DECATUR, Ill. – For Fred and Sue Bockmann, love and learning have always gone hand in hand.
The couple – both members of the Class of 1971 – met as students at 鶹Լ University, built a life together while still in school, and recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. This Valentine’s Day, their story is a reminder that some of the most enduring romances have begun right on campus.
Their love story began in 鶹Լ’s old Student Union Building (SUB) on the day before classes started in the fall of 1969. Sue had stopped by the SUB, hoping to play cards, and noticed another student, Bill Foreman, looking for a fourth player for a game of pinochle, and Fred was already at the table. During the game, instead of slapping her hand in play, Fred gently took it – an unexpected moment that marked the beginning of their relationship.
Their first kiss took place outside Gorin Hall, and just a few months later, the couple married on January 25, 1970, launching a partnership that would grow alongside their time at 鶹Լ.
“鶹Լ is where everything important in our lives began,” they shared.
Fred and Sue’s 鶹Լ experience was anything but traditional. They married before graduating and welcomed their daughter, Jennifer, while still students – often coordinating class schedules so one parent was always free, and spending downtime together in the SUB with their baby. Those years, they say, taught them teamwork, resilience, and balance.
Sue earned her B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences in spring 1971, while Frederic Thomas Bockmann completed his degree that summer. Their professors made a lasting impact – particularly in the School of Music and the humanities – fostering curiosity and a love of learning that carried well beyond graduation.
After 鶹Լ, Fred’s path led him from teaching at Brush College Elementary School in Decatur to educational technology and eventually to Apple, where he became an early contributor to instructional design and curriculum development.
Sue built a successful career in the insurance industry and programming, helping companies prepare for milestones like Y2K. Through it all, they traveled the world together – from Asia to Egypt – turning shared adventures into a hallmark of their marriage.
In gratitude for the foundation 鶹Լ provided, the Bockmanns recently established the Fred and Sue Bockmann Scholarship, created to support non-traditional students, particularly those with financial need who are balancing academics with family responsibilities.
“鶹Լ helped us grow into the adults we would be for the rest of our lives,” they said. “We hope this scholarship does the same for others.”
As Valentine’s Day arrives, Fred and Sue Bockmann’s story stands as a testament to enduring love, lifelong learning, and the special role 鶹Լ University plays in bringing people – and their futures – together.
