University of Redlands
Sharon Uzzel Young ’66 and Randy Young ’66
It was the spring of 1965 and the sorority sisters of Alpha Sigma Pi were planning an outing to a Dodger game for their annual spring social event. Sharon Uzzel asked her Sigma sisters for suggestions about who to invite to the game. One mentioned Randy Young, who was a close friend of her fiancé. Another seconded the recommendation, saying Randy was also a friend of her boyfriend. The problem was that Sharon and Randy didn’t know each other, and Sharon was reluctant to invite someone she did not know. Her sorority sisters came to the rescue and got word to Randy that if he was interested, he should invite Sharon out first. Randy was definitely interested and asked her out on a date to the next social event on campus - a barbershop quartet contest!
The rest is history. They went to hear the quartets sing, then joined friends in the student union for a game of hearts (which Sharon had never played but “shot the moon”). She invited Randy to the Dodger game, which was probably pitched by Sandy Koufax or Don Drysdale. In a whirlwind romance, they were engaged that summer and married in Redlands a year later after graduating in the Greek Theatre with the rest of the class of ’66.
As much as they love the Dear Old U of R for bringing them together, they say that their fondness for the University also includes many other friends, experiences, and the education that launched both of them to graduate degrees. They show their affection for and loyalty to Redlands by helping plan class reunions and class gifts to the University. This coming June, these two Bulldogs for Life will celebrate their 55th anniversary.
Gary Evans ’67 and Patti Randles Evans ’68
Gary and Patti met in German class in the Hall of Letters during the spring semester in 1965. Patti tried to get another section of the class because it met Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons (who wants to be in a class that meets on Friday afternoon?). As it turns out, Patti was quite glad the other sections were full, as she rather enjoyed seeing Gary on Monday, Wednesday, AND Friday afternoons. Patti was a freshman and Gary was a sophomore. They were pinned two years later at an oh-so-special Alpha Gamma Nu pinning serenade. Gary had to borrow a pin from his AGN brother (thank you Bob Crist ’68) because he hadn’t ordered one up to that point. When he got around to it, the pin didn’t arrive in time. They married the following year when Patti was a senior, Gary having graduated the previous year. They live in Fair Oaks, CA and their son lives nearby. Gary and Patti spend their summers in Vancouver, WA. They are thoroughly enjoying their retirement years with lots of travel. They get together often with their U of R besties, Warren Cheney '68 and Cheryl Harms Cheney '68 and Ron Allen '69 and Julia Davis Allen '68.
Ron Gravette ’72 and Janet Bratton Gravette ’73
Ron was instrumental in getting co-ed dorms approved at the U of R. Cortner Hall (his Dorm) was one of two dorms to "test" the new housing concept. The dorm was restricted to transfer students, so juniors and seniors. Janet was a transfer student that was accepted for Cortner. The first meeting ended up in the office of Char Gaylord Burgess ’69 at the student union. Janet's sister, Dale Bratton Schumacher ’69 was a friend of Char's. A brief introduction was made and that was it....They became friends and (Ron, at least) knew that this was a lifetime friendship and loving partnership. They both dreaded the moniker for Redlands as being “Wedlands”, but despite that, they have loved every minute of it!
Janet, following graduation was a Speech Therapist and Ron was an Entrepreneur and they were glad to have the paycheck from Janet! Over the years, Janet became a full partner in the restaurants, the businesses, and all financial activities. And, working together is both of their favorite memory! They have two kids, Bill and Carrie and they are truly the joy of their lives and are their biggest success. The 6 Grandkids have been a fantastic bonus!
Most important part of a long-term relationship has been being best friends first and foremost!
Jean Hayden Harrison ’78, ’81 and Jim Harrison ’78
In 1974, Jean arrived on move-in day with her sister Ann Hayden Jessup ’77, to move into Anderson Hall to become part of the FEP program. Two roommates from the room across the hall from Jean, Kendall Char ’78, and Jim Harrison followed them out to their car in the front parking and asked if they could help. Full of freshman nerves, Jean replied, “No thanks, we’ve got it.” Jim replied “Good!” Anyone who knows that guy would laugh at that response and not be at all surprised, but at the time Jean thought “Uh, OK??”. In true U of R fashion, they quickly became close friends. Jean and the one with the smart mouth began dating after college and have been married for 36 years now. Some things haven’t changed a bit!
