Tradition Never Graduates - Marge (Gorka) Robertson ‘58

Published: November 3, 2023

Marge (Gorka) Robertson ’58 spent more than 55 years working in the nursing profession – in local hospitals, with the Visiting Nurse Service, and as one of the very first nurses to work with Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Nursing was both her career and her calling, and she loved what she did until she retired at age 75. 

At the same time, Marge answered another calling – one that she continues to respond to today – as one of the seamstresses who designs and sews costumes for NDA’s fall musical. 

If you’ve been to an NDA show over the past 15 or so years, you have seen Marge’s creations on the NDA PAC stage. Marge has responded to the call with imagination and ingenuity, on shows such as Shrek, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, as well as dresses for Ariel’s Mer-Sisters at this year’s production of The Little Mermaid.

“My mom used to make dresses, and I took home economics classes when I was at NDA – and those classes included a semester of sewing. So, I started to make my own clothes, and then I continued sewing for my family.” 

Years later, Marge attended the alumnae dress rehearsal performance of NDA’s The Wizard of Oz, and then-director – the incomparable Mrs. Trish (Beazley) Sanders ’71 – made a plea for volunteers, and so Marge signed up. “Working with Trish was unbelievable – she was so excited and involved, she always had a vision for the costumes and the show,” shares Marge. “I worked to make her vision a reality.”

The costumes she made for Shrek were some of her favorites. “Fiona was interesting to dress – I had to make three identical dresses for three different girls at three different ‘ages’,” explains Marge. “And the Donkey costume was really fun and interesting.”

Marge has NDA musicals on her mind. When she spends her winters in Texas, she sources costume pieces and ideas at large community sales there. 

And she is always thinking, always learning. “I would love to tell the girls at NDA to keep in mind that the things they learn are important. Treasure your experiences, and your independence – but keep your ties strong and support one another,” she offers. 

You can see Marge’s work onstage at NDA during the final performances of The Little Mermaid on Friday 10/27, Saturday 10/28 and Sunday 10/29. Tickets are still available for all three shows at ShowTix4U.com.