May 16 , 2005 Print this page

So Who’s Doing the Dishes Tonight? Couple and La Salle University Employees Split Household Chores to Graduate Together

A few weeks after celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, Rob and Heather Fischer are celebrating another milestone: Both are La Salle University employees and were awarded degrees at the University’s Commencement on May 15. Rob received a master’s degree in Professional Communication, while Heather received a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition.

Rob and Heather said they had little trouble balancing their homework and managing the household together. Whenever they both needed to study, they had their own separate space at home to focus in private, and have a common neutral area in their house when they need to take a break.

“We usually split up the household chores when it gets down to midterms and finals, or when we have big projects coming up. Or sometimes we’ll just order out and let the household chores go because there are two people studying here like crazy,” said Heather. “We let certain things slide, and the important things like clean clothes, clean dishes, someone always does.”

Although Rob and Heather commute together to work and their home in the Oxford Circle section of Northeast Philadelphia, neither minds all the time they spend with each other every day.

“We have a pretty big three-bedroom house, so we always have our space at home. Plus, we were great friends before we got married, so being together all the time doesn’t bother us at all.” says Heather.

Even getting ready at the same time in the morning is never too much of a hassle for them. “If one of us is running late, we just let it slide because next week somebody else could be the one holding us up.” says Heather with a laugh.

The couple met on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ through mutual friends in 1985. Rob began working at La Salle as a data entry clerk in the Registrar’s office in 1990, and earned a master’s degree in Education from La Salle in 1993. In 1990 he told Heather of a job opening, and she soon joined the La Salle staff as a secretary, splitting time between the computer information science department and the communication department.

Currently, Rob is Information Technology Officer for University Advancement, and Heather works for two graduate programs, computer science and information technology leadership.

Rob began his second master’s degree program in 1995, but found it difficult to combine his work for Advancement and his studies. Three years ago, he restarted. “I didn’t want to lose my momentum again,” he said. Heather began her studies in 1999.

They are truly excited to graduate together, and thrilled to share in this important milestone together, with both of their families present. On graduation day their families had a party for them.

“We do everything else together. We come to work together, eat lunch together, go home together, it just seems to fit that we would wind up graduating together as well.” said Rob with a laugh.

-- Krystin Thomas