Love Stories
by Brian Salvatore ’03, SWM

t college we grow up: we learn about the world and ourselves, we meet people and make friendships that can last a lifetime. For the five couples whose stories follow, friendship grew into romance and romance grew into a decision to love forever. Looking for love isn’t something we check off on the college admission application, but marriage is often one of the best results of college life.

Charlotte & Wes Walton
"I never knew we would make it this far,” chuckled Charlotte (Marshall) Walton ’39 about her relationship with Wes Walton ’39.

Wes and Charlotte both began college in 1935, and went through four years without crossing paths. Upon graduation, they went their separate ways, married and raised families.

It wasn’t until their class reunions that they started to get to know each other. “We were on the committee that organized the reunions,” explains Wes. “Wes was president of the class and I was on the committee, so I always knew his whereabouts,” added Charlotte. “We were always friendly and stayed in touch.”

In time, both Wes and Charlotte were widowed. As class reunions came and went every five years, Wes and Charlotte had more and more interaction. “In 1988, we had events all year to celebrate our 50th reunion,” says Wes. “But it wasn’t till the actual reunion that we really noticed each other and started to fall in love.” Charlotte adds, “We were considered an ‘item’ by Commencement in 1989.”

In 1990, Wes and Charlotte were married in the Clearwater Beach, Fla. area. “The wedding was beautiful,” says Charlotte. “It was on a dock with the water in the background and 125 of our closest friends. It was wonderful.”

Wes and Charlotte’s lives have been filled with teaching and service to their country. Charlotte taught seventh and eighth grade in Woodlyne. Wes taught in Oaklyn and served in World War II. He retired from the army as a lieutenant colonel then received his doctorate from Duke University in educational administration. Before retirement, he spent 30 years at a non-profit educational corporation.

They each have a son and daughter from their previous marriages. Today, Wes and Charlotte enjoy four grandsons and two granddaughters and a new life together.

Carol & Frank Tood
For Frank Todd ’69 and Carol (Luse) Todd ’69, falling in love was the result of a science experiment—literally. “We were walking around campus with test tubes full of blood,” laughs Carol. The one-time science majors met during their first week of school as freshmen and never turned back.

Frank and Carol recall spending time hanging out at their dorms, Mullica and Evergreen. They also remember walking to eat lunch at Joe’s Sub Shop. Although these times together are fresh in their minds, their first date is still debated.

“When we first started seeing each other, Frank asked me to study in the library,” says Carol. “I really didn’t think much of it, but my girlfriends did. They kept telling me that it was a date. Finally, I really thought it was a date.”

But Frank has a different story. “I didn’t consider it a date,” explains Frank. “I just needed help studying.”

Eventually, Frank and Carol switched their majors to elementary education. After graduating, they married in June 1970 and settled down in Sewell. They both taught for three years before deciding they wanted something different.

Today, Frank is a recording engineer in Rowan’s Music Department and Carol recently retired from the Glassboro K-Mart. “My job is my hobby,” says Frank. “I love what I do for the students and for the school.”

When they find some free time, Frank and Carol enjoy traveling to the Poconos and hiking. They also sing in their church choir. In June, they will celebrate 33 years of marriage.
Frank and Carol are huge supporters of their alma mater and their graduating class—which they proudly showcase on their sports car license plate. And they have great memories of college even though they aren’t sure of their first date.

Sherry & Greg Cappello
Sherry (Nutt) Cappello ’97 and Greg Cappello ’97 love to remember and laugh about their years at Rowan together. And they have a couple of interesting events to laugh about.
Greg was a freshman moving into Willow Hall when he first met Sherry, who was the RA. She was always friendly to him, but Sherry recalls one night that didn’t create a great impression of Greg in her mind.

“I was leaving a friend’s dorm and a piece of hard candy hit me in the head,” explains Sherry. “When I turned around, all I saw was Greg laughing in the window. At that point I was asking myself why I was even friends with him.”

