A Quinnipiac kind of love
February 11, 2025
Home is where the heart is
Sarah (Pandolfi) Schuppert '17, MA '18, MA '19, and Robin Schuppert '11 with their sons and dog.
For Sarah (Pandolfi) Schuppert ’17 MA ’18, MA ’19, transferring to Quinnipiac to play soccer was one of the best decisions she ever made. Having already met Robin Schuppert ’11 a few years earlier through a mutual friend, it only made sense to get to know him better when she was back in her home state.
Robin was born in Germany and moved to California before attending Quinnipiac, he fell in love with Hamden during his four years at school and decided to stay put for a while. When he met Sarah, there was no moving anywhere else.
The Schupperts at the top of Sleeping Giant.
They started dating during her sophomore year and would regularly hike Sleeping Giant together.
“We would wake up early to go hiking on the blue trail,” Sarah explained. “We loved taking in the view at the top, and after we would stop by Whitney Donut to get breakfast sandwiches.”
Despite Robin being from so far away and Sarah growing up in North Haven, Quinnipiac was a second home to both of them and with the pair living only a town away, it is not surprise they have season tickets.
“We enjoying coming back to campus quite often,” Sarah said. “We have men’s hockey and basketball season tickets and we like to bring our sons to home soccer games just to walk around the campus.”
And it’s not just them- they also bring their sons with them.
“Quinnipiac has a huge place in both of our hearts and we hope to continue our love for it with our children,” the duo said.
From QU to 'I do,' and a business, too
Steve Albanese '98 and Shannon (Bruckner) Albanese '98 at dinner.
The physical therapy program brought Steve Albanese ‘98 and Shannon (Bruckner) Albanese ‘98 together. After growing up in neighboring towns, the couple didn’t officially meet until the first day of college despite having spoken before. Their friendship quickly formed, and a year later they began dating.
After graduating in 1998, the two turned their shared passion into a career by co-founding Access PT alongside Steve’s brother and his wife.
"We are both very grateful that Quinnipiac brought us together and gave us the foundation of knowledge to open our own business," said Shannon.
Reminiscing on their time at Quinnipiac, some of their favorite memories include physical therapy classes and attending their senior formal together. Now their connection to Quinnipiac remains strong as Steve serves on the advisory board for the physical therapy program, while Shannon is part of the executive leadership council for the School of Health Sciences.
A story worth reporting
Chris Dacey ’20 and Olivia Schueller ’21 celebrate their engagement.
Chris Dacey ’20 and Olivia Schueller ’21 first met at Q30 Television, the university's student-run television station, where Chris trained Olivia on creating sports graphics for one of the shows.
“Of course, he was good-looking and very tall,” Olivia said about her first impression of Chris. They hit it off right away and continued talking throughout the school year.
Chris, on the other hand, was drawn to Olivia’s initial interest in sports, though he jokes that it didn’t last long and he admired her “beautiful eyes and pretty hair, which were a bonus.”
Chris and Olivia at graduation.
Looking back on their time at Quinnipiac, Olivia’s favorite memory is nominating Chris for the Outstanding Senior Award within the School of Communications.
“It was my opportunity to write about what a hard worker he was, his drive and commitment throughout college," Olivia said. "He got the award, which I was so proud of. It showed that his professors thought just as highly of Chris as I did.”
Chris’ favorite memory? The little moments, like Olivia bringing him Ben & Jerry’s when she visited his residence hall.
“Don’t force anything, what’s meant to be will be. Prioritize your friends and extracurriculars just as much as each other. You want to be well-rounded on your own and have your partner support you,” said Olivia.
For Chris and Olivia, Quinnipiac holds a special place in their hearts.
“We both have the best memories at Q30, in our classes and within our fraternity and sorority. We love that we share so many experiences from Quinnipiac together.”
Recently they returned to campus to take engagement photos on Mount Carmel with their dog, Hazel. Olivia describes the experience as a “surreal full-circle moment."
Looking to the future, they're preparing for their wedding in September 2026 and are grateful for the foundation Quinnipiac gave them both in their careers and in their relationship.
