Rosemary Taylor Schmidt '64
When registering at LBSC in 1960, I stood in a long line in front of the Little Theater to collect my permits, then stood in line at the Library to get class cards; no computers helped us out then!
The campus had baby trees, and less than one half the buildings and about 13,000 students. The bookstore was tiny, one-story, and offered the AS officers and AS senate office space on the second floor. We could park on upper campus. The campus seemed intimate; you could see the same people passing at the 15-minute class change period each day on upper campus and actually get to know them. It was very friendly and exciting- each day had new adventures.
During my years at LBSC, I was a member of Sinawik (charter member and first president), Spurs (national Sophomore club), Mortar Board (national senior women's club charter member)- these were all service organizations; Evenings on Campus committee ( AS); and I participated in other social activities . While I wasn't a member of a Greek organization, I had many Greek friends. Greek groups sat at the same table in the cafeteria as a substitute for official Greek meeting places, and I often joined them during breaks in class. I hope that many of the class of 1964 or before will attend the 1964+- class years Reunion. It would be great to see my classmates from DG, Phi Tau, ZBT, and others.
Some of my most memorable and fondest memories are of being involved in the SINAWIK service club whose events supported special programs. We sponsored a dance in the cafeteria with Dick Dale and the Deltones which was a smash hit; all the proceeds went to providing tapes for blind students. We participated in 49er Days, WUS Penny Drive World University Service) fundraisers and many other events that made up very exciting campus life.
I was active in SPURS, a sophomore national service organization; we wore all-white uniforms with a brown spur emblem on the front every Wednesday for our meetings. Can you imagine?
One of my favorite experiences was escorting Margaret Mead to all of her Lectures and Forums committee sponsored lectures and coffee hours during her 2-day stay at the campus. I also loved AWS (Associated Women Students) activities…like Women's Week activities, the Black Bart contest, and the turn-around dance.
Since I was one of those commuter students that came to campus around 8 am and left about 12 to 14 hours later- traveling all the way from Garden Grove before the freeway and back with my friends who offered me rides, I had lots of "hangouts" on campus. My very favorite was the 49er Cafeteria. I came in the morning and put my lunch in one of the rows of cubicles that were there for students to leave books and lunches- open and secure at the same time. Then I found some friends who were already there eating breakfast or met new friends to chat with. It was a very congenial place. After morning classes, at noon my lunch was always there! That was a wonderful service that the 49er Shops provided to the students of the 60's-way before the Student Union opening in 1973.
One of the most important mentors in my life was Dean of Students Dr. Lois Swanson. She pointed me toward a fulfilling and insightful future and was an excellent role model. She later was my first boss when I became an LBSC Student Activities Advisor a year after I graduated. A sociology professor, Dr. Paul Ullman, who taught the "Sociology of Small Groups" class, opened the world of group dynamics to me; it has served me well to this day.
Both these people impacted my professional career and personal life and I feel a great debt to them.
After graduating, I taught elementary school for one year, then joined the LBSU family in the Student Activities Office. After initiating and advising many major campus events with others, I was the first School Based Associate Dean in a program that brought faculty and students together in co-curricular activities outside the classroom.
I went on to become the Director of the CSULB Alumni Association for 7 years, and eventually the Associate Vice President of Student Services until I retired in 2000.
In 35 years as a student and staff person at the Beach, I have experienced a world of people and events-from Joan Baez at the Speakers' Platform to Tom Brokaw to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross to Richard Nixon and Steve Martin. There were elephant races on upper campus, the Medieval Festival and Feast, the Kaleidoscope Festival and Open House, the Women's Center and more than 30 years of American Indian Powwows.
We have just moved from California to Davidson, North Carolina to be near our daughter and grandchildren. And we will spend our summers in a little condo in
Portland, Maine where our son and his family live. Our family means the world to us, and we are so lucky to be able to live out this wonderful fantasy that so many people have!
I continue to study and make art. I am very interested in interior and landscape design, and have had several opportunities to practice design work.
Traveling is important to us too. We lived in Montreal, Canada when Ron had a Fulbright there. We've been to China, South Africa, Chile, Scandinavia, Crete, the Dalmatian Coast, Greece and Venice.
Our daughter Rebecca Taylor Mays graduated from CSULB in Psychology.
My husband Ron Schmidt retired from the CSULB Political Science Department in 2011 and served as the Grand Marshall of the Commencement Ceremonies of his College in that year. He is a visiting professor at Davidson College in NC.
For the last 50 years, The Beach has been a part of my life---fellow students from the 60's, colleagues, faculty and alumni have become lifelong friends and have shared their families and friends. What could be a more meaningful way to touch the world?
By the way, in the photos you selected, the first with five women students was of the 5 who ran for Homecoming Queen in my senior year. I got the least votes! Happy Hoedinghouse won.
The other head shot was my college yearbook graduation picture.
