Computer Matchmaking, Circa 1965

Reading “Dating at Princeton. It’s Complicated” in the June issue reminds me of an experience during my freshman year as a member of Princeton’s last all-male graduating Class of 1969. My roommates and I received by mail or other distribution paper invitations to fill out a questionnaire and send in with a fee for processing. My internet search reveals that it was probably the Harvard-based Operation Match, conducted in 1965. In response we participants received by mail the names of at least three women attending college in the broader area. My roommates, pretending they were also submitting questionnaires, encouraged me to rate myself higher in every category hoping to get a list of dateable women at my expense. I answered honestly and followed through by contacting two or three of the women. I know I met one in Manhattan who was attending college in NYC for a fun movie and dinner date; I may have met another as well. There was no second date. That summer I met my Linda in our hometown of Tulsa and we enjoyed 55 wonderful years together before her passing.