For the first time in 25 years, Jan Sniffin ’76 returned to the place she once called home.
“It is so different, even more so than 25 years ago when I was here for my 25th reunion,” she said. “There’s so much more available to the students, and I’m so impressed.”
This year marks 50 years since Sniffin graduated from Endicott, officially making her a “Golden Gull.” Along members of her fellow Class of 1976, she returned to the Nest for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, Sept. 25-28, to celebrate the milestone and revisit the place where so many of her college memories began.
An interior design major at the then all-women’s college, Sniffin lived in Tower Hall with two of her best friends who studied commercial art. While those Gulls couldn’t make the trip back to campus this year, Sniffin arrived with a mission: take it all in, snap plenty of photos, and bring a little piece of Endicott back to them.
“I thought it would be a great idea to come back and take a look at everything. We packed a lot into two years,” she said. “We’d get on our bikes and go up to Gloucester or down to Beverly. Lots of times we’d actually go off to Ipswich because freshman year you weren’t allowed to have a car, so we learned how to do everything either by the shuttle bus or bicycle or walk.”
After graduating, Sniffen worked for a bit, then switched careers. After earning a degree in computer science from Charter Oak State College, she worked as a computer programmer for over 40 years. Now, Sniffen resides in Vernon, Conn.
As she reminisced about her Endicott days, one memory in particular made her laugh: feeding ice cream to the catfish in one of the campus ponds.
“We’d go to the dining center, come out with little cups of ice cream. We’d put some on a spoon. The catfish would come up, and actually eat it.”
Though Sniffin returned after 25 years, another Golden Gull’s homecoming was even longer in the making.
Sonia Thomas, a member of the Class of 1956, returned for the first time in 70 years, bringing with her memories of small classes, lifelong friendships, and dorm room adventures.
“This was my stepping stone from being a member of a large family to being on my own,” said Thomas. “I loved it here. I was really sorry to leave in the summertime to go home because I made so many friends. It was just a beautiful college.” Now approaching 90 years old, she recalled meeting her future husband at an Endicott dance after he traveled from Bates College to campus. Just six weeks later, the two were married.
The history major, one-time President of Student Council, and former Rhododendron Festival Queen said that Endicott still comes to mind every day.
“I was really looking forward to seeing how it’s grown,” she said. “Everybody wants to go back to something. I come back to Endicott.”
Gulls Weather the Storm
With Saturday’s nor’easter looming over campus, one thing was clear: even pouring rain and high winds couldn’t stop the Gulls from making the most of Homecoming.
At Hempstead Stadium, the Endicott football team dominated Husson, 35–6. Meanwhile, at the MacDonald Gymnasium, the Endicott women’s volleyball bested Roger Williams, 2–1.
Earlier in the day, Endicott Athletics also welcomed Josh Bowes ’18 M’21 (men’s ice hockey), Evan Couchot ’20 (men’s soccer), Lance Greene ’13 M’17 (men’s basketball), and Bella Rino Polselli ’19 (women’s lacrosse) into the Hall of Fame.
“Our Hall of Fame inductees helped establish the standards, traditions, and expectations that today’s Gulls have inherited,” said Endicott College President Bryan Cain, Ph.D. “The uniforms may change and seasons will end, but culture gets passed from one generation to the next. That is the legacy we celebrate.”
For students, the weekend offered a chance to show their families what life at the Nest is all about.
Art therapy major and dance minor Marissa Cole ’29 reunited with her parents, who made the trip from Rhode Island after dropping her off. Together, they spent Saturday taking in Fan Fest at the Post Center and making the most of Homecoming & Reunion despite the elements.
“I love that Endicott has tried to make the most of the weather situation and still have the event. They adjusted very well; we get to watch a football game on the big screen,” noted Cole’s mom, Michelle. “We still have all the vendors and everything walking through here, so it’s been really great.”
For elementary education major Audrey Wildrick ’29, Homecoming & Reunion was a chance to bring a little bit of the Berkshires to the Nest, as she welcomed her best friend to campus for the weekend.
“It’s not really nice outside, but that’s not stopping us,” said Wildrick.
Claws for Celebration
As the day’s festivities rolled along, alumni gathered at College Hall for an afternoon of tea, conversation, and nostalgia, exploring Endicott’s rich history through photographs, artifacts, and stories from the archives.
At Misselwood House, hospitality professor and La Chanterelle manager Ryan Blodgett ’10 M’17 walked Gulls through a tasting of four wines, accompanied by a lesson on food pairings.
Next up was a true Endicott tradition: the famous lobster dinner, a Homecoming & Reunion staple for Gulls past and present.
The evening came alive at Tupper Manor with live music, dancing, plenty of laughter, and, of course, more lobster. Amid the festivities, the Endicott community also took time to celebrate several Gulls whose impact extends far beyond the Nest.
Among those honored was Linda Frame Cleary ’76, recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award,
which recognizes a graduate who has demonstrated exceptional achievement, integrity, and service through their profession, community, and commitment to Endicott.
“She has remained a devoted member of the Endicott community for decades: as an alumna, former member of the Board of Trustees, and generous advocate for students,” said President Cain. “Her service, generosity, and enduring love for Endicott have made a lasting difference in the lives of our students and in the life of this College.”
Together with her children, Cleary established a Family Scholarship Fund at Endicott to support students with significant financial need, helping ensure that financial circumstances do not stand in the way of earning an Endicott degree.
Allie Barnard ’11 received the Eleanor Tupper Award, which honors a young alumnus who exemplifies service, leadership, and commitment to the Endicott community.
“When she walked across the commencement stage, her diploma represented far more than completed coursework—it was a testament to courage,” said Pat Hewitt, Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “As a young single mother navigating the delicate balancing act of raising a child while pursuing higher education, her path through Endicott’s Keys to Degrees program was defined by relentless grit and unshakeable resolve.”
Over the next decade, Barnard translated that same tenacity into corporate excellence. She steadily climbed the ranks at Captivate Media, mastering the evolving digital media landscape and establishing herself as an indispensable strategist.
“Allie’s story is a vivid reflection of Eleanor Tupper’s founding vision—a testament to what happens when personal fortitude meets opportunity,” said Hewett. “Honoring Allie celebrates both a spectacular corporate milestone and a deeply human story of perseverance that will inspire Endicott students for generations to come.”