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University employees share their favorite childhood toys

Aug. 4, 2023
troll doll with purple hair on top of a pencil
a desk and bookshelves displaying several barbie dolls
barbie doll with a multi-color dress
eeyore stuffed animal
toys including a green van, a cartoon character figure and a wrestling action figure
boxed barbie doll wearing a university of arizona cheerleading outfit
a group of dinosaur toys
side by side pictures of a stuffed polar bear
a desk full of action figures and other toys
stuffed banana with a frightened face
a father and two sonds in teenage mutant ninja turtle costumes surrounded by toys
several teenage mutant ninja turtles toys on a table
troll doll with purple hair on top of a pencil
"Confession: I used to collect Troll dolls of all sizes, occupations, etc. Meet one of my first, Ali! Yes, I named it after myself because, well, that's what kids do." Ali Santander, Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, Housing and Residential Life
1 of 12
a desk and bookshelves displaying several barbie dolls
"I am an avid Barbie collector and have been for 30 years. Whenever someone has a meeting with me, they will definitely see my collection in the background. This is a picture of my collection, which includes over 30 Barbies." Allison Goodwin, Corporate Alliance Executive, University of Arizona Global Campus
2 of 12
barbie doll with a multi-color dress
"This is my very first collectible Barbie, which is 'Midnight Princess Barbie' from 1997." Allison Goodwin, Corporate Alliance Executive, University of Arizona Global Campus
3 of 12
eeyore stuffed animal
"Christmas morning, 1971, my favorite grandparent gave me a plush Eeyore that became my best friend. We moved a lot when I was young and just before every move, my mother would tell us to choose exactly one toy to take with us. It was never a question who my choice would be. His tail, appropriately, was lost long ago. His mane never grew back after I roached it on a whim. When the family pup chewed Eeyore's ear off in 1975, it was reattached with all the skills a nine-year-old could muster. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, Eeyore is threadbare and bedraggled, loved and alive. Here he is today, atop a blanket from my husband's childhood, still the best keeper of secrets." Andra Doherty, Animal Technologist, University Animal Care
4 of 12
toys including a green van, a cartoon character figure and a wrestling action figure
"With toys like this, I'm sure you'll wonder, as I have, how I wasn't more popular in school. Pictured are the Scooby-Doo gang's Mystery Machine, Yakko Warner from 'Animaniacs' and WWE star Jake 'The Snake' Roberts." Andy Ober, Assistant News Director, University Communications
5 of 12
boxed barbie doll wearing a university of arizona cheerleading outfit
"My mom was cleaning out some things at her house and gave this to me. She knew it was perfect to add to my Wildcat office décor. She is a UA alumnus and so was my dad." Esther Henley, Senior Program Coordinator, College of Applied Science and Technology
6 of 12
a group of dinosaur toys
"Here are my vintage toys – a full setup of 'The Land Before Time' character puppets from Pizza Hut! My sibling and I would reenact the movie scenes with the puppets and also have them as the 'destroyers' of LEGO and Lincoln Logs structures. These toys evoke memories of going out to Pizza Huts as a sit-down restaurant treat and also conjure up memories of the 'BOOK IT!' reading incentive programs that helped to fan the flames of my love of reading!" Jessica Jones, EDGE Learning Professional Development Specialist, Division of Human Resources
7 of 12
side by side pictures of a stuffed polar bear
"Poley has been with me since early elementary school, surviving many childhood attacks from predators commonly known as 'brothers.' They punched his face in all the time to bug me." Meaghan Miller, Associate Director of Communications, Office of Strategic Initiatives
8 of 12
a desk full of action figures and other toys
"From Raphael the Ninja Turtle to UA sports bobbleheads, the Dodgers and the James Bond LEGO Aston Martin, these all reflect some of my passions!" Rafael Meza, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Admissions
9 of 12
stuffed banana with a frightened face
"This is my frozen banana that I sewed when I was eight from a catalog pattern that I just found so hilarious, and he still makes me laugh just as much today." Stephanie Cunningham, Director, Operations and Organizational Effectiveness, Marketing and Brand Management
10 of 12
a father and two sonds in teenage mutant ninja turtle costumes surrounded by toys
"My love for the titular turtles has now been passed on to my kids, Liam and Finnegan. They have seen all the original films, as well as countless episodes of the old cartoon. And with the new movie, 'Mutant Mayhem,' in cinemas, Leonard, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo are fixtures in their lives, too." Tom Kelly, Associate Director of Public Affairs, College of Medicine – Phoenix
11 of 12
several teenage mutant ninja turtles toys on a table
"Like most kids of the 1980s, I was swept up by T-U-R-T-L-E Power. From the cartoon to the toys to the big screen movie in 1990, my entire life was Ninja Turtle-centric. I even had a custom clubhouse and those classic sheets that have now been turned into a button-up shirt." Tom Kelly, Associate Director of Public Affairs, College of Medicine – Phoenix
12 of 12
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Over the past several weeks, Lo Que Pasa asked readers to share photos and memories of the toys they have kept since childhood. You and your colleagues came through with pictures of vintage Barbies, stuffed animals, troll dolls, dinosaurs and more. Read more in this Lo Que Pasa story.

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