Featured Stories

Justin Macari ’17, MBA ’18 and Nicole (Elarde) Macari ’17, MS ’19

Left Top: Justin ’17, MBA ’18 and Nicole ’17, MA ’19 Macari in front of the CRS, Adelphi University, May 2017. Left Bottom: Justin ’17, MBA ’18 and Nicole (Elarde) ’17, MS ’19 Macari on their engagement day in front of the CRS, Adelphi University, December 2020. Right: Justin, Nicole and son, JJ

Justin and I met on our first day of Cross Country preseason in August 2013 when our team went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. We ran Cross Country track together for the following four years. We are so grateful for Coach Katie and the impact she had on each of us.

Despite knowing I wasn’t a fan of PDA, Justin decided to ask me to be his girlfriend on the Mets scoreboard, including my first and last name. I of course said no. Our “situationship” continued and about a year later, we finally made it official.

We graduated in 2017 with our bachelors degrees. We both furthered our education at Adelphi University where Justin earned his MBA and became a CPA and Nicole earned her masters degree in Speech Language Pathology.

Since graduating Justin has opened his own accounting practice in Commack, New York and has started to build his own empire.

I worked in a private practice in East Northport, New York up until this summer. I recently started a new job at a virtual company (eLuma) who placed me in a school.

In December 2020, Justin proposed at Adelphi University. This time I couldn’t wait to say yes! It was so special to have this very memorable moment happen outside of the CRS where we spent each morning at practices during our years at Adelphi. The security guards went above and beyond to make sure this moment went seamlessly.

In 2021 we bought a house in Commack, New York and moved in together after our wedding on November 12, 2022.

This past summer we welcomed our son JJ (Justin Alexander Macari, Jr.) and he has been the best part of our story, yet.

We are so grateful for the education that Adelphi gave us but even more so for the relationships that we formed, especially the one with each other. Adelphi will always hold a very special place in our heart.

Lou Flego ’55 and Sue Crandell ’55

Lou Flego and Sue Crandell were classmates at Hempstead High School (Class of 1951). They had been in several classes together and had exchanged smiles and glances, but had not dated. Lou was a 3 letter man (varsity football, basketball, baseball) and quarterback on the football team. Sue was a cheerleader and later, class valedictorian. After the team lost its first game of the 1950 season, Lou, (along with 2 pals brought along for moral support), came to Sue’s house unannounced to ask her out for hamburgers. That evening was the beginning of it all! (During that year four players on the football team dated four cheerleaders. All four couples later married and are still together 74 years after they met!) Lou received a football scholarship to Adelphi. Sue spent her first year of college at Swarthmore, but transferred to Adelphi to be with Lou the beginning of sophomore year. Lou played football, lacrosse, squash, golf and basketball for Adelphi. Sue became co-captain of the Adelphi cheerleaders and cheered for him. Sue was elected Co-President of Class of 1955. Lou was elected Class of 1955 Treasurer. Three days after graduation they were married on June 18, 1955. Two years with the USMC, raising three sons, careers in education, second careers teaching square dance and line dance……and the rest is history!