Whether it was love at first sight or finding kinship in the student newsroom, there are plenty of love stories that found their beginnings at The Beach.

In celebration of a special Valentine’s Day-themed Show Your Love for The Beach fundraiser, we asked three couples who met at Cal State Long Beach to share their stories. Here is Joe and Carolyn's.

Joe and Carolyn Ruszkiewicz

Journalists at heart, Joe and Carolyn Ruszkiewicz knew they were right for each other as soon as they met in 1967. Joe graduated from CSULB in 1970 with a degree in creative writing, and Carolyn graduated with a comparative literature bachelor’s degree in 1971 and an English literature master’s in 1973.

Joe shares their story below:

How we met

Actually, Carolyn and I met at Long Beach City College in January 1967. I was the outgoing editor of the Viking [student newspaper] and she was the incoming editor. From there, we both went on to CSULB as did many of our closest friends who were fellow journalism students.

Favorite date activities at CSULB

Because we both worked and attended classes, there wasn’t much time for extensive socializing on the CSULB campus, except for the occasional lunch. But we did get together after hours to “rap” at our respective homes with our journalism friends. As far as personal socializing, Carolyn and I would have pizza in the back room at Di Piazza’s on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore.

When we knew we would one day get married

From the moment we met in 1967 and realized that we were kindred spirits, which we still are 54 years later. We pretty much think alike and often find ourselves saying something the other of us was thinking at the moment. 

How we stay connected with CSULB

We get together for lunch with Howie Fitzgerald (Director of Development for the College of Liberal Arts) who fills us in on all the latest developments, primarily in the communications department at CSULB.

What we love most about CSULB

The people we met there, who are still our best friends today.

How we show your love for CSULB

We’ve made it a part of our estate plan.

Our most recent gift

We make an annual contribution at Christmastime to the 49er Foundation.