’Cane Couples' Stories

Chocolates will melt, flowers will wilt, but a gift to the University of Miami will last forever. Share the love of scholarship and make your gift here today!

Amy and Russell Kotch

Maybe it wasn’t love at first sight. But it was definitely love meant to last.

Amy Holm, B.S.'13, and her husband Russell Kotch, B.S.'12, met at an Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity house party. Russell had just transferred to UM and Amy, a former New Yorker, was enjoying her time in the sunshine of Miami. They both quickly learned that they would be in three classes together. The classmates became great friends, and a year later the great friends became more than friends. After their first date, Amy says, she was given the AEPi sweetheart title.

Since then, the two have supported each other while building successful careers in their respective fields. Amy is a team leader and senior business consultant for Salient Healthcare, a technology company that creates solutions for population health data analytics. Russell is a partner at Kotch Dental and one of the team dentists for the Miami Marlins, Miami Dolphins, and Nova Southeastern University's Sharks athletic program.

Amy and Russell share a passion for water activities (particularly sailing and scuba diving), travelling (their all-time favorite was at trip Japan), and enjoying the arts through cinema, concerts, and cuisine.

Patrick O’Donnell and Shelby Etter

Chicago Bears football player Patrick O’Donnell fell in love with Shelby Etter, B.S.B.A.'13, at the U. It was fitting, then, that on February 2, 2019, Patrick proposed to Shelby on campus. He surprised her with a love brick at the bridge and she said yes!

Heidi and Eamonn DeLisser

Heidi Wood, A.B.'87 and Eamonn DeLisser first met on a Thanksgiving trip to Bimini organized by the University of Miami sailing club. 

Neither tides nor waves have kept the two apart since then – not even an eight day boat arrest in Havana. These moments, and their shared passion for sailing, have only made the DeLissers' love stronger.

Click here to see a short video of this 'Cane Couple.