Ah, married life. Ah, the working world. Combine the two and what’s it like? Being married and sharing a common employer doesn’t always mean constant contact or romantic rendezvous.

Ralph Benbow, associate professor of physics at NIU, took a faculty position at NIU in 1984, and his wife, Mary Benbow, now secretary for NIU’s college of professional studies, sought employment at the university about one year later.

Ralph was doing post-doctoral research at an NIU-extension physics lab in Wisconsin and eventually moved into a faculty position at this campus, he said. “And I went along,” said Mary.

After Ralph obtained a faculty position, he commuted from Wisconsin his first year so their daughter could complete eighth grade in Wisconsin and begin high school in DeKalb. When they moved to the area, Mary also took a position at NIU.

As far as working at the same institution, Mary said, “It doesn’t matter because I’m at one end of campus and he’s at the other. I work in Williston, and he works in Faraday. I never really run into him.”

“We have lunch together once in a while,” Ralph said. “Maybe we’ll eat and take a walk,” said Mary.

“One advantage is that we get to car pool together. It’s nice to be able to use one car. We don’t really interact much during the day,” Mary said.

One NIU couple that seems to interact a fair amount on campus is the Doederleins.

Sue Doederlein, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and her husband, Arthur Doederlein, assistant professor of communications, both have been at NIU since Sept. 8, 1969,—their seventh wedding anniversary.

“We planned our choices in the context of mutual interest. It’s a delight to work together on our common interests,” Sue said.

“We wanted to work with undergraduates,” Arthur said. “It was important for us to work together. We’re committed to being in education together.”

Working at the same place can have its little perks, Sue noted. “On a regular basis we get to go to lunch together. That’s a special break in the day. That wouldn’t be possible at other places,” she said. “I like that we’re dealing with the same kind of issues.”

“It’s very intellectually stimulating having the same set of interests,” he said. “It’s like we’re never apart … it’s simply sharing more.”

On the other end of the scale are Daniel Dillman, NIU geology professor, and his wife, Joanne Dillman, administrative secretary for the vice president for development and university relations. For them, seeing each other at work is a rarity.

The Dillmans came to DeKalb in 1966. Daniel began immediately as a faculty member and Joanne began working part time as a secretary in the late 1960s.

“Frankly, we don’t see each other much during the day,” said Daniel. He added he and his wife don’t get together for lunch or for breaks. “The way my schedule is, I have noon and afternoon classes. She has her lunch break when I have classes.

“We don’t see each other unless I make it a point. It’s much easier for me to go see her. Lunch doesn’t enter in at all. It might be nice, but it doesn’t work out that way,” he said.

Although they don’t see each other much at work, both like the convenience of working together. They don’t car pool often, Joanne said, but if a car needs to be taken to the garage, she can pick him up or vice versa. “It does make transportation and communication easy,” she said.

“It’s convenient. We can help each other during the day or help each other if family matters come up,” Daniel said.

Another aspect of a mutual workplace that both enjoy is working according to the same calendar, but even this perk has its own little flaw.

Joanne works according to the civil service calendar, while Daniel works according to the NIU’s schedule and his breaks are longer. Daniel said it’s a nice amenity, but they are unable to take long vacations together.

Another advantage to working together is “it gives you a common source of conversation. But on the other hand, it’s also boring to only talk about the university,” Joanne said.