Even when Jay ’80, M.S. ’83, and Doris (Liefer) Groves ’81 are thousands of miles from home, it’s not uncommon for a stranger to notice the emblem on Jay’s polo shirt or the logo on Doris’ scarf.
Appears In“People always stop and say, ‘Go Birds,’” Jay said. “There’s a big network out there. A lot of people know about ISU.”
The Groveses are enjoying retirement after long careers at Illinois State. Jay held roles with TV-10 and Media Relations; he retired from a full-time role in 2017 after serving as chief of staff to three presidents but stayed on in a part-time role until 2021. Doris spent two stints in the Office of Admissions before retiring in 2018 as executive director of Alumni Engagement.
Today, they have a condo in the Ozarks they visit often. Jay volunteers to help people with special needs do their shopping and is a driver for an animal welfare nonprofit. He’s also on the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority’s Board of Commissioners, and Illinois State’s Alumni Association Board of Directors and School of Communication Advisory Board. Doris is on the board of the School Street Food Pantry and volunteers for the Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees. “We keep busy,” Doris said. “We’re always on the road or going somewhere to spend time with friends and family.”
That family includes their three children: Andy is a project manager for a food corporation in Nashville, Tennessee; Dan ’13 is a geologist in South Dakota; and Erin ’18, M.P.A. ’18, is a tax accountant at Illinois State. Dan and his wife made Jay and Doris first-time grandparents this summer.
“We’re excited to be grandparents,” Jay said. “We’ll be spending quite a bit of time in South Dakota,” Doris added.
The Groveses are always on the move, but Bloomington-Normal—and Illinois State—will always be home. It’s a special place for the couple that met 42 years ago at The Cellar, a popular student hangout at the time.
Nowadays, you might see them out at a basketball game, playing trivia with former colleagues, walking their two rescue dogs on the Quad, or doling out Jay’s famous “Redbird Punch” at Homecoming.
“Illinois State is as accomplished as it is because it’s a place that values relationships,” Doris said. “And we really value those relationships.”
Jay can be reached at jrgrove@IllinoisState.edu. Doris can be reached at dfgrove@IllinoisState.edu.