Love is in the air… or on the shuttle
Taylor Parenti ’16, MA ’17, and Matt Coopersmith ‘17 have recently gotten engaged.
Taylor Parenti ’16 MBA ’17, and Matt Coopersmith ‘17 always saw each other at fraternity and sorority events. Crowded events and hanging out with their friends meant they never really met until one day on the shuttle.
Taylor Parenti '16, MBA '17 and Matt Coopersmith '17 at Taylor's graduation.
Their official meeting was on York Hill, taking the shuttle back from New Haven.
“Our favorite memories from Quinnipiac were Friday nights at Eli’s, weekend breakfasts at the Brownstone and of course, going into New Haven,” they said.
Now utilizing their business degrees, the pair live in New Jersey, but whenever they drive to visit family in Massachusetts they come back to campus.
“We always stop to check out how different the campus looks now and grab food at some of our favorite spots,” Taylor explained. “To the couples still at Quinnipiac: Enjoy every moment, it goes by too fast!”
And after getting engaged recently, they came by on their way to show their family the new ring.
TV screens and big dreams
Mark Spillane '15 and Michele (Herman) Spillane '14 at Mark's graduation.
When Mark Spillane ’15 and Michele (Herman) Spillane ’14 chose their majors, neither knew it would lead to the love of their life. Both were a part of the broadcast journalism program and chose to participate in Q30 Television on campus.
The Spillanes at Michele's senior ADPi formal.
“Some of our favorite memories are the day-to-day operations of Q30-TV,” Mark explained. “Our shared passion for television production is what we first bonded over and we spent hours working with our friends to put together the best shows we could. And then attending games together and going to the ADPi formal.”
For a while, the pair missed campus after graduation but couldn’t come back, as work kept them in the Midwest. While Michele still works in human resources, Mark recently moved positions from being a sports anchor to Quinnipiac’s Associate Director for Leadership Annual Giving.
“Embrace your connection to Quinnipiac and the friends you’ve made,” Mark said. “So many of our closest friends are from Quinnipiac and they’ve been able to share the joy of our best moments; like our wedding day and seeing us become parents to our daughter Madeline.”
Blind date bliss
Bob Passero ‘70 and Debbie (Middlemas) Passero ‘70 on vacation.
On November 1, 1968, Bob Passero ‘70 and Debbie (Middlemas) Passero ‘70 met for a blind date. The two hit it off, planning to meet again later that week.
Bob and Debbie during their time at Quinnipiac.
Their relationship blossomed over the next few months as the couple went steady for their final two years at Quinnipiac. Bob’s fraternity played a large role in both their time at Quinnipiac and relationship.
“I asked Debbie to wear my fraternity pin in January 1969,” said Bob. After all these years, they still reconnect with his brothers for a golf trip each August.
The pair remained long-distance after graduation before they tied the knot in November 1972, started their family in 1979 and had three daughters.
Today, Bob and Debbie are now proud grandparents.
Study-abroad adventures
Emily (Lager) Sarin '12 and Michael Sarin '12 with their daughter and dog.
For some first-year students, they just know. For Emily (Lager) Sarin ’12 and Michael Sarin ’12, they met and immediately hit it off.
While their friend groups merged into one big group, they knew there was something special between them. On Valentine’s Day that year, Michael asked Emily to Nakita’s in New Haven and the rest is history.
The Sarins during their first year at Quinnipiac.
They enjoyed all of their classes together, but especially their short-term study-abroad experience, taking them to Poland and the Czech Republic. After learning with their class, they opted out of the flight home and traveled around Berlin and Amsterdam together, falling more in love with Europe and each other.
Living in New York, they’re just far enough to make a visit something special.
“We haven’t been back in a while, but we would love to show our daughter, Hailey, where her parents met,” Emily explained. “We’d love for her to meet Boomer and experience a Quinnipiac hockey game.”
They shared everything from major experiences and everyday moments at Quinnipiac and after graduation, life brought big changes for the both of them. They never stopped listening and being there for each other.
