'MILESTONE' FAMILY: THE RICHARDSONS

Three generations: Morris '50, Dan '75, Heather '00, and Amanda Richardson (left to right)

It wouldn't be a major milestone in the University's history without a member of the Richardson family of Hilton, N.Y., in the graduating class. Or so it seems.

Class of 1950--the University's Centennial--there was Morris Richardson.

Class of 1975--the 125th anniversary--there was Daniel E. Richardson, Morris's son.

And for the Class of 2000--the Sesquicentennial--there was Heather Richardson. Granddaughter of Morris, and daughter of Dan, the history major continues a remarkable string of family connections to the University's major anniversary years.

"It's kind of neat, but it certainly was not planned," says Dan.

The former physics major admits he first noticed as a student that his family orbited the campus in regular intervals.

"I didn't think about it until I was halfway through that I would graduate in the 125th anniversary year," he says. "As I thought about it, I realized that my father had graduated with the 100th anniversary class."

But it didn't mean much until Heather, who plans to pursue a career in teaching, enrolled. "When Heather decided to go to Rochester, we realized that she would be in the Class of 2000, so we've been talking about it for a couple years," Dan says.

Morris, a Rochester native, enrolled at the University after his discharge from the Navy in 1946 and also studied physics. After graduation, he worked in several technical and scientific jobs and earned a patent for his work on a process that changes some chemicals from a solid state to vapor.

In 1963, his wife, Eleanor, a nurse, suggested that the two of them open a local nursing home that would specialize in maintaining a small, cozy atmosphere for residents. The family now owns and operates the Hamilton Manor Nursing Home and the Latta Road Nursing Home in Greece.

Dan followed his father into the business after graduation.

In addition to Heather, Dan's other daughter, Amanda, works as a certified nursing assistant at Strong Memorial Hospital and plans to transfer to the University from Monroe Community College.

And there is at least one more chance to continue the streak.

Dan also has a new baby son, Daniel M., who was born in 1999.

"We've been joking about what it would take to have him graduate in 2025," Dan says.

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