During the recent Alfred (N.Y.) University reunion in early June, 22 couples, including three from Bradford, participated in a Reconfirmation of Love event in honor of meeting at the university, marrying and remaining together.

One of the Bradford couples, Faye and Scott Parisella, who graduated in 1964, also provided entertainment for the special event by singing two love duets titled, “Perhaps Love” and “You and I.”

The other two Bradford couples honored at the ceremony, conducted by Alfred University President M. Zupan, were Mary and Scott Gibbs, 1975, and Flo and Steve Cohen, 1969.

Faye Parisella said a woman who organized the reunion came up with the idea of honoring couples who met at Alfred and married. She said they filled out information on their reunion reminders, which mentioned the Reconfirmation of Love event for couples who qualified.

“Anybody who was interested, even if it wasn’t their special reunion (for five, 10 or 15 years and beyond) was told to be sure and come” for the Reconfirmation event, she explained. “They gave every lady a rose and they introduced the couples. We were the oldest.”

Parisella noted she and her husband married the same year they graduated.

“We met some who were only married four years, and some were 10 years — we all just had so much fun talking,” she added.

Faye Parisella said she and her husband knew the Cohens had met at Alfred and married, but they didn’t know the Gibbses had also met at the university.

The Parisellas, who have sung together in community events in Bradford that have included Kiwanis Kapers, were asked by the organizer to sing at the beginning and end of the event.

“We had done one (love duet) in Kapers years ago, “You and I,” so it was just perfect,” she remarked.

Scott Gibbs also weighed in on the ceremony.

“This was the first time we’ve been involved with this,” Gibbs said. “It was nice and we knew several of the couples.

“Mary contacted (the university) and made reservations for the reunion and whoever she talked to informed her of this ceremony,” he added. “They realized Mary and I were together (at Alfred) and mentioned it to her.”

Gibbs said the Reconfirmation process asked couples to say a vow to recommit to each other.

“We said it all at once,” he said of the couples’ vows that were said in unison. “And when (the Parisellas) sang, it was very touching. The whole thing was pretty cool.”