Mrs. Bridge came into my life one April afternoon in 1975,
when I - a cheeky and determined (but far from grown-up) 24-year old decided I
wanted to work at Rockford Public Library. There were no openings at the time;
undaunted, I sent my resume and a cover letter, boldly requesting an
informational interview - not knowing that that was rather brazen and certainly
not customary. To my relief, within a week I received a phone call from Alma
Bridge, who graciously set up the appointment with me. From the beginning I sat
up a little straighter when I heard her stately, elegant, but very warm voice
on the telephone. I thanked her for agreeing to meet with me, and a time was
arranged.
I’d been told that
she was very formal and that even though most library people were on a
first-name basis, she should be addressed in the old-fashioned way. So it was
with trepidation that I was escorted into her office; however, any intimidation
I might have felt initially was calmed when she smiled at me and I recognized
in her the Scandinavian features and mannerisms that so reminded me of my own
mother and my own family. I felt instantly as if she and I were “tribe.”
I stated earnestly
that, if hired, I planned to make Rockford my permanent residence - I confess
now that I'm not sure I meant it, but I knew that prospective employers wanted
dedicated workers. She asked me the routine questions, and assured me that she
would keep my resume on file. After our meeting, I drove back to DeKalb and
immediately wrote her a thank-you note for meeting with me.
The following month,
Mrs. Bridge phoned me to announce, "I have a job for you!" My degree
in art from Northern, along with my credentials from my position at the NIU
library, had earned me the position of Library Technical Assistant, in charge
of the art reproduction collection at RPL's Main Library. I accepted
immediately.
I believe I showed up
on my first day with three inches cut off my waist-length hair; wearing a
double-knit, understated melon-colored polyester shirtwaist dress and penny
loafers. Soon I learned that Mrs. Bridge (always MRS. Bridge) was highly
respected, strict with rules firm but gentle with discipline, and that she
expected professionalism and the highest standards of public service from her
staff. In addition, people were known to
shake in their boots (or penny loafers) should they show up for work improperly
dressed; I will never forget the day that she discreetly approached me when I
had a scarf tied around my head and chided me: “We don’t wear turbans here.” I
hastily removed it, soon to discover (I smile now) that Mrs. Bridge also had a
very dry sense of humor that surfaced at the most unusual times - and that she
was not the terrifying library matriarch; rather, a very kind and motherly
lady. A joyous newlywed to her beloved George. A rather independent-minded
individual. An open-minded and very "hip" woman, who advised me to
take L-Tryptophan (health-food store supplements!) when I was in her office
once, lamenting that I was having trouble sleeping. (You have to understand
that back in those days, RPL operated under the philosophy of participatory
management, and admin accepted our memos (even my outspoken ones) as well as
our impromptu drop-in visits to their offices). Yes, Mrs. Bridge dried my tears
more than once as I struggled to adapt to public library culture and change
from a naïve ingénue to an adult. It wasn't too long before I thought of her as
a second mother, and that feeling remains with me to this day.
When she hired me,
she apologized that she couldn't offer me a Librarian Assistant position, but
it saved my job; six months after I began at RPL, there were layoffs and the
LA's lost their jobs while I, an LTA, kept mine. In a year or so, I was
promoted to Librarian Assistant, and by then I was committed to my promise to
Mrs. Bridge: that I would be staying in Rockford. And stay I did, over the
years, enjoying working in Audiovisual and then in Arts, always with the
mentorship of Mrs. Bridge upstairs. She shepherded me through more than one emotional
crisis, unheard of in today’s corporate workplace. She accepted my dramas and
celebrated my skills and let me use my talents. She was a guiding light for me,
and it was only when she transferred to what was then called Technical Services
to be a cataloger that I had the nerve to begin calling her "Alma."
And what a fitting name! Alma means “soul, spirit, kind, loving, and seeker of
peace and harmony.” That she was, and more.
As we worked through
the many changes at RPL, Alma and I had many serious as well as hilarious
conversations. She saw me through orthodontic braces when I was in my 30s, and
together we tackled the new cataloging system for records (yes, LPs!) with
clear communication and shared frustration. Alma always treated me with respect,
collegial camaraderie and kindness. I can truly say that after she retired,
although I was happy for her, I missed her glowing light every day when I came
to work. I thank her for laying the groundwork for her successor, who continued
her tradition of grace, high expectations, participatory leadership and deep
appreciation of staff.
Now, as I am sadly
seeing the old guard leave us, it is with heartbreak that I hear this news of
Alma's passing. I did not know she was 90 years old. We were with her when she
lost her beloved daughter Ellie, and I was honored when she gave me a
collection of her dear George's eloquent poetry. Having joined the ranks of
retirees in 2010, I had the joy of attending the retirees' lunches once a month
and catching up with Alma. Later on, when she was unable to get around easily,
my friend Marie Phillips and I picked her up for a gathering at the Stone
Eagle, where we enjoyed her wit - still intact, although she had borne the loss
of her daughter followed by the progressive changes in her once-vibrant health.
The example Alma
Bridge set for all who knew her is evident in the people I know who remember
working under her and learning from her. We have lost yet another of our great
elders, and it is now our turn to carry her torch and treat others as she
treated us. I believe Alma had a great faith in God, and my prayers are with
her family during this transition. I pray that the love and respect we will
continue to carry for Alma, as well as the memories we cherish and the
kindnesses we do for others as we remember her mentorship, will be a source of
strength for her family. May your soul rest in peace, Alma, and may your spirit
live in in all whose lives you touched. Godspeed, Mrs. Bridge.
Condolence:
It is with heartbreak that I hear this news of Alma's
passing. I did not know she was 90 years old. The example Alma Bridge set for
all who knew her is evident in the people I know who remember working under her
and learning from her. We have lost yet another of our great elders, and it is
now our turn to carry her torch and treat others as she treated us. I believe
Alma (whose name means “soul, spirit, kind, loving, and seeker of peace and
harmony), had a great faith in God. I pray that the love and respect we will
continue to carry for Alma, as well as the memories we cherish of her grace and
wit - and the kindnesses we shall do for others in honor of her, will be a
source of strength for her family and loved ones. May your soul rest in peace,
Alma, and may your spirit live in in all whose lives you touched. Godspeed,
Mrs. Bridge.
Alma Nielsen Bridge
April 13, 1924 - December 29, 2014
