Robert Ourisman, Sr. ’78 & son Robert Ourisman, Jr. ’12 Robert Ourisman, Sr. had a very simple philosophy about his son Robert’s Big Decision to apply to Rollins: “If your kids are happy, their grades are more likely to be good, so it’s a smart idea to have them at a school where they’re having a great time.” Hometown: Washington, DC Majors: Business & economics (Robert Sr.); economics (Robert Jr.) Origin of the legacy: Robert Sr. transferred from a business school in Boston for the warmth of Rollins, where his older brother, Johnny ’75, was enrolled. Robert Jr.’s mother, Eugenia Castleman, also attended Rollins in the ’70s. Legacy pressure? “My dad’s obviously a big advocate, but it was really a last-minute decision for me. After I got accepted to all the big schools, I realized that I wanted a small school, so I took a chance, applying to Rollins after the deadline had passed,” Robert Jr. said. Biggest change in 30 years: “That I’m not a 20-year-old student any more!” Robert Sr. joked, adding that he admires the school’s advances in “global” education. Common bond: Golf, skiing, and Jamaica, where the Ourismans have long had a vacation home
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Generation gap: “Real-time technology has taken some of the innocence away from these kids,” Robert Sr. said. “But it’s also helped this generation be more global and sophisticated in their thinking.” Sweet spot: X-Club (Robert Sr.); Sutton Place Apartments (Robert Jr.) F l a s h b a c k : “ Th e re ’s n o t h i n g b i t tersweet about visiting the campus. It’s all sweet. No bitter.” (Robert Sr.) Token from home: Dad’s X-Club T-shirt (although Robert Jr. ended up pledging Phi Delt) The workaday: Operating the family’s auto dealerships with his brothers (Robert Sr.); possibly joining the family business (Robert Jr.) Unforgettable: First day on campus, hanging out at the XClub with his older brother: “I was thinking, ‘It’s real. I’m really here.’” (Robert Sr.); bid day for Phi Delt: “It was exciting to get the one I wanted and to be part of their traditions.” (Robert Jr.)