Buffs Love Stories: Finding Forever at CU Boulder
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we asked alumni to share their CU love stories, and the responses spanned generations of Forever Buffs. From 1950s romance to modern-day proposals at Folsom Field, each story reflects the unique experiences and deep connections Buffs have made during their time at CU Boulder.
Forever Buffs love stories can celebrate more than romantic love. During your time at CU Boulder, you explored academic interests, developed new hobbies and fell in love with the beautiful campus and Boulder area. Do you have a Forever Buffs love story? Tell us what you fell in love with at CU Boulder.
Forever Buffs falling in love
Between studying at Norlin Library during finals and meeting for coffee at the Laughing Goat Cafe, Briana W. (Film‘16) fell in love with her partner of nine years while they were both students at CU Boulder. One of their favorite dates was seeing a Halloween showing of Shaun of the Dead at Farrand Field.
After bonding over their shared love for CU Boulder as undergraduates, Royer Lopez (Mktg’18; MBA’27) knew there was no better place to propose to Angelica Chavez-Lopez (Econ’17; MEdu’21) than where it all began. Using the jumbotron on Folsom Field, Royer asked the million-dollar question: Angie, will you marry me?
“It was a truly unforgettable experience,” he says, “Two lifelong Buffs, taking in the stunning view and looking ahead to a lifetime together.”
Is there anything better than attending each other’s CU Boulder graduations after weathering the highs and lows of the college experience together?
“Perhaps one thing is better — seeing those diplomas hang side by side in our family home 13 years later,” says Christie Henry (Jour’12), who married Levi Henry (Math’12) in 2015. “CU is a chapter in our forever story.”
Now in their eighties, John (ElEngr’59) and Pat Kochan celebrated 65 years of marriage after meeting as CU students in the 1950s. “We forever hold CU in our hearts,” says Pat. The couple now lives in Dallas but often reminisces on their early years of love in Colorado.
In the fall of 1965, Gordon Herrald (A&S’69) spotted a beautiful young woman across a crowded fraternity volleyball court on CU Boulder’s campus. “For me, it was love at first sight,” he recalls. They were married in July of 1971.
Whether these couples are celebrating 65 years of marriage, sharing diplomas in their family home or reminiscing about study dates many years ago, their love stories are a testament to the forever bonds formed at CU Boulder.
“M at a party and his apartment at college townhouses sophomore year 1984. Dated intensely but broke up in 1985 because I was thinking of marriage. We were apart for over 30 years when we ran into each other by accident at homecoming 2017. Back together since 2019. SKO BUFFS! Ralphie brought us back together!” @lmwilliams1965
“We met through mutual friends on the hill in 2012…We married at Chautauqua in 2017 and now have three beautiful children! Forever buffs💗”. @camilleglotz
“My husband and I met on the day of the CU vs. CSU game in 2013 — there's even a photo capturing the exact moment we met. The rest is history! We got married in 2022 and just welcomed our baby girl in October 2024. Forever grateful that CU brought us together! 💛🖤”@kaylamgruber
“I met my best friend in 2005 outside of the UMC, who is really now my sister. So, our boys are cousins! Still sisters.” @coloradogrlinlilly3663
“M my husband in the financial aid line in 1993. We both lived in Darley North. Our oldest daughter, an alum, was also assigned Darley North as a freshman. Still together ❤️” @tanyavigilmorris
“I admired from the day we moved into Cheyenne Arapaho, and finally introduced myself on Valentine's Day 1991. We married five years later, and this Friday marks 34 years since my nervous introduction on the third floor.” @themiket
“M through our friend group at the old TKE main our sophomore year - together for over 8 years now and got married October 2024! My parents met at CU Boulder in 1985, married 38 years this year 🥹” @sarsarhome