A time to talk: I’ll enjoy my husband’s retirement — and he will, too

Mary Magee

guest columnist

Last month, my husband, Ken Rousslang, retired from his teaching job at the University of Puget Sound, where he’s been a professor in the chemistry department for more than 32 years. He chose early retirement so he can make good use of his younger senior years.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make since he thoroughly enjoyed teaching and doing research with undergraduate students. The colleagues he worked with have been a source of friendship and intellectual give-and-take for many years. Those friendships will continue.

Ken made the decision more than a year ago, before the economic meltdown which hit our retirement fund in ways we hadn’t anticipated. We had some serious discussions this fall about whether to put off his retirement, but we came to the conclusion that it was the right time.

We’re trusting that, ultimately, the economy will recover.

When Ken first heard about the job, he was finishing up his Ph.D. at the University of Washington and deciding where he wanted to teach. He was being considered at UCLA, University of California at San Francisco and University of British Columbia.

We weren’t married yet, but the thought of him moving away from the Northwest filled me with dread. I encouraged him to go for an interview at UPS.

I had another motive. My father, John Magee, was a professor of philosophy at UPS and had been there since before I was born, so the university was like a second home to me. I knew many of the professors had attended events there throughout my childhood and loved the campus.

The idea of Ken being a colleague of my father’s was intriguing, too. He and Dad ended up being colleagues for 18 years before my father passed away, and it meant a great deal to both of them that they had the opportunity to work together and see the university grow.

Even though Dad came from the humanities side of the campus and Ken from the science side, their congenial temperaments and open-mindedness enhanced the other’s understanding of how the sciences and humanities can complement each other.

Ken’s years at UPS gave me the opportunity to evolve from being a faculty kid into being a faculty spouse. I’ve been part of campus life and have had the opportunity to support Ken in his endeavors at work by listening and giving feedback.

I’m not saying I’ve understood everything. Quantum mechanics is way over my head! But other topics have held my attention, like the varied and interesting lives of his students, the opinions and discussions of his fellow professors and administrators, and the addition of new buildings on campus.

I invoke spousal privilege when I say that, like my father, Ken always upheld the best interests of everyone involved at UPS. He worked long hours, unfailingly assisted students, many of whom went on to become physicians, professors and researchers. He participated in faculty governance, committee work and policy decisions. I think they were lucky to have him.

Now I’m lucky to have more of his time and companionship. We plan to get organized in ways we never dreamed of while he was working, like clearing out the garage so there’s room for my car!

We want to travel, visit friends and see some sunny places during the winter. We’ll visit our son at college and support his growth and career plans. And we’ll spend more time riding our tandem bicycle. There will be plenty to do.

We’ll be together like never before, and that’s the best New Year’s gift I could have ever imagined.

Reach columnist Mary Magee at marymagee@harbornet.com.