Rose Blecker, z'l, 88 of Harrisburg, passed away on Monday, August 23, 2021 at home.

Rose Wagman Blecker was a pioneer in the field of speech-language pathology, a loyal mentor and friend, and a woman whose powerful presence and tenacity touched the lives of many. Rose was born July 1, 1933 to Anna (Lang) and Phillip Wagman in Reading, Pennsylvania. Both of her parents immigrated to the United States from Poland in the 1920s. Her younger sister, Sylvia Jacqueline (Wagman) Levine, died in 1962 in Liberia.

As a teen, Rose was actively involved in sports, academics, and Jewish youth group activities, and held leadership positions in numerous clubs and organizations. Rose was the first in her family to attend high school and college. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1955 and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree at Columbia University Teachers College in 1956.

Following graduation, Rose worked as a speech therapist in the Great Neck, New York public school system for ten years. While living in New York, in addition to enjoying all that Broadway and NYC had to offer in the 1950's, Rose actively participated in marches and rallies in support of more state aid for student education. She also helped organize and mentor her school's Human Relations Club, which participated in an interracial church study hall program. Rose was an early advocate of the civil rights movement, and proudly participated in the March on Washington lead by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963.

In 1964, Rose moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to marry her childhood friend and Sadie Hawkins dance date, Sidney Victor Blecker. Once in Harrisburg, she focused significant energy on making the community a better and more equitable place for all. From 1968-1969, she served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Day Care Center, a non-profit daycare for children from low-income families whose mothers were away from their homes, either because of work, the war, or so they could pursue an education. The Community Day Care Center was one of, if not the first, racially-integrated day care center in the Harrisburg area.

Rose's career as a speech, language and swallowing expert spanned over 60 years, until she was 84 years old. After coming to the Harrisburg area, Rose worked at Polyclinic Hospital (now UPMC) as the coordinator of speech pathology programs from 1965 - 2002. She was also a trailblazer in Pennsylvania in the study and treatment of dysphasia (difficulty with swallowing), helping patients keep food and liquid out of their lungs.

After "retiring" from her job at the Polyclinic, Rose worked more than ever around the Harrisburg area, performing swallowing evaluations and seeing patients at hospitals and rehabilitation centers. She advocated tirelessly for her patients care, and remained dedicated to colleagues, filling in full-time when she was 83 years old for fellow speech pathologists on maternity leave, and volunteering to handle shifts at three area hospitals, especially on holidays, so others could be with their families.

During her career, Rose was an active participant in many professional organizations, including the American Speech Hearing and Language Association and the Pennsylvania Speech Hearing and Language Association. She also served on Pennsylvania's State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, which regulates the practice and licensure of the field in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Never one to sit still, as Rose began reducing her work hours, she increased her volunteering and participation at her synagogue, Beth El Temple. Rose regularly attended morning minyan, as her father had done before her, and relished having breakfast afterwards with her buddies at the Front Street Diner. She served on Beth El's Board of Directors for many years, and organized a meaningful speaker series, weaving her talent and passion for life-long education into her spiritual life.

To know Rose was to witness her fortitude, fierce independence, and conviction. To be taught by Rose was to learn about the equal impacts of speech and silence, and the importance of showing up for those you love and care about.

Rose will be deeply missed by friends, family, and all those whose lives she touched. Rose is survived by her daughter, Jodi Blecker Lowit, son in law Philip Lowit, three loving grandchildren, Sydney, Sasha and Ruby Lowit, and partner, Doris Zerbey.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Beth El Temple in Harrisburg officiated by Rabbi Ariana Capptauber.

Memorial donations in memory of Rose may be made to Beth El Temple, 2637 North Front St, Harrisburg, PA 17110 and designated to Life-long Learning or to the Minyan Fund. In addition, donations may be made to HIAS.