Yet their friendship eventually evolved into a four and a half-year relationship. In May 1997, Sherry graduated with a health and exercise science degree. She started teaching at Cherry Hill East as a health and physical education teacher in January 2000. Greg still had one semester to finish his degree in English literature. He was elected senior class president for the class of 1998, which set the stage for a proposal that Rowan University would never forget.

“I told George Brelsford, [then-director of Residence Life], that I was getting ready to propose,” explains Greg. “Jokingly, he told me to propose at graduation during my speech to the senior class.” Greg decided the idea was a good one but told nobody.

At Commencement in May 1998, Greg called Sherry to the stage and proposed in front of an audience of more than 10,000 people. “I was completely stunned,” said Sherry. “We actually went ring shopping during that week, but I had no idea he would do it at graduation. I thought it would at least be a few months.”

Greg and Sherry married in September 1999. They live in Glassboro and both work at Vineland High School. Greg is a technology teacher and is working on a law degree at Rutgers Camden. Sherry is a guidance counselor and will receive her MA in student personnel services from Rowan this May. They are expecting their first child this August.

Judy & Martin Waysome
No couple wants to begin married life separately, but for Judy (Liang) Waysome ’00 and Martin Waysome ’01, there was no choice. Their wedding date—Jan. 17, 2004—was abruptly moved one year sooner when Martin was deployed to California in preparation for war.

“ His philosophy is that before I know it he will be back in no time and I have nothing to worry about,” says Judy, who is waiting for him at their home in Turnersville.
Martin, who is originally from Jamaica, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1997 after his freshman year. “It was an opportunity to serve and defend the Constitution of America,” he says.

The couple met in the summer of 1998 as members of Student Crime Prevention Practitioners. “The first day I was on duty proctoring Mullica, he was coming in from his soccer practice and I stopped him to chat because I was trying to be friends with the people I worked with,” Judy recalls. In a few weeks, Martin was hanging out with Judy until the end of her shift at 3 a.m. “The whole time all we did was joke and goof around and talk and get to know each other.”

Judy was honored when Martin asked her to his Marine ball in 1998. But the date began badly. “When he was coming to pick me up his car broke down,” she says, adding that eventually they made it to the ball and had a great time.

Martin, who majored in geography, is a geographical information system specialist for Fralinger Engineering in Bridgeton. Judy majored in business administration with a minor in Asian studies and is a purchasing agent for Lockheed Martin in Moorestown.

Memories of their happy college days keep Judy company for now. She says, “Thinking about the many things we have done together always puts a smile on my face to get me through this time while he is away.”

Nicole Batalias & John Garretson
John Garretson ’01 and Nicole Batalias ’01 love coming back to Glassboro. They return to visit friends and the place will always remind them of their Rowan love story.

Nicole met John the first week of school. Curious about what John and his classmate were painting, Nicole approached and learned they were preparing for their senior art show.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘Why would this beautiful woman be interested in our show?’” says John. “Usually, I don’t introduce myself to people because I am shy. But I did with Nicole.”

John and Nicole met again at a friend’s party, but conversation didn’t come easily. “I was also really excited about John, but I was scared to talk to him,” says Nicole. “He eventually trapped me in the hallway and we talked for the rest of night.”

John took Nicole to Ocean City for their first date. They walked an abandoned boardwalk and talked on the beach. But they almost didn’t make it home. “We lost the car,” laughs Nicole. “We were so interested in each other that we didn’t pay attention to where we parked it. Eventually we found it and made it home safe.”

On November 23, 2001, John created a scene for a memorable proposal where they first met—in the Westby Hall puppet theatre. He gathered a dozen small objects: a handful of sand from their first date, a stick they found on a walk and other things that reminded him of their time together. He assembled them with the ring hidden among them.

“It was so sweet and surprising,” says Nicole. “He told me that the objects represented the best times of his life. The last object was the ring. I just cried. I couldn’t have imagined it any other way.”

Today, John and Nicole are planning a January 2004 wedding. In the meantime, John spends his time as a working artist and an art teacher at Woodside Elementary School. Nicole dances as a Radio City Rockette. They plan to reside in the Rutherford area.