Arlington lobbies are the best!

I arrived in Arlington in 1973, fresh from high school in a small rural Kansas town, to attend Bauder Fashion College on Center Street. The big time! Mayor Vandergriff stopped by to welcome us all to Arlington. I've been here ever since.

I met my future ex-husband that first year, in the Bauder lobby, where large numbers of UTA frat boys liked to hang out, and we married in 1976. Divorcing in 1993, I had two young children to raise by myself, and a career to figure out. And I did.

Thirty years after meeting my first husband in the Bauder lobby, I met my second husband two blocks away, in the lobby of the Bluebonnet Ballroom in the UTA University Center. Don Gatzke was the incoming Dean of the School of Architecture, and we married in 2006.
In the meantime, I have served my city and my university to the best of my ability on numerous boards, volunteering my time to causes I believe in. The past 53 years have been challenging, wonderful, and full of growth for both me and my city. And the saga continues.....

Downtown Library

One of my favorite Arlington memories is raising the money to build the Downtown Library as the Arlington Public Library’s Development Coordinator. It was inspiring to see our community come together around something that means so much to families, students, seniors, and everyone who believes in the power of knowledge and opportunity.What made that experience especially meaningful was seeing firsthand how generous and passionate Arlington residents can be when we rally behind a shared vision. The Downtown Library is more than a building—it is a place where people come to learn, connect, discover new ideas, and build a brighter future…

My Favorite Place Isn’t on Trip Advisor

My favorite place in Arlington isn’t a park, a restaurant, or one of the places you’d find on a visitor’s guide. It’s my aunt’s house.In 2011, when my marriage imploded, I came to Arlington from Switzerland for what was supposed to be a visit. I didn’t know how I was going to go back. I also didn’t know how I could possibly stay.My son and I arrived at my aunt and uncle’s house with four suitcases and a whole lot of uncertainty. Every morning, I wanted to pull the covers over my head and disappear for a while. My aunt…

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