A series of serendipitous events led Larry Cervi (EDUC '58) to found the University of Pittsburgh’s Golden Girls in 1975.
“As a child, I broke my wrists in a fall. For therapy, I had to twist sticks, which eventually morphed into batons—which I eventually learned to twirl,” said Cervi in a 2022 interview with Pitt Magazine.
A milestone celebration aims to recognize 50 years of that history the weekend of Aug. 29-31. Festivities will include a special halftime performance on Saturday, Aug. 30 as Pitt kicks off its football season at home against Duquesne University.
Leading up to the anniversary weekend, take a walk through Golden Girls history with memories from alumni and directors, past and present.
Bernadette Haase (A&S ’81), Golden Girl
"At age 9, I became a member of Larry Cervi’s baton corps, the Golden Triangles, where I remained until my first Pitt Band Camp. For me, it was a natural progression and desire to continue performing under his exceptional direction. The thought of earning a college degree at the same time was extremely attractive. Our Panthers won the National Championship the year before, and since my home wasn’t too far away, my parents were able to enjoy the extended band community and attend many games. The memories and magical moments remain immeasurable. From my first run into the sacred Pitt Stadium to my final game at the Citrus Bowl, the chills and emotions were constant."
Susie Smithmyer (A&S ’16, EDUC ’17G), Golden Girl
“As a group, it was always so special to hear our band announcer say, ‘Featuring our famous Golden Girls’ when announcing the band. We all snapped into our positions and everything felt so surreal. I think we could all agree that in that moment, chills always went down our backs because we were just so honored to be representing Pitt and being part of the game-day experience. I was also lucky enough to be the first down-the-field-twirler to wear a unique, solo uniform. It was the best feeling to lead the band with the drum major and pump up the crowd! When thousands of people are watching you, even though you’re one person, you become part of a whole community—not only the Golden Girls as a group, but our entire Pitt community.”
Darcy Mautino (A&S ’14, SCI ’16G), Golden Girl
"There is something so special about running out of the tunnel for pregame. The energy was always so electric, and it never got old. I looked forward to it every single game day, and it’s the thing I miss the most!”
You can read the full story on Pitt Alumni.