Hometown: I was born in Berwyn, Illinois, and grew up in Riverside, a village designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (designers of Central Park). Located about nine miles west of Chicago, it’s the home of several Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

When did you become a member of UMRA? I joined the day I retired in 2014 after hearing about it from several retired University friends and thinking it would be a good way to stay connected with them and with the happenings of the University. 

What was your very first job? Working in a travel agency distributing cruise ship brochures. The descriptions in those brochures piqued my interest to travel, which later became a lifelong hobby.

What was your occupation when you retired from FT work? I worked in the School of Public Health, first as executive administrative specialist to Professor Robert Veninga; I then moved to the Division of Epidemiology until I retired. It was during that time I learned how to work on websites, which later helped me in doing volunteer work.

You have been very involved with the University of Minnesota Women's Club for several years, including serving as president from 2017 to 2018. Why is volunteering important to you? I believe that one of the best ways to meet people is by volunteering. Working with others gives me joy and a feeling of accomplishment. It provides opportunities to use my skills, learn from others, and have fun.

If you were competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, what would you like your sport to be? Fencing. I did my master’s thesis at the University of Illinois on learning fencing using rhythmic motor patterns. What an exciting sport!

Do you have a favorite place on campus? Aisle C, Seat 24, at Northrop Auditorium. It’s been my seat for many years watching all the outstanding dance programs there—from ballet to breakdancing and classical to contemporary. 

What is a fun fact about you we might not know? One of the most interesting places I’ve lived was in a logging camp on Prince of Wales Island, Thorne Bay, Alaska, which is about a 20-minute seaplane ride from Ketchikan on the Inside Passage. I didn’t get to live in the bunk house or eat in the cookhouse, but I did cook bear and pick blueberries and was allowed in the commissary. Our food was brought in by boat once a week, but I preferred the fresh salmon and halibut. Every day was an adventure!