Alumni News
A young woman in a graduation cap and gown smiles as she poses in front of framed black-and-white photographs of historical hockey teams. The photos include team members from the 1952 and 1953 New Hampshire hockey teams, displayed on a wall. The woman is positioned to the right of the image, highlighting both her achievement and the legacy of the hockey teams.
Isabella Houley ’22 appreciates the Wildcat legacy that runs deep in her family. So much so, that right before she graduated, she knew she wanted to snap one very special photo.

Picture perfect

Isabella Houley ’22 honors grandfather
Hockey fans of the early 1950s may remember Robert Houley ’53, aka ‘Fat’ Houley, UNH men’s hockey goalie and team captain, who famously had never laced up a pair of skates before claiming to a coach that, yes, in fact he did play hockey as a goalie. He knew he’d have to learn to skate almost overnight, his family says, and he figured a goalie didn’t do much skating.

Smart guy.

The smarts got passed down to his granddaughter, Isabella Houley, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in nutrition. The legacy of her grandfather, who passed away in 2013, is still strong on her family, says Isabella. So much so that, right before she graduated, she wanted to document the UNH connection the two share.

She made her way to the Whittemore Center, where she found two framed photos on the wall. Her father had told her about them when she toured UNH five years earlier.

Black-and-white portrait of a hockey player wearing a jersey with the number 17. The player has a serious expression and is likely part of a historical team, given the style of the uniform. The image is circular and has a vintage feel.
They were UNH hockey team photos from the years 1952 and 1953, including her grandfather. “As a gift for both my father and paternal grandmother, I asked to take graduation photos in front of the hockey pictures of my grandfather.

“While the era of unflattering nicknames is bygone and no longer appropriate, I decorated my graduation cap in reference to his (in)famous nickname that he loved. And on May 21, 2022, I jokingly became Isabella “Skinny” Houley at the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture graduation ceremony, with honors.”

Isabella says her grandfather was part of her decision to attend UNH. “Even before I became a student here, it felt comforting and familiar to know someone else in my family had done this before. UNH has always felt like my home away from home since the day I first toured the campus.”

During her time at UNH, Isabella was a resident assistant, a CONNECT Program mentor, a club president, a teaching assistant and a dining hall employee.

“I am the first person in my family since my grandfather to have UNH as my alma mater, but hopefully not the last. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”

Back to Issue