On a fall day in 1947, Carol Lovejoy caught Robert Rader’s eye on a double blind date, but not with each other. The two Ohio University underclassmen commenced a college romance that is still alive today.
The couple will take a stroll through memory lane this weekend, revisiting their past date destinations and usual hangouts, while they celebrate 60 years of marriage by coming back to where the sparks first flew.
The Raders, now in their 80s, will renew their vows Saturday at OU’s Galbreath Chapel.
“This is very special for my parents,” said Lou Ann Glover, who plans to surprise her parents by arranging their participation in the Alumni Association’s “OH, I dO” ceremony. “We wanted to celebrate their anniversary with them to make it extra special.”
Like her parents, Glover also fell under the Athens love spell more than 40 years ago during her freshman year at OU, when she met a junior named Bruce on Parents Weekend. The two have been married for 36 years.
“His dad said, ‘Take that girl out,’ and just like that, we started dating,” she said.
Both generations of Bobcats will say “I do” for the second time in the midst of this year’s Homecoming festivities. About 10 other alumni couples will be participating, too.
“After 20 or 40 years, they are back at the place where they met, and it warms my heart to hear their stories,” said Graham Stewart, director of the Alumni Association. “It’s a fun way to say, ‘If we didn’t go to OU, we wouldn’t be together.’ ”
At 18:04, alluding to the year OU was founded, Stewart will lead couples of all ages in an oath to carry on their Athens-rooted unions.
“It’s so intimate even in a group setting because this is a place they’re both familiar with,” said Cristie Gryszka, event coordinator for the Alumni Association.
The ceremony will be held fittingly at the most enchanting spot on campus. Since John Galbreath shared his first kiss there with his wife, Helen, Galbreath Chapel has become a lucky charm for romance.
But with more than half a century of romance behind them, perhaps the Raders won’t need Galbreath’s magic to keep their love alive. In a residence hall room in Howard Hall 70 years ago, Carol would likely have been prepping for a date with young Robert this Homecoming weekend.
He would have picked her up for a Saturday afternoon on East Green’s Hog Island, where they spent much of their time together.
“(My parents) love coming back,” Glover said. “And it’s especially beautiful in the fall.”
This weekend, the Raders, with their daughter and son-in-law, will be sharing their favorite date spots with the latest progeny in their OHIO legacy.
Bruce and Lou Ann Glover’s son is currently a senior at OU and will be in attendance at tomorrow’s ceremony. With odds in their favor, the two generations of alumni couples hope the third-generation Bobcat will find love at OU like they did decades ago.
“Wouldn’t that be fun,” Glover asked, “if he met someone at OU?
oy311909@ohiou.edu
