This May 31 marks the 30 anniversary of one of the deadliest weather events in Pennsylvania history.  The 43 tornadoes that struck Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Ontario on the evening of May 31, 1985, were responsible for 89 deaths and damage exceeding $1.5 billion in 2015 dollars.  Had it not been for this event, it is unlikely I would have studied meteorology.  I will review the human and meteorological aspects of the event, and also propose some additional avenues for further study.