Houck and Barrett in the ’70s: 2 dorms, 26 marriages
These Buckeyes came for college. They left with lifelong friends and soulmates—and stories worth telling time and again.
Poker followed by midnight ice hockey. Drinks at the Out-R-Inn. A ringleader who jumped out of a third-story window wearing a cape, a helmet and his underwear. The social scene between Houck House and Barrett House from 1972 to 1975 made for a classic college experience. Yet the bonds forged in those dormitories were uncommonly strong.
Since 1995, when they rented out Houck and relived their dorm experience, a group of over 60 alumni have been returning for unofficial residence hall reunions every five years, led by devoted organizer Richard “Smitty” Smith ’75. Remarkably, 26 marriages between men from Houck and women from Barrett emerged from that community. All but one of the couples are still together with the group’s 50-year festivities approaching this fall.
Why such a potent love connection? It stemmed from a close-knit group of mostly engineering students that some compared to a fraternity and sorority minus the Greek affiliations.
The Connellys
The Frantzes
“It seemed inevitable that an all-boys dorm sitting directly next to an all-girls dorm … Well, things were bound to happen!” Tim Picciano ’75 says. “And if my memory serves me correctly, Houck House was the first dorm to allow 24-hour visitation. … So I guess that probably accelerated the matchmaking process.”
Some romances sparked earlier than others. Gerard “Moe” Modecki ’75, ’76 MBA and Peggy Kuniewicz Modecki ’75 hit it off as orientation advisors for their respective dorms in 1972. Gail Klemencic Frantz ’76 had the same gig a year later when Peter Frantz ’77 was on campus early for cross country practice, facilitating a fateful night out at the Agora. Tim and Cindy Brinkman Picciano ’76 had been aware of each other—she’d seen his band Pic & Kono; he’d noticed her studying with his neighbors—but they didn’t get together until an encounter dancing at the Castle nightclub Tim’s senior year.
The Modeckis
The Piccianos
These enduring connections will be apparent when the Houck-Barrett group returns to campus Oct. 10–12. They’ll stay at the Blackwell, tour campus locales, including Ohio Stadium and the University Archives, and convene on the back patio at the Varsity Club to watch the football team take on Illinois, all the while celebrating half a century of loyalty and camaraderie.
“We really shared so many common ideals and experiences,” Gail Frantz says. “Basically, we grew up together. We certainly valued knowing the meaning behind ‘How firm thy friendship’ and have made it a lifetime commitment.”
