Bobbie’s Bio

I have lived most of my life in and around the Chicago area and am a die-hard Cubs fan. 
Last year almost was “The Year!” I graduated from Loyola University in three years with a 
BS in Chemistry and minor in Biology. I then attended nursing school and graduated in 
June 1972.  For the next seven years, I worked as a critical care nurse in ICU, Emergency, 
Mobile Intensive Care, and nursing management positions in ICU and the Emergency Department.  
While working as the Mobile Intensive Nurse Coordinator for the Chicago Northwest Suburban 
area, I met my husband, John. He was a paramedic/firefighter who was educated as a teacher 
and assisted in the EMT and Paramedic Training Programs I supervised.  We were married 26  
years ago; have two daughters and one grand daughter, Kaylee.  Our oldest daughter, Colleen,
received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle, 
and worked as an Industrial Designer.  Our younger daughter, Megan, is a senior at Christian 
Brothers University, Memphis, TN, majoring in Information Technology Management.

The tremendous stress of critical care nursing finally took its toll in 1979.  I left the 
hospital to find a job that could offer some fun, travel benefits and healthy people. 
The airlines still like to hire nurses, so I became on of the “one in 600 applicants” who 
was hired, went to training and graduated to fly the “friendly skies of United Airlines.”  
Thirteen months later, I was furloughed from United, and returned to nursing for about two 
years as a Nursing Supervisor, and Nursing In-service Education Instructor.  When United 
began recalling its furloughed flight attendants in 1983, I happily returned to flying.  

Moving Forward

I believe very strongly in life long learning and see a great need for education.  The 
Internet provides a wonderful opportunity to disseminate educational information to anyone 
with access. I would like to use it to provide continuing professional education.  I am 
particularly interested in nursing continuing education and nursing informatics. On 
June 30th I  chose to retire early from United Airlines, so I had to pursue my goals sooner 
than I had planned.. This is my seventh class at the University of Phoenix–On-line and I am
looking forward to finishing my M.A. this summer. 

As a critical care nurse I learned that “you only go around once” in life.  To that end, 
I intend to live, love, laugh and experience as much as I can on my journey. In return, 
I hope to contribute as much as I can, to as many as I can.