“Support each other’s growth,” Emily said. “Life after college can bring new challenges, so having honest conversations will strengthen your relationship.”
From one generation of Bobcats to the next
Todd Howes ’97 and Erica Howes ’97 go canoeing.
Todd Howes ’97 and Erica Howes ’97 met during their junior year at Quinnipiac.
They quickly bonded over their love of the outdoors, spending time hiking the Sleeping Giant.
Later, their connection to Quinnipiac became more special when they got engaged on top of the Sleeping Giant. Now, living locally, they return to campus for hockey games and to see how the university has grown.
“We love watching campus continue to grow, with the new academic buildings and dorms and we are excited for our kids to be there for these new experiences,” said Erica.
Their ties to Quinnipiac have come full circle, as their two sons are now Bobcats, one a sophomore and the other enrolling as a first year in the fall.
Friendship and love to last a lifetime
Tim Saller ‘86 and Tina (Knell) Saller ‘83 with their two kids.
Tim Saller ‘86 and Tina (Knell) Saller’s ‘83 journey began in the pool room in the Carl Hansen Student Center when it was still Quinnipiac College. Tim and his baseball teammates spent many hours playing pool, while Tina worked there and rented out pool tables and handed out quarters for the video games and laundry machines.
Tom and Tina celebrating together.
“We started dating five days before I graduated,” Tina recalled. “After graduation, I went back to New York and we commuted for five years before tying the knot in 1988.”
Quinnipiac College was much smaller back then, Tina recalled walking to class and seeing friends and familiar faces.
“We met so many lifelong friends at QC. We still get together with many of the baseball players and their wives for dinner, as well as my QC Suite 140 girls. These girls were instrumental in getting Tim and me together, blaring ‘Endless Love’ throughout the Quad as we went on our first date,” Tina said.
Their time at Quinnipiac was filled with unforgettable memories like sledding down the hill, tug-of-war games and snowball fights.
“We had so much fun in the 80s,” Tina said when reminiscing about gatherings on the Hill, Halloween mixers and campus events like the Gong Show and Hoey and the Quinnipiac Jukes.
After tying the knot in 1988, the couple welcomed two children and now have one grandchild. Their bond with Quinnipiac remains strong as they return for Bobcat Weekend, where Tim plays in the alumni baseball game.
“We love running into old friends at the hockey games and reminiscing about our QC days,” Tina said. “It always brings a smile to our faces."
Seeing each other in new lights
Kenisha McFadden '16 and Stephen Mendez '17 in Japan last Christmas.
For Kenisha McFadden ’16 and Stephen Mendez ’17 Bobcat pride is just a part of the routine.
They met while working on Q30 Television in the media suite, working on multiple shows and seeing each other constantly. While they don’t work together anymore, spending time together is important to them.
“We went to Tampa in 2016 to support the men’s ice hockey team in the Frozen Four,” Kenisha said. “We then went back to Tampa to see them win in 2023!”
The pair works for different tech companies, always similar but a little bit different. The one thing they’ll always have in common is their love for their school.
“Quinnipiac is the place where we found each other, so it will always be special,” she said.
First year fates
Mara (Johnson) Almada ‘05 and Joe Almada ‘05 on the Quad.
Mara and Joe at a friend's wedding.
Mara (Johnson) Almada ‘05 met Joe Almada ‘05 on the first day of her first year when his roommates hosted a party.
She knew them from her hometown of Paramus, New Jersey. Joe and Mara connected instantly and began dating shortly after.
Mara recalled their dates at Eli’s on Whitney and hiking Sleeping Giant during their time together at Quinnipiac.
“We had a class together, philosophy, and sat next to each other. We would get Ray & Mikes and knew each other's orders by heart,” said Mara.
After graduating, the pair married in 2009.
Great food, even greater company
Miles Adrian ‘15 and Bridget (O’Connor) Adrian ‘14 on the Quad while attending Quinnipiac.
A mutual friend introduced Miles Adrian ‘15 and Bridget (O’Connor) Adrian ‘14 and insisted that they would be a perfect match.
