Rose was my first room mate at college...we shared a small room atop third floor Mayfair. She was great! Took me under her wing and we hit it off, right away! She often teased that we ought to switch last names...so she could be Rose Petals. When John and I moved to Decatur, IL in 2002, we found out that she was living in the St. Louis, MO area...I got her number and we called and chatted with her shortly thereafter. Next thing we know she'd died...talked with a relative of hers who told us--I believe the year was 2003. I shall miss her!
I was saddened to learn of Rose's demise. I have thought of her often over the past 50+years.
I might say that she was "the one that got away." I was drawn to her from the day I first met her, which
was in August of 1966. At the time she was a student and was working as swithboard operator and in
the old administration building on the hill...across from the library and radio studio. She worked with
my sister and they were close friends.
After my freshman year...summer of 1967, Herman Hoeh and wife went overseas...perhaps Russia,
for the summer. They asked Rose Marie and my sister to stay at their home and take care of their
children for the summer. I had wanted my sister to invite my brother and I over to visit them...because
I wanted to get to know Rose. But perhaps the Hoehs must have instructed them they could have no male students
over.
I spent time with Rose whenever I could...never invited her to be my date for a student dance, but did
ask her to join me as dance partner at Bob McDonald's several times and we both enjoyed it.
During senior year, another male student would ask me to join him to go to Sabbath brunch. We would
then escort Rose to brunch. Afterward, I often wanted us to stay at Student Center and sing hymns. But
she wanted me to escort her back to her dorm. Sometimes we would talk on a bench in one of the gardens....but not often enough for my liking. I was always hoping she would want to spend more time together.
We always enjoyed one another's company, but sometimes she seemed to give mixed messages.
After graduation she told me "you would be a good catch." But she had decided to room with a girl
who had a crush on me (my impression) so I didn't pursue. Later she invited me to her place to
watch television...I did, but really should have just told her I wanted us to know one another better.
Then an older friend of mine started dating her...but chose another woman in stead. I would have chosen Rose,
Much more could be said, but when someone proposed to her (Jim), she called me one evening after I had gone to bed. She really wanted to talk to me before she made a commitment, but it was near 10 p.m. and
I worked the early shift. I was young (and foolish???) and my priorities were definitely out of place.
Looking back, how much difference would it have made to "the work" had I responded to Rose's plea
for help, gone to her place and counselled her...even if it went till morning...and called in and said I had
been up all night, and was not coming in that day?
This was the only time I can remember when someone pleaded with me for help, and i failed to respond properly. Had I talked to her in person, I would have told her I always wanted us to be together...that
I always wanted her to come to love me...and let her know I thought we could each be a blessing in each
others lives.
I remembered "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"...so I just talked with her on the phone and didn't go to talk with her, showing consideration to the one who had proposed to her.
Perhaps both our lives would have benefitted had I gone in person to talk with her...perhaps I could have given her more fulfillment in her life. The question was never as to whether I loved her enough to make our relationship work; the question was whether she loved me enough to try.
I can say that I loved her...but did I? Actions speak louder than words. I let her down when she needed me
most.
So I will go through these last years, never knowing if I did my part.
As to the change in name? Well, Rose played an intregal part in that, too.
I last saw Rose when I was in Hawaii for Atonement in 1973. She and her husband had moved to Hawaii. She practically came running to see me...she was so happy to see me. We talked for a while. But alas, she was married...
She had once told me her parents named her "Rose" because they knew she would be "a blooming idiot."
To me she will always be a Rose "Bloom" that brightened all the corners of my life... for awhile. She will always have a special place in my heart and in my memories.
She now sleeps with all the hope of the Resurrection.
Gwen Petals (Biedler) (1968)
Rose was my first room mate at college...we shared a small room atop third floor Mayfair. She was great! Took me under her wing and we hit it off, right away! She often teased that we ought to switch last names...so she could be Rose Petals. When John and I moved to Decatur, IL in 2002, we found out that she was living in the St. Louis, MO area...I got her number and we called and chatted with her shortly thereafter. Next thing we know she'd died...talked with a relative of hers who told us--I believe the year was 2003. I shall miss her!
Daniel (Formerly Dennis) Cafourek (1966)
I was saddened to learn of Rose's demise. I have thought of her often over the past 50+years.
I might say that she was "the one that got away." I was drawn to her from the day I first met her, which
was in August of 1966. At the time she was a student and was working as swithboard operator and in
the old administration building on the hill...across from the library and radio studio. She worked with
my sister and they were close friends.
After my freshman year...summer of 1967, Herman Hoeh and wife went overseas...perhaps Russia,
for the summer. They asked Rose Marie and my sister to stay at their home and take care of their
children for the summer. I had wanted my sister to invite my brother and I over to visit them...because
I wanted to get to know Rose. But perhaps the Hoehs must have instructed them they could have no male students
over.
I spent time with Rose whenever I could...never invited her to be my date for a student dance, but did
ask her to join me as dance partner at Bob McDonald's several times and we both enjoyed it.
During senior year, another male student would ask me to join him to go to Sabbath brunch. We would
then escort Rose to brunch. Afterward, I often wanted us to stay at Student Center and sing hymns. But
she wanted me to escort her back to her dorm. Sometimes we would talk on a bench in one of the gardens....but not often enough for my liking. I was always hoping she would want to spend more time together.
We always enjoyed one another's company, but sometimes she seemed to give mixed messages.
After graduation she told me "you would be a good catch." But she had decided to room with a girl
who had a crush on me (my impression) so I didn't pursue. Later she invited me to her place to
watch television...I did, but really should have just told her I wanted us to know one another better.
Then an older friend of mine started dating her...but chose another woman in stead. I would have chosen Rose,
Much more could be said, but when someone proposed to her (Jim), she called me one evening after I had gone to bed. She really wanted to talk to me before she made a commitment, but it was near 10 p.m. and
I worked the early shift. I was young (and foolish???) and my priorities were definitely out of place.
Looking back, how much difference would it have made to "the work" had I responded to Rose's plea
for help, gone to her place and counselled her...even if it went till morning...and called in and said I had
been up all night, and was not coming in that day?
This was the only time I can remember when someone pleaded with me for help, and i failed to respond properly. Had I talked to her in person, I would have told her I always wanted us to be together...that
I always wanted her to come to love me...and let her know I thought we could each be a blessing in each
others lives.
I remembered "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"...so I just talked with her on the phone and didn't go to talk with her, showing consideration to the one who had proposed to her.
Perhaps both our lives would have benefitted had I gone in person to talk with her...perhaps I could have given her more fulfillment in her life. The question was never as to whether I loved her enough to make our relationship work; the question was whether she loved me enough to try.
I can say that I loved her...but did I? Actions speak louder than words. I let her down when she needed me
most.
So I will go through these last years, never knowing if I did my part.
As to the change in name? Well, Rose played an intregal part in that, too.
I last saw Rose when I was in Hawaii for Atonement in 1973. She and her husband had moved to Hawaii. She practically came running to see me...she was so happy to see me. We talked for a while. But alas, she was married...
She had once told me her parents named her "Rose" because they knew she would be "a blooming idiot."
To me she will always be a Rose "Bloom" that brightened all the corners of my life... for awhile. She will always have a special place in my heart and in my memories.
She now sleeps with all the hope of the Resurrection.