After her mother passed away, Linda Gravel wanted a fresh start. This past August, she moved to Hillsdale where her son and daughter-in-law coach the college women’s volleyball team. From bouncing between Troy, Mich. and Hillsdale to babysit her grandaughter, Gravel knew the Hillsdale community well.
When the Olds Residence’s House Director, Mary Cobb, took a leave of absence, Gravel received a call from Hillsdale College. Diane Philipp, the dean of women, told Gravel they needed a new “house mom” for Olds Residence, a freshman dorm. Gravel did not need much convincing.
“I thought to myself, ‘I have been a parent for a long time, this won’t be a problem,’” she said. “Finally, I get paid for being a parent.”
Gravel worked as a massage therapist for 20 years in Troy. For ten years she worked in Nordstrom Spas and finished her last ten working with a local chiropractor. Although she is retired now, she still has clients in Troy. Her residents say that her spontaneous, conversational backrubs are hard to beat.
“When she comes up and gives you a massage it makes your world,” resident assistant Anna Barhanovich said.
Gravel’s relationship with the eight R.A.’s is “involved, but not controlling,” according to Barhanovich. On occasion she will drop by the Monday morning R.A. meetings at 7:15 a.m. to stay in the loop. The girls refer to her as “Mama G.”
It is common for Gravel to stop by the front desk to chat when R.A.’s are on their evening watch.
“For the Super Bowl, I had to sit desk and Mama G bought me snacks,” R.A. Betsy Thistleton said.
Along with many of her residents, Gravel is a fan of the PBS television hit “Downton Abbey.” She likes to invite girls into her room to watch the show.
Outside of Olds Residence, Gravel enjoys eating in the Saga Inc. cafeteria with the other house directors. She eats in Saga every day.
“I love my job,” Gravel said. “I’m working 24/7, but it doesn’t feel like I’m working.”
Upon her arrival, Gravel was quickly initiated into the duties of a house director. During the first week of her new job, R.A. Marie Wathen slipped on a patch of ice, breaking her fibula and tibia. After Wathen’s surgery, Gravel insisted that Wathen live in the house director room in the dorm. Wathen agreed.
“We’re pretty good roomies,” Gravel said.
Wathen said that she broke Gravel into her house director duties immediately after her break. Gravel met Wathen in the hospital on the night of the accident to check up on her and form a gameplan for Wathen’s living situation.
Wathen’s mother drove to Hillsdale from Nebraska on the night of the accident. Although she was tempted to bring her daugher home, Wathen and her mom agreed that with Gravel’s help, she could finish the semester.
“I need help with every part of my day. From something simple like turning on a light to getting ice,” Wathen said. “Like, I need ice constantly. She has been essential for me and for many other girls.”
In the words of Barhanovich, Gravel treats every girl like a “precious gem.”