Miles and Bridget with their son on the Mount Carmel Campus last year.
"The rest is history," Bridget explained. “Our time at Quinnipiac allowed us to get to know another and form lifelong friendships. We speak frequently of our time at Quinnipiac and all the fun memories shared. It gave us the foundation to begin our relationship since I'm from Long Island and Miles is from Boston originally. It also made Connecticut our home.”
Among the many memories made, some that the couple noted were many hikes up Sleeping Giant and breakfast dates at Whitney Donut.
After graduation, Miles and Bridget got married in July 2021 and decided to start a family right here in Connecticut, welcoming their little boy William in September 2023.
The beginning of a new family
Kelly Meenan Taylor '17, MS '19 and Brendan Taylor '17 with their daughter and dog.
When Kelly Meenan Taylor ’17, MS ’19, and Brendan Taylor ’17 met during their sophomore year, they had no idea it was the beginning of a new family.
Mutual friends introduced them and they just kept spending time together. They always enjoyed the bustle of life on the Mount Carmel Campus, especially the first weekends back after a break and the early weeks of spring.
“Quinnipiac was such an exciting and memorable time for both of us,” Kelly said. “Some of our closest friends and over half of our wedding party are people we met at Quinnipiac. It really was the beginning of our family!”
They’ve started to raise their own family, beginning with their dog and 16-month-old daughter, who very recently came to campus for her first visit.
Love and growth
Jason Klein ‘02 and Alyssa (Zottoli) Klein '02, MPT '04 at their graduation.
Jason Klein ‘02 and Alyssa (Zottoli) Klein '02, MPT '04, met through mutual friends during their first year and continued their friendship up until senior year when they lived in the same residence hall.
Jason looks back on their time at Quinnipiac as a pivotal chapter in their lives, one that shaped their relationship in ways that still resonate with them today.
“We have so many great memories from college, it's difficult to pick just one. Generally speaking, I like thinking back to a time in our lives when we were learning about ourselves and each other, together. I think having that time together, without any real world responsibilities, serves as a great foundation for the relationship we have today. Quinnipiac played a major role in that for us,” said Jason.
Since graduation, Jason and Alyssa have built a life together with two daughters, Ava and Jade. They continue to return to Quinnipiac each year, cherishing the memories and witnessing the school's evolution.
“Quinnipiac will always be a special place for us,” Jason said.
From losing Q-Cards to finding love
John Naro ’18 and Amanda Naro ’18 smile on their wedding day.
John Naro ’18 and Amanda Naro ’18 met at Quinnipiac during their first year in Commons, all thanks to a lost Quinnipiac lanyard. That chance meeting turned into something lasting.
“We met as first-year students and have been together ever since,” Amanda said.
Their connection to Quinnipiac runs deep; both attended both undergraduate and graduate school, John in the PA program and Amanda in the MAT program.
In July 2023, they got married, marking their next chapter.
From friends to forever
Greg Sim ‘92 and Karen (Faust) Sim ‘93 met in their management class with David Caden when Karen noticed Greg sitting in the back of the room. "You’re new," she said, to which Greg responded that he was a transfer student.
Karen recalled her first impression saying, "I thought he was cute, he thought I was sassy (and cute too)."
Their friendship quickly turned into something more.
"I know this will sound corny, but we fell in love. We were friends first, had at least one class together every semester, and went to Valentine's semi-formal six months after we started dating and that night really solidified our fate,” said Karen.
Karen's advice to couples who meet in college? Balance is key.
"Don’t forget to still be kids and students. I was very involved with campus activities, but between my on-campus job, classes, and a boyfriend, I stopped going out and having fun. Balance is my advice."
Living in Orange, Connecticut makes it easy for the couple to visit Quinnipiac often. They attend sporting events, drive through campus and even revisit the very classroom where they first met.
"Even 30-plus years later, we love watching how the school has grown and changed," the pair said.
Did you find love at Quinnipiac? We want to hear your story! Share it here
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