#mceligot

Mike and Anne have been together for more than 40 years, and it all started at a KUCI music mixer. Their advice for fellow Anteaters? Get involved on campus and you’re certain to meet a wide range of interesting, creative people. Today, Mike and Anne have six grandchildren and are still close to the friends they made at UCI. 

What brought you to UC Irvine? In other words: Why UCI?

Newer campus (at the time), close to the beach, in OC

What was your major? What year did you attend and/or graduate?

Biological Sciences (Mike), Economics (Anne)

When did you meet your sweetheart?

1974

How did you meet your sweetheart?

We met at a KUCI music mixer

What attracted you to each other?

Not much at first….Anne dismissed Mike as “just another surfer”……but later, long late night talks around campus led to romance, and then adventure……

How long have you been together?

40 + years

Favorite love song/story/poem/book/movie?

Favorite song is Moondance by Van Morrison

Best Valentine’s Day present?

3 Dozen of the most beautiful tulips, a terrific bottle of champagne and a homemade Valetine’s Day Card.

What are you planning for Valentine’s Day this year?

A Valentine’s party sleepover with 6 grandkids!

What’s the secret to keeping a good love story going?

Love, respect and forgiveness.

How did UC Irvine play a part in your love story?

Our lives revolved around the campus. KUCI and the newspaper offices were on the same small floor and the ASU was just down the stairs. A lot of energetic and creative people made it an exciting time at UCI.

What is the most romantic spot on campus?

‘Back in the day’, there were several spots on campus that proved to be romantic, the inner-circle, (Aldrich Park), the marsh on Campus Drive, dimly lit parking lots….

Any advice for Anteaters seeking love?

Be open to all types of interesting people. Talk, agree, disagree, but always be kind and respectful. Love will happen when you least expect it.

Anything else you’d like to add?

We were at UCI towards the end of the Vietnam war and after. There was a great deal of anxiety in the country and in the world. At UCI we had protests, speakers from both anti-war and pro-government groups. We had some heated events, but few were violent as I recall. One thing was certain, no one felt that others didn’t have a right to their own opinions. Our advice - Listen, learn, and find your own way to be active on campus. We chose the campus radio station and other groups as a way of getting involved.

Today, many of our closest friends were those we found at UCI.