Michael P. Kozak ('05) and Dinorah E. Delfin ('07)
In the spring semester of the 2003-2004 academic year, Michael P. Kozek and Dinorah E. Delfin met, unaware that their lives would become intertwined indefinitely from that moment forward.
Michael remembers that day vividly. "I arrived late to CIS (Computer Information Systems) class; it was a lab session, so we were required to sit at a computer. However, there weren't enough computers for every student, so I needed to find somebody to share with. Not unintentionally, I sat next to the girl wearing a long, black fur coat with her back to me. As soon as I sat down I introduced myself, only to find that the girl I sat next to was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. After a bit of chit-chat I knew that this was someone I wanted to spend more time with, so I asked if she would be my partner on a required class project. Fortunately she didn't already have a partner and she agreed. Little did I know the implications of that proposal."
Eventually, after much persistence on Michael's part, Dinorah agreed to go on a date with him. "I never expected to meet someone that I could be romantically involved with at school, much less fall in love with; but Michael changed all that." They have been together since, and they both expect the relationship to last far into the future. "I love her with all my heart, I can't imagine my life without her," Michael says. "One moment changed our lives, it is amazing to me the significance of the seemingly unimportant decisions that we make in our lives. When it comes down to it though, none of this would have happened had neither of us been students at Baruch, and I will always be thankful for that."
Michael graduated from Baruch in 2005 and is currently pursuing his law degree at Hofstra University. Dinorah is a senior in the Zicklin School of Business, and is looking forward to a long and prosperous career as an entrepreneur.
Tegan ('81) and Christine Eisenzopf ('80) Lee
It was my junior year (fall of 1978) and I was working part-time at the school's Administrative Computer Center and volunteering as a consultant in the Educational Computer Data Center located on 26th Street. As consultants we had a small work area with a small reference library, one bookcase of manuals that were kept locked behind a glass door, and a table where we could work with students who were having computer problems.
Students just wanting to look at the manuals had to sign for them and then return them as soon as they were done.
One day I found a student I did not recognize removing a manual from the lower level of this bookcase and I yelled (politely told him) that he was not allowed to be in this area without a consultant and that he was not allowed to remove any books without signing for them first.
He was very apologetic! As he turned around and stood up, I had to look up. "I'm 6'1" and he is 6'7". I told him he could have any manual he wanted; it was love at first sight. It turns out he was checking out our school's computer center to determine if this was the place to transfer to when he completed his associate degree at Queensborough Community College. Needless to say he started attending Baruch College full-time the next semester. We married two and a half years later and have been together for 24 years.
Allagaroo Garoo Gara '56
This is my personal perspective of 25 boys who touched on each other's lives in so many different ways that the whole was indeed greater than the sum of the parts despite what my cost accounting friends might say. Four members of Post "56 were ushers at my wedding and became lifelong friends including the Godfather's of my two children.
My most vivid memory of our first year was when Max MC'd the Freshmen Show with language so blue (for that time) that Dean Thompson threatened expulsion for him and all those associated with the show. We had had prior show-biz experience, when promoting a charity dance in Rego Park featuring Bill Haley to bring money into our treasury. It was a financial success and Ben's Charleston dance number made us think Gene Kelley was among us.
Dick ('50) and Audrey Siegelaub ('49) Barasch
Dick Barasch met Audrey Siegelaub in October 1945. He was on the football team, she was a booster (do they still have them anymore? They sold tickets to games, etc). It was love at first sight. Audrey graduated in 1949 majoring in foreign trade. Dick graduated in 1950 as an accountant after a short stay in the Army.
They have many memories, such as Harry the elevator operator and Lounge C where they first met. Dick practiced for himself and retired in 1996. They were married in November 1950 and celebrated 55 years of marriage Nov 25, 2005.They have three children: Felice, a psychiatric social worker for Nassau County; Spencer, an attorney and partner in law firm in Dallas, Texas; and Matthew, an attorney in practice for himself in Los Angeles. They retired in 1996 and reside in Boynton Beach, Florida. They both play tennis and are having the time of their lives.
Louis ('51) and Doris Zero ('50) Valenta
On December 23, 1948, a friend introduced a classmate to the Newman Club meeting at downtown CCNY and the events of the next 57 years of my life were put into motion. I was president of the organization and conducted a brief meeting, which was followed by our annual Christmas party. The new member's name was Louis Valenta and I thought he was quite handsome. I was especially impressed when he stayed until the end of the party and helped with the clean-up. A week later he called my home and invited me to attend a basketball game on January 1st at Madison Square Garden. However, on January 1st I awoke with a sore throat and high temperature. I had no way of reaching my date, who lived in the Bronx and would soon be traveling to my home in Brooklyn. I contacted my friend and asked her to come to my home and help entertain him. Fortunately he was not discouraged by our first date or by the travel (by train) from the Bronx to Brooklyn, often twice on a weekend.
We became engaged at our senior prom on December 17, 1949, and were married on January 20, 1951. Lou worked in advertising and sales promotion and eventually as district salesman for a distributor of Carrier Air Conditioning. I pursued my career in accounting, working a total of 34 years with time off to raise our three children, Louis Jr., Victoria, and David. We are now the proud grandparents of five granddaughters. This year we celebrated 55 years of married life together. We were very impressed with a recent visit to the new Baruch College building located two blocks from where we first met.
