An Illini love story, strikes ’n spares edition ...
“Brenda and I met at the campus bowling alley in the summer of 1981. I couldn’t remember how to score strikes and spares, and she had just taken a bowling class,” said Northwestern associate VP/research Phil Hockberger (Ph.D. ’82, neuroscience). “I asked her help, and, as they say, the rest is history.
“We married three years later at the McKinley Church in Champaign, and raised our three kids in the Chicago suburbs.
“My fondest memories are the lifelong friends I made at UIUC. Many went on to become university professors and thought leaders in industry and government. We studied, partied, played sports and met our spouses there — and later attended each other’s weddings and celebrated professional successes.
“We helped each other when our spouses and children were sick, and we mourned together when our parents passed away. We marveled at the accomplishments of our children, and celebrated at their weddings.
“As we approach retirement, it seems to have all happened in the blink of an eye. So, let’s raise our glasses and toast our alma mater, where it all began: ‘To thy happy children / of the future / those of the past / send greetings.’"
