The dreary weather and muddy conditions, reminiscent of Stony Brook’s early days, did not seem to damper the spirits of some proud SB alumni, who returned for Homecoming 2009.
‘Late 70’s, the ground was still muddy,’ Frank Roethel, 63, a retired Professor from Stony Brook, as well as Nassau Community College, joked.

According to James Keneally, President of the Alumni Association, said the association-a major sponsor of Homecoming-was pretty happy with the turnout, despite the weather.
‘I had a wonderful time here,’ Keneally, class of 1979 said. ‘[Stony Brook] had a reputation of a suitcase school, but I never went home.’

Joe Crook, 50, class of 1980 said he remembers good times at the Rainy Night House, a coffee house in the Union Basement. Paul Molinari, 60, a retiree from the Federal Environmental Agency, said he remembers all the great concerts.
Accoring to Keneally, his memorable experiences are a huge reason why he is still involved.
‘I want to give back,’ he said. ‘I feel an obligation on my part.’

While Stony Brook has changed in many ways since these alumni walked the halls of the Union and the Library, some things seemed to still stay true today.
‘The surprising thing was how challenging the science and math departments were,’ Tony Chiarenza, 49, a business owner said. ‘ Compared to other schools’hellip; Columbia’hellip;on par no question. They made you learn.’

For many of the alumni, it came down to the people they met while at Stony Brook.

Keneally met his wife of 24 years at Stony Brook, as did Molinari.

‘Stony Brook has been a good to me,’ Roethel said. ‘I developed friends of 30 plus years. It’s a great place to make friends.’