, watching his state funeral on television, I still recall the events of that day with clarity and a smile.

I have fond memories of my GSC years and, as Reagan was elected President then, I closely associate him with my college experience and the news events that defined those years. I still find it somewhat surreal that our varied interests in community service crossed paths on that day. No matter how important or busy we become, it is more important to take a few minutes to show compassion for others, regardless of our politics. Thanks, Gipper.

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David Coyle is Western States Director for Global Impact, an alliance of international human-itarian aid organizations. He lives in Pleasanton, California.