In fall 1958, Southeast student Don Tune met Sandra Nuss in Mr. Hamby’s hygiene class. In 2011, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

“After meeting in class, we studied, played tennis and went to frat parties together,” says Sandra. “We were pinned in 1959 and married in St. Louis in the summer of 1961.”

They spent a school year in Flint, Mich., where they both worked in the public schools before returning to Cape for the summer, so Sandra could complete her undergraduate degree.

Don completed his master’s degree in Columbia, Mo., and Sandra worked in the bookstore there. Their daughter Tara was born in 1963, and their son Jason was born 1966. The couple made their careers teaching in a variety of public schools and colleges in Illinois and Iowa. Don became athletic director and basketball coach at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., in 1980. Sandra taught English and biology until both retired in 1994.

Their daughter received her undergraduate degree in English from Southeast before moving to Tokyo, Japan, to teach. She now lives with her husband in Amsterdam.

“Since our wonderful life together began on this campus, it was important that our 50 th wedding anniversary celebration begin hereas well,” says Don.

As the Tunes walked with their children and grandchild across campus, Don told his 5-year old granddaughter, Skai, “You’ll be here next.”

In addition to planning for the third generation of Tunes to attend Southeast, the family wanted to sightsee before their celebration.

“We revisited Academic Hall and other places meaningful to our lives from 1958 to 1961,” says Sandra. “We have wonderful memories of these years and enjoyed sharing them with our family.”