King's honors Rose Marie Panzitta with Lackenmier Award

Ryan Evans, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
·3 min read

Oct. 21—WILKES-BARRE — Whether it was raising her six children, taking care of her parents as they aged, or one of a host of humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors, Rose Marie Panzitta has dedicated her life to helping others.

It's for these reasons Panzitta, 96, was honored Thursday evening at the Westmoreland Club by King's College with the Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C., Award for Achievement and Leadership.

The award has been given since 2014 in honor of its namesake — King's College's seventh president, Rev. James Lackenmier, C.S.C. — and in recognition of his 18 years of leadership.

According to a release from the college, "the award has been presented to a member of the King's College community who has achieved excellence in their field, demonstrated exceptional philanthropy and high ethical standards, and who embodies the spirit of King's College."

Ever spry, Panzitta told a reporter, "I'm flattered and very happy. What else can I say? I've been helping people since I graduated high school. I gave a lot of blood platelets to the Red Cross. I delivered Meals on Wheels for 50 years. I was in the choir at the church, St. Mary's Church Choir. I was in that 75 years."

Panzitta also worked with the American Cancer Society delivering daffodils when they were selling them, volunteered with the United Way of Wyoming Valley and served on the Board of Directors at St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen.

Panzitta has also been recognized by many of these organizations with awards such as the Rose Brader Award from the United Way, Woman of the Year from the Wyoming Valley Women's Club and the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club, just to name a few. Very much a King's family, with three of her children graduating from the college and a couple grandchildren, Panzitta was awarded an honorary degree in 2017 at the age of 91.

When asked what her thoughts were on how this idea of selflessness and helping out can benefit today's world, she said, "Well, it makes you feel a heck of a lot better about yourself. If you help people, you know, when I gave blood platelets (she gave her last donation at 91), when I get home, I feel as though my day was productive. I know I did something good. If I never do another thing that day, I still did a lot. Make your life productive and make it useful."

Panzitta was presented with her award as well as a citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania from President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and state Sens. John Yudichak and Lisa Baker, which congratulated Panzitta on her "richly deserved recognition" and called her a "shining example of community spirit whose many contributions are worthy of deep gratitude and respect."

Panzitta's husband of 60-plus years, Joseph Panzitta, founder of Panzitta Enterprises, as well as other family, friends, King's faculty, staff, students and alumni, and a grateful community were also in attendance.