Judy Chapman (Pastro), BEd’71 and Ian Chapman, BASc’73

The Chapmans at the 1971 Last Chance Mixer a year after they met.

It was January 29, 1970. The rain was pouring down on a chilly Vancouver evening. My roommate and I were contemplating the free Friday night before us. We opened the Ubyssey to consult the Dances section. There was a dance at Totem Park – but, being in third year and having had our Totem time the two years prior, we were way too sophisticated for that.

The next ad caught our attention: The Engineers’ Last Chance Mixer – Lion’s Gate Hall, 4th Avenue. While “Last Chance” had a rather desperate feel to it (something about the last chance to find a date for the Engineers’ ball), the thought of a great admission charge (free) and the prospect of lots of men and cheap beer (25 cents) were hard to pass up. We put on our dancing shoes and headed off on the bus from our top floor suite at 4th and Alma to the Lion’s Gate Hall.

The hall was dark, smoky, loud and smelling of beer. Perfect. We melted into the side of the crowd and found a couple of spots at one of the long tables loaded with chips in plastic tubs and beer. Pure elegance.

White lace and promises

Within minutes a cute guy with long hippy hair, a crazy hat and the trademark red engineering jacket came over and asked me to dance. I said I just wanted to sit awhile and watch – but he persisted…. We danced and danced and talked and talked that night and for many, many nights to come.

We began dating exclusively. We dated through my graduation from Education in 1971 and, before his graduation from Engineering in 1973, on January 29, 1972, we were engaged. We were married on July 29, 1972.

Still in love: The Chapmans now

We still visit the campus and remember golden days spent running through the leaves along the main mall in the fall. We recall the winter of 1971 when snow closed the campus and we took long walks, and made snow angels on the lawn, and marveled at snow falling through the lamplight. We recall the bittersweet feeling of spring at UBC when the campus awakens in breathtaking colour and final exams and final goodbyes taint that beauty. We remember Jon’s pizza and the Hollywood Theatre, and Freddy Wood and the productions there. And of course, we remember the cinnamon buns and hot chocolate (35 cents for both) that would keep us from early classes.

We are indeed a UBC love story. This year we will celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary. Our UBC love story lives on. We have three children who have amassed 18 years and 5 degrees from UBC, and their spouses are also UBC grads! We are a proud UBC family – and we know that UBC is about much more than books and lectures and higher-level thinking – it is a place rich in memories and relationships and love too!