Mary Janzer Vigdor

Profile Updated: April 5, 2023
Mary Janzer
Residing In: Seattle, WA USA
Occupation: Retired
Children: Jacob Vigdor, born 1972; Alex Vigdor, born 1975
Yes! Attending Reunion
Comments:

I moved back to Milwaukee in 2003 after living in several other places since 1965. I graduated from UW-Madison in 1970 on the same day I was married to a graduate student there, Steve Vigdor. I taught Spanish for two years in Spring Green -- discovering I really didn't like teaching. After leaving Madison, we lived in Los Alamos, NM for one year, then Downers Grove, IL for two years. Steve was hired as a faculty member in nuclear physics at Indiana University-Bloomington in 1976. We had two sons -- Jake who was born in Madison in 1972 and Alex who was born in Hinsdale, IL in 1975. Steve and I divorced in 1981 but have stayed on good terms. I went to work in 1981 as undergraduate secretary in the Spanish Dept. at IU. In 1985 I changed positions becoming Executive Secretary in the Dept. of Theatre and Drama. I stayed in Bloomington until 1995 when I fulfilled a long held dream of returning to New Mexico. From 1995-2003 I lived and worked in downtown Santa Fe. I gave up owning a car those years as I was able to walk everywhere and loved being outdoors in that beautiful place. I also indulged a long standing interest in metaphysics while in Santa Fe and made many friends at the Church of Religious Science while studying A Course in Miracles. In 2003 my job ended and my downtown apartment was scheduled to be razed to build expensive condos. It seemed a good opportunity to relocate back to Wisconsin where I wanted to be near my parents who were 83 and 90 at the time. It was sad to leave New Mexico but, as luck would have it, one month after departing, son Alex met a lovely young lady, Fiona Evans, at a party in Brooklyn who turned out to be from Santa Fe. They were married in 2007 in Taos. Alex and Fiona live in Seattle. Alex is senior software engineer for Nuance Communications. In February 2012 their first child was born --- Stronner Leo Vigdor and in 2018 his brother, Mcalisdair, was born. From an early age, Jake took an interest in public policy and economics and received his bachelor's from Cornell and Ph.D. from Harvard where he met his wife, Elizabeth. They were on the faculty at Duke in Durham, NC for 15 years and have 3 children (Nate, Juliana and Evie). Jake and Elizabeth accepted positions at the U. of Washington-Seattle in 2014 so both sons and their families are in the same place for the first time. When I moved back to Milwaukee in 2003, I started working at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the Office of Research and retired in July 2016. I did the initial intake of faculty members' research proposals. I worked as long as possible as I truly enjoyed it. In 2007, I moved to an apartment within walking distance of the office which had been wonderful even when the snow was knee deep. I bought a car again in 2003 and enjoy the freedom it brings. My best friends live in Bloomington, IN and others are scattered from California to New York. My father, Kurt Janzer, died in 2008 at age 95. My mother, Theresa, died in 2015 at age 95. I miss them both. Update: I retired and moved to Seattle, WA in July of 2016 to be near my sons and their families. Luckily I was able to obtain a studio apartment at the top of Seattle's Capitol Hill in a senior building. I have always loved cities and Seattle is about the same size as Milwaukee. Since retiring, I have traveled with my dear friend, Yehuda Yannay, to various places. We have spent 2 weeks every January in warmer places like Miami, Tucson, Phoenix, and San Diego. I visit him often in Milwaukee with the latest visit being April 2023. Seattle has been a great place to live and luckily I’ve been able to make many new friends. The grandchildren range in age from 21 to 4 and are a joy.

School Story:

I wasn't a popular person in high school but had a pretty good time. My favorite class was Latin with Mr. Goodwin, remember him? I didn't participate in any activities except Latin Club so I am sure most people don't remember me!

I remember the Latin Club's Roman feasts. We dressed in togas (white sheets) and ate chicken with our hands while reclining on the floor -- quite a mess!

Friends and I used to love going downtown (cruising Wisconsin Ave.) for Big Boy hamburgers.

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Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
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Aug 15, 2023 at 4:33 AM
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Apr 05, 2023 at 11:20 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2022 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2021 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2020 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2019 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2018 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2017 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has left an In Memory comment for Annette C. Dragotta.
Mar 31, 2017 at 12:33 PM

Annette was one of my favorite classmates.  She was bright and funny -- the life of any gathering.  I did not see her again after graduation but will never forget her.

Mary Janzer Vigdor added a photo to her profile gallery.
Dec 31, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor added a photo to her profile gallery.
Dec 31, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2016 at 4:33 AM
Mary Janzer Vigdor posted a message. New comment added.
Oct 02, 2015 at 2:54 PM

Posted on: Oct 02, 2015 at 9:32 AM

Hi Ellen, I remember all the fun we had with Annette and Kathy back in the day. It would be nice to see you again! Best wishes, Mary Ellen

Mary Janzer Vigdor has a birthday today.
Aug 15, 2015 at 4:33 AM
Jun 05, 2014 at 4:32 PM

Hi Kathy, I moved back to Wisconsin in 2003. It would be nice to see you again! I remember our Latin class above all else. Mary Ellen

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Posted: Dec 31, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Posted: Dec 31, 2016 at 10:35 AM
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:34 AM
This photo was taken on Christmas Day 2008. My 88 year old mother, Theresa, and I were celebrating the holiday with her sister's family in Brookfield.