A blind date 36 years ago connected Scranton sophomores Chris Neumann and Nancy Lange. Over the next three decades, their love for each other – and the University – inspired them to return the favor by bringing others into the fold. This extends to their sons, Nancy’s sister, and even the Neumann family babysitter. We asked these Royal recruiters what makes Scranton special.
What first drew you to Scranton?
Chris Sr.: Friendly people when visiting, and I visited on a beautiful day in April when a lot of students were playing basketball and tennis on the courts on the Commons where the library is now. I did not know that the weather would be ‘different’ than that day.
Nancy: Nice people on campus who were all saying “Hello.” I knew I was in the right place.
Chris Jr.: Family connections and stories about all the good times that my parents and aunts and uncles had at the University.
Tim: There was really no other choice. I’m really looking forward to attending.
What major did you choose and why?
Chris Sr.: I had three majors: computer science, engineering and finally, public administration. Public administration was a great major because it was a mix of political science and business, which led me to law school.
Nancy: Accounting, because I took accounting in high school and loved it.
Chris Jr.: Entrepreneurship. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and the entrepreneurship major was unique to Scranton.
Tim: I am going to be an accounting major at the University because I am a numbers person, just like my mom.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
Chris Sr.: Martin Hall. I spent three years in Martin Hall and that was where I met my closest lifelong friends.
Nancy: Gonzaga House. I lived there sophomore year. It was the first year the school owned the house, and the girls I lived with were amazing. One of my roommates, Jackie O’Donnell, fixed Chris and I up on a blind date for the “Fix-A-Friend” dance. That was back in 1985. We’ve been together ever since then.
Chris Jr.: The gym. I have a great time there playing ball with friends or getting in a good workout.
Tim: To be determined.
Who is /was your favorite professor or class?
Chris Sr.: Politics in the USSR, former CAS Dean William Parente. Dean Parente predicted the fall of the Soviet Union back in 1986, which was really incredible. Any class with Dr. Michael DeMichelle or Dr. Len Champney.
Chris Jr.: Professor David Mahalak.
Did you/do you have a favorite Jesuit?
Chris Sr.: Father Eugene R. Powers. He let me withdraw passing from Calculus when I was failing miserably.
Chris Jr.: Father Marina.
What is/was your favorite on-campus eatery?
Chris Sr.: We only had one place to eat on campus, the cafeteria in the Gunster Memorial Student Center. I worked there and it was clean, but the food was not great. The best thing was cheesesteaks at lunch.
Nancy: Back then we didn’t have any options and I agree with Chris, the food was not great.
Chris Jr.: Chick-fil-A.
Tim: Looking forward to Chick-fil-A every day.
What is/was your favorite part of being a Scranton student?
Chris Sr.: Hands down, it was all the great friends that we made while at ‘the U.’ Also, I was challenged as a student, which laid the groundwork for the rest of my career.
Nancy: All the great friends that I met, and being part of the Scranton family.
Chris Jr.: I love the tight-knit community and being challenged professionally.
Would you recommend Scranton to a high school student?
Chris Sr.: Absolutely. I have been proud to be a ‘Royal Recruiter,’ speaking to high school students about attending the University. I also had the pleasure to speak on a panel for high school students who have been accepted at the University.
Nancy: Yes, and I have, to many people. I strongly recommended Scranton to Chris Jr.’s babysitter, Maureen Conklin-Morris, and she attended ‘the U.’ I even convinced my sister, Diane Lange Keuler ’88, to transfer to Scranton her sophomore year of college.
Chris Jr.: Of course, I was able to convince my brother Tim to attend.
Chris, what inspired you to join the alumni board? What have you liked best about it?
I wanted to join the alumni board because I love the University and I thought that joining the alumni board would give me a way to connect with alumni that I may not have seen in a while, and with students. I also enjoy seeing how the University is growing and how amazingly talented the students currently attending are. On the Board, we have been able to, with the help of Marge Gleason and the Advancement Office, to put together an Alumni-Student Golf Outing last year, which was a great time for all who participated. We hope to get more folks involved this year.
#Royals4Others. In Northport, New York, the Neumann family donates their time with Cooking for Long Island Veterans to help homebound veterans with mobility or health limitations receive healthy meals and groceries delivered to their home. Chris and Nancy also volunteer with the St. Philip Neri Children Youth Organization (CYO) basketball program.
A Walk Back in Time
Commencement Day for Chris and Nancy in 1987.
Nancy’s original dance ticket that led two sophomores to begin their #ScrantonLoveStory.
The couple returns for a campus visit with Chris Jr. in tow.
