The great and golden return

Countless memories were painted on the walls of apartment 9C throughout the 1974-75 University of Dayton academic year. More than 50 years later, Gail “Jake” Jacobsen ’76 returned to the apartment she used to call home many years ago.

During UD’s Reunion Weekend in June, Jacobsen had the opportunity to stay in her old apartment as she recalled story after story.

“I just walked in, and it was home,” she said. “It [was] a really good feeling being there.”

Upon entering, she immediately went to the living room to look at the wall. As a student, she and her roommates created “the Mug Club.”

Anyone was invited to join for $1 a month and could drink whatever the women had available in their apartment. First step: bring your own mug. From there, roommate Deborah “Cadet” Aviles would create a name card for each using a fancy Old English-style font. Aviles burned parchment paper around the edges, giving each mug’s name card an aged, antique look.

Totaling around 35, the mugs hung along the living room wall over a 12-foot-long bar. Returning for their 20th and 30th reunions, the roommates would run to the familiar wall and, despite being painted over, the outlines of the nails remained — a lasting imprint of the past.

Returning for their 20th and 30th reunions, the roommates would run to the familiar wall and, despite being painted over, the outlines of the nails remained — a lasting imprint of the past.

Upon returning to celebrate their 50th reunion, they noticed Campus South had been recently renovated — the wall was patched up, but the memories couldn’t be spackled over.

As she wandered through the halls, taking in the renovations, Jacobsen said, “Wow! They made it so much nicer. It doesn’t smell.”

But, while some things changed, the sheets remained. As a student, she had marveled at the two flat sheets on the bed.

“I burst out laughing. Nothing has changed in 50 years,” she said. The two flat sheets were staring straight at her. “I wonder if they do not have fitted sheets in Ohio?”

Some of her fondest memories were their Saturday mornings together where the roommates watched cartoons with special drinks until noon.

One particular Saturday morning, there was a knock at the door — it was Father Joe McDonald, S.M. He told them he’d been going door-to-door all morning, and they were the first to answer. From that moment on, the women remained close friends with Father McDonald — visiting him in his office and attending his sermons.

One night at the Campus South Mass, Father McDonald even talked about their group. His entire sermon was focused on them. The women sat there, backs against the wall, mouths agape.

“I’ll never forget him,” Jacobsen said.

Since graduation, Jacobsen has been heavily involved in the UD community — she always makes sure to attend basketball games when the Flyers come to her current residence in New Jersey.

But coming back for Reunion Weekend at this stage in her life was not just another visit to UD. Those memories once painted into the walls of apartment 9C had followed her across decades. As she shook President Spina’s hand, signifying her induction as a Golden Flyer, she realized those memories had shaped the life she's lived.

“I made it,” she said. “I never thought I would become a Golden Flyer.”

Historic photo courtesy Gail “Jake” Jacobsen ’76. Other photos by University of Dayton.