We lived in Urbana, Illinois, for a total of five years. Both Janice and I were there for our PhD degrees, in Math and Chemistry, respectively. However, the University of Illinois provided us more than knowledge and expertise in our fields. It gave us many other important benefits for our lives, such as warm friendships and lessons on how to grow up, to adjust to adult life, and to see a bigger world from our limited backgrounds. We visited the Lowry's place on West Michigan Avenue many, many times. We went - not just to participate in after-dance parties and sing some folk songs with George. Janice and I even stayed in their house several times when they were away visiting their family in Texas. George was a tremendous guitar player and folksong singer. He taught us many beautiful songs - we still try to sing them when we can. He was also a teacher in the folk dance group and Mary was his partner in this.
The picture below was taken in their home - the only one we have in our possession with Mary’s sister, who was born with a birth defect and stayed in their home all her life. Mary and George had two boys but they are not in this picture. Their young daughter in this pic, Tina, danced with us often.
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