Six families recently celebrated eight people whose names were added to the Louise I Hallman Memorial Plaque at the Slatington Public Library.
The dedication plaque was held last week at the library.
Names are added to the plaque when at least $1,000 is given in honor/memory of a person.
Those honored, whose plates were in memory of, were: Janice Altrichter, John Kisthardt, Donald G. Roberts, Doris and Nick Smith and William A. Steckel. David and Diane Schnaars’ nameplate was placed in honor of their donation.
Janice Altrichter, the wife of David Altricther, was always active in her community. She was a member of the church council of Frieden’s UCC, Sunday school teacher at Bern UCC, president of the Northern Lehigh PTA, member of the Indianland Garden Club and the Red Hat Society.
When Janice retired in 2008, she worked extensively with the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley and was presented with the “Most Amazing Volunteer Award.”
John Kisthardt was an active community member in Washington Township. He was a veteran of the US Navy, and was very proud of his military service.
He retired from New Jersey Zinc, but continued to serve on the Horsehead board of directors where he helped facilitate many grants to local nonprofits. He served on the board of the Slatedale Cemetery Association, played the drum in the Parryville Band, and created prize winning wooden crafts. He held every office on the board of directors of the Slatington Public Library over a period of many years.
Kisthardt was also a hands-on building manager at the library, and he played a vital role in numerous capital improvement projects.
Donald G Roberts was a lifelong Northern Lehigh area resident. Born on Diamond Street in Slatington, Roberts honorably served his country in the US Navy during World War II, participating in both the Atlantic and the Pacific theaters.
He worked for the Pa. Employment Office as an employee relations representative in addition to selling insurance and real estate. His leisure time activities included being an avid Penn State and Northern Lehigh sports fan, and he served as the former president of the Slatington Bulldogs Football Parents Association.
Roberts also was a member of many service organizations including the Slatington Masonic Lodge 440, Allentown Lehigh Consistory, Reading Rajah Shrine, and the King’s Men of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Slatington.
Doris and Nick Smith were Walnutport residents whose lives made a positive impact on the Northern Lehigh Community. Doris was a retired educator from the Northern Lehigh School District, a member of Eastern Star, and she served on the Slatington Public Library board of directors for many years. Nick was a local business owner, Rotarian and Mason for more than 50 years. He also was a skilled craftsman who made the charge desk and cabinets in the Slatington Library.
They both volunteered for many of the library activities and fundraisers.
William A. Steckel was a lifelong resident of Slatington and was a 1938 graduate of Slatington High School. He worked and was involved in many different aspects of the Slatington Community. He opened his own law firm and later was the senior partner of Steckel & Stopp.
Steckel was involved with the Lehigh County Bar Association and was the last president of the Slatington National Bank and Trust Co. He was also on the advisory committee for the banks that succeeded it. He was a member of St. John’s UCC, Masonic Lodge 440 and Royal Arch Chapter 292, Slatington Rotary Club, Boy Scouts of America, Lehigh Council and on the board of directors of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. In 1985, with Steckel’s prodding, his investment group, the ROGERS Corporation donated the building at 650 Main St. in Slatington to the Slatington Public Library.
Dave and Diane Schnaars believe libraries are a key to a community’s overall health and they have supported generously to the Slatington Public Library. Dave is a semi-retired pastor for the United Church of Christ and currently serves as president of the Northern Lehigh Rec. Authority and chaplain for Slatington Borough Council, where he served as a council member in the past. Diane is retired and serves on the Committee on Ministry for the Penn Northeast Conference of the UCC. She is also an avid crocheter and donates her Afghans to the library for its basket social.
Libraries and reading are so important to the Schnaars, they have placed a “Little Free Library” box outside their home for their neighborhood to use.
Diane and Dave Schnaars.
The family of Donald G. Roberts. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
David Altrichter
The family of John Kisthardt. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
The Meckes family (Doris and Nick Smith).
Paul and Marilyn Steckel.
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