I was born in N.J., the youngest in my family with six older brothers. I went to a Catholic grammar school, Bloomfield High School and was awarded a full scholarship to Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing. I obtained an RN certificate there. Subsequently I have taken Liberal Arts and Psychology courses at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Minnesota. I have worked as a Psychiatric Nurse for most of my career. I am a widow after 52 years of marriage to Rolf E. Sartorius, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at the University of Minnesota.
My family consists of my son Rolf H. Sartorius. Founder and CEO of Social Impact, his wife and cofounder Pat and their two children, Caroline and Jacob who have successful careers in social media. My daughter Barbara is an ordained Lutheran minister and artist, her husband Mark Bjelland, a Professor of Geography at Calvin College. Their children are Devin, a computer whiz and Camilla recently graduated nurse working on a Heart/Lung trans plant floor.
I have a Master Gardener certificate from the U. of Mn. and am a past president of the HHIGC. Love to read and serve as chair of the SYWC Book Group. I practice Qigong almost daily.
Through most of my adult life I haven’t had a religious affiliation. However, my early Catholic education has helped me, I believe, lead a moral life. I found that I had time after my husband’s (he was an avowed atheist) long illness and death, to explore my own spirituality. Many friends over the years, whom I’ve appreciated for their thoughtfulness and social activism, have been UU’s. I went to a “Music on Malphrus” concert and picked up some UUCL information, returned for several services and read more about UU. I found the core values of religious freedom, reason, tolerance, individual worth and the use of these values for social good important to me.
I joined UUCL about seven years ago and served as Secretary to the Board in 2016-2017. I have found the feeling of being part of this congregation is a very meaningful part of my life.
