Alumni Profile – Marlene Buzzi-Boisse ‘61

Tell us about your family.
My Henry and I have been together since 1980.  We married in 1995 and together have six children, Henry has five and I have one. We also have eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

What have you done since graduating from LI? 
After graduating from Champlain College in 1963 with an associate’s degree in the Field of Medical Sciences, I landed a job with the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH.  My second job in the medical field entailed working for an Internist and my third position in the medical field – a Medical Records Librarian. After that I stepped away from the medical field and dabbled in commercial and interior design.  I worked as an associate in public relations and legal departments.  One of my most favorite positions was managing a women’s clothing store, The Daffodil, in South Burlington, VT.  I retired from the Department of Homeland Security in 2011.  After retirement, I had the good fortune of working part time as a sales associate for Clays, a women’s boutique, parent company of the Daffodil.  And now, I have truly retired since 2018.

How many people in your family have graduated from LI?
My two brothers, Michael ‘60 and Joe ’64, and my sister Gloria ’62. Joe has two daughters that graduated from LI, Nikki (Buzzi) Bigelow ‘94 and Tina (Buzzi) Simpson ‘98.  Nikki’s daughter, Julia Bigelow, graduated in 2023.

What was your first memory of Lyndon Institute?
In the Summer of 1953 when we moved to Lyndonville. It was a beautiful village, for sure, with a bandstand sitting on a green in the center of town,  a train depot, restaurants, beauty shops, women’s and men’s clothing stores, a library…and high on a hill in Lyndon Center stood and still stands a GEM – LYNDON INSTITUTE!

Were you involved in extracurricular activities?
I had a neighbor, Jacqueline (Jackie) Drew Brown ‘59 who was two years ahead of me in school.  I watched Jackie strut while twirling a baton, tossing it high into the air and catching it.  I thought this would be a cool extracurricular activity.  I was right, it was awesome.  Majorettes got to lead parades in Lyndonville, and all-star bands in Burlington.  We performed at high school football games and shows with band concerts during the winter.  Majorettes led the LI marching band at football games.  “When The Saints Come Marching In” was a hot marching number before the opening and closing of the LI/SJA football game.

Were you a “Townie” or a “Dormie”?
Lyndon Institute was special because there were townie’s and dormie’s. My BFF and I were wannabe dormie’s.  Why?  Because we thought they were majestic.  They dressed in really cool clothes, wore make-up and smoked.  Janet and I took up smoking.  I would go to the store to – “buy cigarettes for my DAD”.  Janet Knowlton and I would hike up to the ski jump at Lyndon Outing Club, sit under the jump and smoke away.  The wannabe dormie’s, Janet and Marlene.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?
I am planning to write an autobiography.  The cover and title of my autobiography will read like this:
“If you had to live on a remote island for the rest of your life, and you could pick only one person to live there with, who would you pick?”   Title of my autobiography: “The HEN: MAR Affair” by: Marlene Buzzi-Boisse

Did you ever attend “Teenage”?
Every Saturday night I attended the record hop called “Teenage”.  Mr. “Red” Nutting was a super DJ. Most of the boys would stand together up against one wall and the girls would stand together against another wall.  The girls would get out on the dance floor and jitter bug, stroll, twist, waltz, two-step together.  Occasionally, a boy would tap you on the shoulder to dance.  That’s how I met my first love…Peter Akley ‘61.  After that tap, we waltzed, he asked me to go to the Junior Prom with him.  I said yes and he then immediately left the hop because of a sportsmen’s 9:00 pm curfew.  This was back in 1960, and, voila, we became the high school sweethearts, college lovers, and husband/wife team in 1965.  Our marriage ended in 1978.

Which class helped you the most with your future endeavors?
I was a very apprehensive freshman, very shy, and I was not sure what I wanted to study.  We had a guidance counselor (a great source to visit with) and other than core classes, the groundwork was laid out for me to take business courses. Typing, shorthand, basic math would allow me to further my career path into office work. 

Who was your favorite teacher at LI?
I was very fortunate to take two years of Latin in high school.  I loved the subject matter led by one of my favorite instructors, May Campbell.

Where was your favorite place to hang out after school? 
Russell’s Drug Store was one of my favorite stomping grounds.  There was an ice cream and soda fountain in that drug store.  My friend, Shirley (Caron) Radcliffe ‘61 and I used to stop by the ice cream counter on a regular basis.  There we would discuss our classes, the boys, the clicks, the good, the bad, the ugly.

What type of vehicle did you drive to school?
My home was located on Elm Street in Lyndonville. My mode of transportation was “ANKLE EXPRESS”, a two mile walk to school and a two mile walk back home.  

Who were your friends? 
The second week of school during 5th grade, there came a knock on the door of my abode.  It was Janet (Knowlton) Grant ‘61, my very best friend forever (BFF) since 1953.  She said:  “Mrs. Buzzi, you don’t have to walk Marlene to school ever again.  I will come by every day, and we will walk to school together.”

What is your favorite quote?
“JUST SAY NO” - This statement was made by First Lady Nancy Reagan back in 1986.  This two-letter word, NO, can be so positive on so many levels.  It really does work: “JUST SAY NO”.