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Dr. Rodrigue Mortel (1933-2022)

4/27/2022

Dr. Rodrigue Mortel, 88, of Hershey, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on Friday, April 22, 2022. He was born on December 3, 1933 in St. Marc, Haiti. After graduating from medical school in Haiti, Dr. Mortel received training in obstetrics and gynecology at Hahnemann Medical College and in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. During his 30-year tenure at the Penn State College of Medicine, he became full Professor and in 1982, became the first black foreign educated doctor to chair one of the 126 United States medical schools Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He occupied that position for 13 years. In 1995, he was promoted to Associate Dean and founding Director of the Penn State University Cancer Center. Before he retired from medicine, Dr. Mortel studied at St. Mary's Seminary University in Baltimore and was ordained a permanent deacon for the Catholic Church in 2001. He also served as the Director of the Missions Office for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and deacon at St. Joan of Arc parish in Hershey and his hometown parish in St. Marc, Haiti. In 1997, he created the Mortel Family Charitable Foundation which is now known as the Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation to serve the poorest of the poor in Haiti. The Foundation currently operates numerous schools that serve over 1,500 children and adults. Dr. Mortel published three books, 135 articles and chapters in books as well as editorials in various periodicals including The New York Times and The Washington Post. For his numerous achievements, Dr. Mortel received many awards and occupied leadership positions in all prestigious obstetrical and gynecological societies in this country. He received the United States Public Health Service Award in 1970, the prestigious Horatio Alger Award in 1985 (From Rags to Riches), and the highly coveted Faculty Scholar Medal from the Pennsylvania State University for outstanding achievement in the area of health sciences in 1986. He was the creator and founding Chairman of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) and became, in 1994, the first foreigner to be President of the elite American Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO). In 2013, the Penn State University College of Medicine named one of its four learning communities the Mortel Society and in 2015, Dr. Mortel received the Penn State Alumni Association's Honorary Alumnus Award. Surviving are his loving wife of 50 years, Cecilia (Shahhein) Mortel and their two children, Denise Mortel Mitchell and Renee Mortel Joy (Kenneth), son Ronald Mortel (La-Ong Ferguson) and daughter Michele Hall (Darryl) from a previous marriage; seven grandchildren, Brenda and Trevor Hall, Jonathan, Kayla and Alyssa Mitchell, Alexis and Brooklyn Joy; sister, Dinah Jacques; and a host of extended family members and close friends. A vigil prayer service will begin at 5:00pm on Sunday, May 1st immediately followed by a time of visitation until 7:00pm, in the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Monday, May 2nd at the church. Interment will follow in the Hershey Cemetery. The mass will be livestreamed at: www.stjoanhershey.org. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to the Mortel High Hopes for Haiti Foundation, P.O. Box 405, Hershey, PA 17033 or www.highhopesforhaiti.org. Share condolences with the family at www.hooverfuneralhome.com www.pennlive.com/obits

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Richard "Larry" Wright (1932-2022)

4/25/2022

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RICHARD “LARRY” WRIGHT
Larry Wright, 89, of Hummelstown, peacefully passed away at home on Sunday, April 17th with his family by his side. He was born on December 23, 1932 in Grover, Colorado, a son of the late Thomas and Ellen Wright. He attended school in Greeley, Colorado and enlisted in the US Navy in April 1950 and began his 24 year Naval Career. He did two tours to Korea aboard the USS Mount McKinley and two tours to Vietnam aboard the USS St Paul. He also received numerous medals. Upon retiring he and the family moved to Hummelstown. Larry began working for the US Post Office soon after, where he worked for 27 years. There he was an LSM Operator, Director of Clerk Craft, and also a Union Steward. Larry met his wife, Catharine “Kitty” (Hoke) Wright, at Corpus Christi NAS, where they were married. They celebrated their 67 Wedding Anniversary in November 2021. Larry enjoyed working with flowers in his yard, singing karaoke and, in his final days, enjoyed watching the birds outside his window. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his 10 children, Thomas, Michael (Pam), Theresa (Greg) Dawson, Richard, Timothy, Sheila, Andrew (Stephanie), Christopher (Rosanna), Steven, and Matthew (Crystal). He also has 14 Grandchildren and 21 Great Grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a baby daughter, grandson (David Wright), a granddaughter, four brothers, three sisters, and best friend Bill Dorosky. He was a member of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Shellsville VFW, Jonestown American Legion, APWU, and CMCA. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Noon on Thursday, April 28th in the St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Avenue in Hershey. Interment with military honors will be at 2:00pm at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11:00am in the church In Lieu of flowers, please donate to St Joan of Arc Church, 329 West Areba Avenue, Hershey PA 17033 or the ALS Association, 5720 Meadowbrook Drive, Harrisburg PA 17112.

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Eternal Life

Dr. Rodrigue Mortel (1933-2022)

Richard "Larry" Wright (1932-2022)

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