For Bloesches, togetherness

Richard, Ethel, and Adrian Bloesch Photo by Tim Schoon

Richard and Ethel Bloesch have shared a lot—45 years of marriage, homes in six states and in England, more than three decades with the same employer, two talented sons, and a feisty Whippet named Adrian.

Now they’re sharing their retirement.

Richard Bloesch, associate professor of choral music, conducted his final performance with the choral group Camerata in May after 35 years on the School of Music faculty.

His wife, assistant to the director of the School of Library and Information Science and a lecturer in a nontenure-track faculty position, ended a 32-year career June 1.

They’ve both officially retired, but unofficially, they’ll let you in on a little secret. They find abandoning teaching habits and colleagues’ friendships too difficult a task.

He’s still teaching a music class this summer and two more next academic year.

"Courses have to be taught. The students need them," says Richard, eager to pass on his love of choral works. "It’s been gratifying to watch students develop careers and see exciting things happen for them."

Ethel agrees, noting that she has watched 1,600 students graduate with master’s degrees from her department’s program during her time here.

She will continue to attend professional meetings and keep in touch with colleagues and graduates.

She already agreed to volunteer one day a week in the Cornell College library this fall, honored by the request that came from Cornell before her last day at Iowa.

Both note that they have enjoyed getting themselves educated, as well as doing the educating, over the years.

Richard has an undergraduate degree in music and philosophy from Elmhurst College, a master of divinity and a master’s degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and doctorate in choral conducting and choral literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. He studied choral music and piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London on a Fulbright scholarship.

Ethel holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Elmhurst College and two master’s degrees: in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary and in library science from the University of Illinois.

And her rapidly changing career field taught her about learning to live with technology. In the mid ‘80s, the University library converted to an on-line catalog. Perhaps symbolically, workers removed the last of the card catalog cabinets from their traditional location the week she retired.

The Bloesches have voracious reading, reunions, vacations, and volunteer work on their retirement to-do list.

"Truthfully, I don’t think we know what we’re going to do," Richard admits. "We’re enjoying our time. We’ll just see what happens."

Article by Amy Schoon