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By Marty Siederer LC‘77
For some it’s challenging to get involved in new activities and meet new people, but Athena Angelus, the RAA long-time office manager for nearly 35 years, made sure they were met with a friendly face and lots of encouragement. When Athena retired from her staff position last year, she had left her mark – playing a crucial role in the RAA’s growth and transition to today’s organization that represents graduates from the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and Rutgers’ legacy constituent schools.
Athena grew up in Virginia, graduated from the University of Virginia in 1966, and moved with her family to Franklin Township (Somerset), NJ, where she raised her two sons and worked part-time handling the books for a florist in nearby Highland Park. In 1988, Grace Gates, a friend from Athena’s neighborhood who served as a secretary for the Rutgers Alumni Association, told Athena that Rutgers needed three people to “come in and lick envelopes” for a mailing. Athena was the only person who showed up. That led to a part-time position with the Alumni Relations department, primarily during Reunion weekend, when Athena and other volunteers and staff would put together and distribute welcome bags and name badges for Reunion attendees.
Many students who helped Athena at Reunion weekend went on to become RAA volunteers and recall how Athena influenced and encouraged their involvement in the RAA. “Athena had an innate ability to spot students who would be the leaders of tomorrow for the RAA,” recalled Frank Hundley RC‘86, a past RAA president.
A warm welcome from Athena was usually the first contact that alumni made with Rutgers staff during Reunion Weekend, and subsequently with all RAA events when she transitioned into the office manager position. While Athena’s office responsibilities were part-time, she was a round-the-clock presence at RAA events, and a steadying influence and guide for the many officers, committee chairs, and volunteers that served the RAA.
In recognition of her dedication to the RAA, in 2011 she was named a Loyal Daughter of Rutgers, an honor rarely awarded to non-Rutgers graduates. “Athena’s energy and enthusiasm for all things Rutgers, and the impact she has had on alumni recruitment and engagement is impossible to measure,” said Robert Eichert RC‘78, a past RAA president and co-chair of the Loyal Sons and Daughters committee.
“Athena, who we commonly called our Greek mother in the RAA office, is one of the most generous, and kindest people I know,” said Keri DeMayo RC ‘94 RBSG ‘06. “Athena and I spent many a late night in Winants Hall preparing for reunion weekend. We shared many laughs. No matter how crazy things got, I knew Athena not only had it handled, but things would be better than I could even imagine. She had a way of disarming alumni with her charm and was amazing, and usually became their best friend!”
Current RAA president Brian Tobin RC’96 GSN‘17 also celebrated Athena’s support of the RAA volunteer team. “Athena has been the most consistent and positive presence for me for the past 15 years as an alumni volunteer. She’s been there for the RAA through the proverbial thick and thin. It’s been a blessing to have her as a representative of the RAA.”
Danielle Bechta SAS‘11 said, “I will always be grateful for how Athena took me under her wing when I joined the RAA. She introduced me to everyone and I am in awe of how she was always able to remember someone’s name. The RAA owes so much of its success to Athena’s guidance and leadership behind the scenes.”
Athena said she’s always happy to hear from the dedicated pool of RAA volunteers that she has worked with over the years. She can be reached at athena44@icloud.com.
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