"Ruthle" retires . . .
She calls herself 'the last of the originals'
although, of course, she really didn't begin
to work for the university until 1948, 14
years after the inception of the Hazleton
Center.
However, Ruth Donar Reichart, who re
tired early this year after 36 years and four
months with Penn State-Hazleton, did begin
her tenure at the Walnut Street building al
most a year before the move to Highacres.
Barely 18 years old and fresh out of
McCann Business School, 'Ruthie', a Nurem
berg native, had one false start in the work
ing world, five weeks at a factory in Hazle
ton, before she accepted the job at the Hazle
ton Center of Penn State.
She recalls that her typing instructor at
business school arranged the university in
terview after learning of the job opening
from a friend, a chemistry professor named
John D. Carr.
Ruthie was interviewed for the position
by J. Richard Mattem, assistant administra
tive head and went to work as secretary for
the evening class management training
program (now Office of Continuing Educa
tion). She later switched to the department
of registrations and records which eventually
evolved into the Office of Academic Affairs.
Her first boss was H. Leland Whitfield, a
district representative for Hazleton Center,
then she worked for Frank Kostos when he
was assistant administrative head of the
Hazleton Campus.
When Kostos moved up to head the cam
pus, she decided to stay with th e
. position
she liked so well, dealing with students, fac
ulty, registrations and records. She next
worked for William E. Schneider then as
sociate director for academic affairs, then for
his successor, Dr. James Staudenmaier, pre
sent director of academic affairs.
Your Help Is Needed . . .
ANNUAL FUND REACHES
TOWARD $lO,OOO GOAL
The 1984-85 annual fund campaign
began last fall and by the end of 1984,
alumni and friends of the Hazleton Cam
pus had contributed almost $5,000 to it.
Since then the pace has slowed and
with just four months left, the campaign
has raised a total of $6,585 still $3,415
short of its $lO,OOO goal.
Anna Jean Leib, who heads this year's
campaign, noted that a contribution to
the Hazleton Campus Fund counts as a
contribution to the university fund of
which it is a part. She urges those who
Please Clip and Mall With Your Check
HAZLETON CAMPUS FUND
Please make check payable to: THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Mail it to PENN STATE - Hazleton Campus, Highacres, Hazleton, Pa. 18201
I would like to contribute to the annual fund campaign during this 50th anniver
sary year of PENN STATE at Hazleton.
NAME
Also Credit Spouse
ADDRESS
She remembers the days when the office
was in the room which is now the Harlam
Lounge and classes were held upstairs in the
same building. She said that at one point she
and her records were moved to the Markle's
"butler's quarters," a building which stood
where the library was later erected.
Remarkably, she has almost total recollec
tion of the names of students over the years
and many of them have stayed in touch with
her long after they left the campus.
Ninety of her friends and co-workers came
out to honor Ruthie at a laughter-filled retire
ment dinner last month. But in spite of a
retirement gift of a rocking chair, Ruthie
doesn't seem to be preparing for any ex
have riot yet given in this fiscal year, to
send the coupon below to the Hazleton
Campus.
"Each year our fund manages to pro
vide a few extras for our campus," said
Mrs. Leib, "things which don't quite fit
into the operating budget. Right now
our engineering and engineering tech
students desperately need CAD (com
puter aided design equipment) and the
biology students should have their ailing
autoclave replaced. They look to you for
help."
My Gift Is
for Hazleton Campus Fund
►other PENN STATE Fund Designation)
TOTAL.
tended porch sitting.
She says she Just wants more time to enjoy
being with her husband but she admits she
signed up to take a course in Italian for travel
ers and from all reports, that's just the tip of
the iceberg.
She tells the story on herself that once she
was walking in New York City's crowded
Times Square and heard "Ruthie, Ruthie". It
turned out to be a Hazleton Campus alum
who was attending a lecture series at Colum
bia University.
So if you're in Rome, or Venice, or Paris
or Tokyo and hear someone yell "Ruthie,"
take a look around. You Just might find Ruth
Donar Reichart enjoying her retirement
State Zip