Post-war love

During World War II women dominated the Hilltop. And then, in 1946, GIs returned to campus and student population doubled. It’s said that many romances followed. Among them were Al and Betty Boysen.

“In those days there wasn’t much contact between the sexes other than dining together,” recalls Al Boysen ’49, a GI who roomed four years in Merner Hall with Don Stucki ’50, who had convinced him to come to Cornell after they met while serving in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. “The girls had curfews so it was very limited what we could do together.”

That changed for Al when Betty Cain Boysen ’50 got a live-in position providing domestic service at the President’s House. She was one of six women students who lived on the third floor of the home then occupied by President Russell Cole ’22, Arrola Bush Cole ’21, and their two daughters, one of whom was Betty Cole Rega ’48.

“The guys would come to see us and there was a second floor landing, which was like a lounge with sofas. That’s where some of us, including Betty Cole herself and her boyfriend, met,” Betty says. “They let us make snacks in the kitchen.”

The Boysens say Arrola Cole was instrumental in encouraging the romances. Often the boyfriends could stay to help clean up after special events at the house, which allowed the couples more time together.

“She always liked to help these young couples who were dating,” Al says. “If one of us couples got engaged, she had a maple tree planted. They were called matrimonial maples.”

Al and Betty, now married 67 years, have a favorite memory of returning to their former presidential quarters during an alumni reception at the home when Philip Secor was president.

“We told him about the experience as students,” Al recalls. “He said, ‘Well, come on. I’ll show you.’ And his kids said, ‘Dad, you’re not gonna let them see our rooms are you?’”