A chance remark at a university reception and a family connection to the Martin House led to a surprise anniversary party there in August.

Believing his engagement party was held at the Martin House, Frank Rankin ’80 made a remark to President Bill Ruud to the effect—“I partied in the house you now sleep in.”

After learning Jolie ’80, Frank’s wife, frequently visited her uncle, then President Gilmore Seavers, and with much collaboration between the two men and their staffs, the Martin House became the site for the Rankin’s 25th wedding anniversary—all unbeknownst to Jolie.

It was a quarter century since Jolie was in the Martin House. Walking in the front door was emotional enough as memories came flooding back. Bill Ruud, the mindful host, asked if she would like to start her tour with the downstairs then opened the doors to the front room. Shocked, she saw the faces of family and friends including her 88-year-old mother, Forrest Leone, her cousins Joy ’79-’88m (Gilmore’s daughter), and Mike ’86 (Gilmore’s nephew), her children, roommates Cheryl Stricker McCreary ’80 and Cheryl Mowery Downes ’81, and very close friend Pat Hartnett Kacyon ’80-’83m.

“It was so fitting because that particular room was where we had our family Sunday dinner,” Jolie said. “I remember the holidays with my Aunt Kathleen’s crèche on the mantle in the living room… It was very sentimental.”

Thanks to the Ruuds (whom Jolie met for the first time the night of her party), new memories join those from the past for members of the Seavers family.

Family and friends knew the surprise was real when Jolie (Leone) Rankin ’80, had to turn away for a moment before she and her husband Frank ’80 could join in the celebration for their 25th wedding anniversary. Frank mistakenly believed their engagement party, hosted by Jolie’s uncle, President Gilmore Seavers, was held at the Martin House. It was that misconception that led to the surprise party this summer with the Ruuds as co-conspirators.