Roberta Hodgdon Mauksch

I havn't let much grass grow under my feet in the last 50 years. Have been married twice and am currently dating; pretty interesting at this age.

I've lived in 39 different places, 11 towns/cities, and 8 states. I've been affiliated in one capacity or another with 8 different universities. I earned a BS and MS from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Housing and Interior Design. My doctoral work was from at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in Architecture specializing in Environment & Behaior. At the present time I'm semi-retired from California State University, Northridge, but still teaching 1/2 time for one more academic year in the Interior Design program where I have been since I came to Southern California in 1991. The next year will also be spent trying to decide what I'm going to do during that next 30 years.

I look back with great fondness to the town in which we grew up, our school, and the friends we were to one another. Moving from Minnesota to Marshalltown and Aaron Palmer in the middle of the 6th grade, I was embraced by students who have continued to be good friends to this day.

I find it amazing that so many of our classmates have managed to stay connected with one another. Every time I come back to Marshalltown--a few times a year to see my 98 year old father (remember the bus driver who drove teams and pep club to out-of-town games? that was my Dad, Chester) who is in a nursing home in Marshalltown--all I have to do is email or call JoAnn Ritland, Avonelle Smith or Marcia Davenport; within a day or two there's a group of classmates ready to get together, usually in the evening at Zenos.

I just cleaned out my garage and found my prom dress from the 1957 SnowBall. Although it no longer fits, it's in pretty good condition. At this point it's 'vintage' so I''m contributing it to the historic costume collection in my academic department. Since they usually put the new donations on display before they're put away "never again to see the light of day," tt will get one more chance to shine, together with the picture of "prom chicks" from Bev Post's archives. The picture will go on display with the dress and put context to "the prom dress", as well as letting the "prom chicks" strut their teenage stuff one more time!