Augie Sweethearts: Virgi San Romani and Eugene Allen Johnson, Class of 1956

Submitted by Virgi San Romani of Chisago City, Minn.

I was a transfer student at Augie, being a third generation attendee of the college. I lived at Ivy Pearce Hall. The 10 of us there shared overseeing the visiting area, greeting and entertaining guests till their dates were ready. One evening several Seminarians, who had helped our Senior proctor's sorority build its float, came to visit. I was the greeter that evening. When the other residents heard 'MEN were visiting' they all came to the living area and socialized. 

Later the guys were comparing the gals; with my name, Virgi San Romani, coming up. (Definitely not a Swede they thought.) Eugene couldn't place who I was. On a dare he call me for a coffee date to the Drug store. The other guys even gave him the nickel for the pay phone call. From that dare we dated regularly until my Senior year; then broke up. 

Our reuniting occurred just before my graduation, during the yearly Sadie Hawkins week. By accident we saw each other at the Drug Store and he joked that it should be my turn to pay for coffee after all he'd spent on me. As a result, we got back together and married the following year; having 40 years of happiness together before his death. That was a lucky nickel for me!