Cathy Carswell ’65 has shared some memories with you of her life after graduating from Illinois Wesleyan:

“I will start my personal story with sad news. I married the love of my life in 1973 – Bruce Carswell. This was both of our 2nd marriages and we had 38 years of a “dream life.” Bruce was an corporate executive with GTE (now Verizon) and retired in 1995. We loved to travel, play golf, visit our friends and family and just be together. Bruce encouraged me to pursue my Kappa goals and also was very supportive of my participation on IWU’s Board Of Trustees. I continue to serve and am also a member of the Executive Committee. It has been a fascinating and rewarding experience for me as well as a great honor.
Five years ago, Bruce experienced a terrible fall and broke his neck. While he made an amazing recovery, a staph bloom was taking up residence on his mitral valve. I will spare you the details of our journey, but sadly report that he passed away on October 13, 2014. It was expected and I truly believe that he is in a far better place now that he is out of pain and discomfort. I miss him terribly, but rejoice in the memories of a perfect marriage.

I am completely “retired” from Kappa as of 2000. I was Fraternity President from 1996-2000 – the honor of a lifetime for me. I made so many good friends, had the opportunity to visit many of our wonderful active chapters, alumnae associations, and make friends in the Panhellenic world. Since I visit the IWU campus 3 times a year, I often pay the Epsilon chapter a visit. They are wonderful young women and I am so proud of them!

I have only one son, Matt, born in 1973. He lives in Santa Fe, NM and is single. He has started a new company with a partner and maybe when it gets more established, he will settle down and have a family. One can always dream!”