A perfect strike
Hospice resident relives glory days as professional bowler with special trip to Wayward Social
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Rothman had her whole family on hand for the special occasion at Wayward Social on Wednesday.
Rothman, a U.S. Army veteran, designed costumes for soldier shows as shown in these photos.
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Iowa River Hospice resident Barbara Rothman, a former professional bowler in New Jersey, got a chance to roll another round at Wayward Social on Wednesday. Also pictured are her son Ben and granddaughter Molly.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Rothman had her whole family on hand for the special occasion at Wayward Social on Wednesday.
Rothman, a U.S. Army veteran, designed costumes for soldier shows as shown in these photos.
T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Iowa River Hospice resident Barbara Rothman, a former professional bowler in New Jersey, got a chance to roll another round at Wayward Social on Wednesday. Also pictured are her son Ben and granddaughter Molly.
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Barbara Rothman, a current resident at Iowa River Hospice, has lived an extraordinary life: she served in the U.S. Army and helped to design and create outfits for the soldier shows, and she also enjoyed a career as a professional bowler in the Newark, N.J. area many years ago. So when it was time to plan a special surprise for her through IRH's "Making Moments Matter" program, the answer was simple: she just wanted to go bowling one last time.
Rothman got to do just that at Wayward Social on Wednesday morning along with her son Ben, daughter-in-law Sarah, grandchildren Molly and Spenser, their respective partners and hospice staff. Barb said it was fun to be back on the lanes, but of course, she was already critiquing some of her own rolls.
Ben, who resides with Sarah in Albion, added that bowling was always something the family did together, though it wasn't enough for his mother's taste.
"I know she instilled that we had to try to be competitive at it and enjoy it," he said. "It's a lot of fun (to be here). It's enjoyable, and I know she's critiquing every step I'm taking because she taught me how to bowl. But it's bittersweet."
Jennifer Ford of IRH shouted out Wayward Social for donating the bowling and the shoes, and Lillie Mae donated candy while hospice covered the food and Perkins donated a chocolate pie.
Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.