Alumni News

Back in Time

“The Big ’80s” celebrate their UNH days in a big way
The Big ’80s drew the largest crowd at Reunion 2024, with more than 500 attendees on campus. Although geared toward members of the classes of 1983-1986, anyone from the decade was welcomed.

“Of course I came back for my UNH Reunion — it was the best four years of my life, where I met my best friend and where I met my husband,” said Sharon Raymond ’84, who attended with her husband Michael Raymond ’85, as well as Judy (Werner) Cathcart ’84. “They were roommates and I was always the third wheel,” Michael joked, as the pair ran into other classmates and friends outside of the bookstore.

Organized by a committee led by John Davis ’85 and Robin Schell ’84, the ’80s Reunion featured special programming like events at the AC Hotel in Portsmouth and Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club (owned by Susan Labrie ’85). Saturday featured a Big ’80s fraternity and sorority mixer, a group photo and a lobster bake on Thompson Hall lawn. Many of the events were organized by volunteers who partnered with UNH Alumni Relations staff and were sponsored by alumni: Karen Johnson ’84, Chris Brown ’93, Tyler Kelly ’00 (New Hampshire Distributors), Jay Barriss ’86, Deb Barriss ’85, Eric Chinburg ’84 (Chinburg Builders), Morgan Rutman ’84, Mark LaRoche ’85, Ted Eynon ’85, Greg Howard (Alc-a-Chino Beverages), Michael DesRochers ’86, members of the Acacia fraternity, and Peter Getman ʼ90.

The weekend also served as a milestone celebration for Acacia: the fraternity was celebrating its 100th anniversary.

And sometimes there’s nothing like a familiar song to take you back a few decades: “Jimmy’s was the absolutely best; everybody knew every word to the songs, and we sang them at the top of our lungs!” said Sharon Hartford ’84 of the musical stylings of the Eric Grant Band.

Catch up on the fun:

See the Class Notes section for more photos and recaps of Reunion 2024.