Linda Schulman Uithoven ’84, ’01 and Criss Uithoven ’86, ’95
In the fall of 1982, Criss arrived at the dear old U of R and met this girl while desk sitting. Remember that work experience job? Yeah, it was one of those. Criss would always take his math homework to work and hope to find somebody for assistance. That is where he and Linda Schulman first met. They started dating early in the spring semester and attended the Spring Fling together. Over the next 3 1/2 years, they dated through school, with Criss proposing on New Year’s Eve at the Rose Parade. They graduated in May of 1986 and were married later that year in August and will celebrate 35 years of marriage this year. For the two of them, the University of Redlands lived up to its reputation of being “Wedlands” and Criss wouldn’t have changed a single moment of this romance. They have been blessed with marital bliss to each other’s best friend of now 35 years of marriage and 40 years of an amazing friendship.
Heidi Bogner Evans ’91 and Doug Evans ’91
Doug and Heidi first noticed each other in the Commons while they were dining with friends. Both were seniors but had not been on campus at the same time until now. Doug lived in Melrose and Heidi lived in Merit house, which at that time was an honor house. Melrose was a short walk from the Commons, so Heidi would walk Doug home before heading home herself. One day while walking hand-and-hand through campus, Doug and Heidi were noticed by Harley Tillitt ’37 and Sylvia Payne Tillitt ’37, who lived around the corner. (They didn’t know at the time that Harley and Sylvia were alumni, nor did they know that they held wonderful Coffee Open Houses in their home). They too were walking hand-in-hand and said to them, “Be careful, you two- that’s how we started out.” They were right! Doug and Heidi were married at the alumni house in 1993 and this encounter with the Tillitts is one of their fondest memories of the U of R. Doug and Heidi live in Chino Hills, CA with their high-school senior daughter, a couple of cats and a tarantula.
Suzanne Oshikawa Norring ’93 and Timo Norring ’94
Suzanne and Timo met in Fairmont Hall in the Fall of 1993. Suzanne was a recent graduate who was working in Redlands as a teacher and Timo was finishing his last semester on campus. She was visiting a mutual friend, Sophia Kiheri Campbell ’93, who lived in Fairmont when Timo walked by and saw Suzanne. He asked Sophia to introduce them and the rest is history. They lived in Redlands for 5 years early in their marriage and Timo worked in the Office of Admissions as Assistant Dean of Admissions while earning his MBA. Now, they live in the Seattle area and have two teenage kids.
Elizabeth Fox Molea ’07 and Stefano Molea ’08
Stefano and Elizabeth met their freshman year, 2004 in Williams Hall. They have been together since 2006, married in 2013, and have a 4-year-old boy named Enzo.
Max Hardman ’14 and Hannah Ashton ’15
Max and Hannah met their freshman year as they were neighbors in Williams in 2010. They began their connection through mini golf in the William dorm hallways. They were neighbors again their sophomore year and ended up traveling abroad to Salzburg, Austria together their junior year. Max played baseball all 4 years and Hannah was a member of Delta Kappa Psi. They live in beautiful San Diego and are looking forward to their wedding on October 2, where they will be celebrating with their close family and Bulldog friends. They are so grateful to the U of R for bringing them together.
Rachel Phillips ’14 and Jake Lee ’14
Jake and Rachel met their freshmen year, 2010, in Merriam Hall. They became the best of friends during their freshmen year, spending countless hours together in the Merriam lobby, the commons, the library, and attending many of the campus events together! They began dating at the beginning of their sophomore year, and they have been together ever since - 9 years now!
Jake proposed in 2019 and they planned to get married in June 2020 but had to postpone due to the pandemic. They now plan to get married in April 2021! They will have many U of R friends, that they call family, in their wedding.
University of Redlands brought them together and they are forever grateful for that! Bulldogs for life!
