Member Profile

I was born in Evanston, Il. on 3/25/43. My father was a tool and die maker and handyman of many talents.  He worked on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos during the war and my mother worked at an insurance agency. Later, my parents bought and fixed up houses on the North Shore area and did well enough to have a comfortable retirement. My mother had a high school education and my father went through 8th grade.

I have two brothers, one living out West at Sun City and another in Texas. I was the youngest child and rather sick growing up. I enjoyed reading and playing musical instruments in the band.  I played a soprano horn in a drum and bugle corps during high school.  My father sang in the Catholic Church and my mother played the piano as a hobby. My childhood was relatively easy, as Evanston had good schools and few issues to hold me back.

I was graduated from Loyola University in 1967 with a B.S., majoring in psychology.  I was concerned about being drafted and was lucky enough to be accepted into the Peace Corps.  I ended up teaching English in Iran in a small town along the Afghanistan border.  It was the best thing that could have happened to me in those days.  

Upon return,I worked as a social worker for the Illinois Children and Family Services Agency, where I got my masters degree in social work. I worked for the DCFS agency for the rest of my working years and retired early in 2002. 

Upon my return from the Peace Corps, I knew that I had to learn how to meditate.  I was living in Chicago and attended the Buddhist temple on Leland near Wilson and Broadway.  I went there for seven years until I married and moved to Oak Park.  Years later, while attending the Unitarian Universalist Church, I met Joshin Robert Althouse, who was giving meditation classes at the church.  I soon followed him to the house on Humphrey and the rest is history.

One of my hobbies has been playing the sitar.  I spent almost 30 years learning from two Indian teachers.  This was a great education for me and though I no longer play for Hindu or Muslim weddings, I still play the sitar for personal enjoyment.  My most recent hobby is becoming involved in local political groups.  The Zen center has inspired me to learn about racial issues and how such issues are dealt with on the community level.  I have learned much about myself and find that this goal is never-ending. I am grateful for having such a rewarding life and being associated with such a vibrant group of fellow travelers.

My thanks to Ian Davis for requesting this interview.