Andrea L. Mengel, 68, nurse, educator, arts supporter
Andrea L. Mengel, 68, of Philadelphia, who rose from humble roots in rural Pennsylvania to become a nurse and educator in the city, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, of kidney cancer at home.
Andrea L. Mengel, 68, of Philadelphia, who rose from humble roots in rural Pennsylvania to become a nurse and educator in the city, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, of kidney cancer at home.
Dr. Mengel grew up in the Allegheny Mountains northeast of Altoona, in a house her family built just off a dirt road. The home's foundation consisted of stones scrounged by her parents from the land.
Her father, David G., was a paper mill worker; her mother, Helen M., a cafeteria worker at the local high school. Dr. Mengel was one of six children. Theirs was a large, loving family, she later told her daughter, Ann Ritter.
The family eked out a living in part from planting fruit trees, raising chickens, keeping bees, and making wine. Although money was often tight, curiosity and hard work were rewarded, and books abounded in the house, as Dr. Mengel's parents fostered a love of reading and writing.
A self-described wallflower, she was not sure she would be able to succeed in college, but after her parents encouraged her to attend nursing school, Dr. Mengel enrolled. She completed a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Pennsylvania State University, and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.
Convinced of the empowerment that comes from education, she set out to improve opportunities for others, especially first-generation college students and those looking for a second chance at careers.
For 40 years, she was a nursing professor at Community College of Philadelphia, where she received the Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching. She also was director of the college's nursing department for 15 years. During that time, the program was designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing. She retired last year as occupant of the Independence Foundation Chair of Nursing, an endowed teaching post at the college.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mengel worked with colleagues to create new ways to educate nursing students, launching programs to attract minorities for advanced degrees and improve nursing care for seniors.
"Over the course of her life, thousands of nursing students benefited from her wisdom, wit, and commitment to the Philadelphia community," her family said in a tribute.
She wrote and had published numerous articles and book chapters on nursing and education, many coauthored by colleagues who remained lifelong friends.
She served for 18 years as a board member of the Independence Foundation, a philanthropic organization that invests in health care and human services in the Philadelphia area.
She also served for 15 years as board member and vice president of the Arden Theatre Company, a role she found especially rewarding, she told her family.
She enjoyed art, music, and travel.
Dr. Mengel's family was of paramount importance to her. In private life, she was known for her "unconditional love, her playful sense of mischief, and her belief that it was never the wrong time of day to eat dessert," said her daughter.
In addition to her daughter and mother, she is survived by her husband of 44 years, George Ritter, and two granddaughters.
At her request, there was no funeral service. Burial was private.
Contributions may be made to the Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. Second Street, Philadelphia 19106.
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