Beloved facilities employee dies at 77

Carl Rausch, a Penn employee for 52 years, died of cancer last week. When Carl Rausch turned 70, his coworkers threw him a huge retirement party. The only catch was that the loyal University employee did not plan to retire -- instead, he stayed in the maintenance department for seven more years. But, every year following that, a retirement party was thrown in his honor. Carl Rausch, who moved up the ranks to the position of associate director of Facilities Services, died on April 13, at the age of 77, after a 20-year-long struggle with cancer. Rausch had worked at Penn for 52 years. Campus natives, Rausch's family once lived at 37th and Locust streets, on what is now the site of the McNeil Building. His parents were both University employees -- his mother watching over all the residential housekeepers at a time when each dormitory had a "house mother." On February 16, 1948, Rausch joined in the family tradition and started working for Penn, in the Hutchinson Gymnasium laundry room. Over the years, he was promoted and eventually headed up the housekeeping unit, making a name for himself as a skilled teamster negotiator. Though he did finally officially retired in 1996, he continued to work part-time until his death. "Carl knew everyone on a personal level," said Jim Bean, director of Facilities Services Operations, "even with a housekeeping staff of 452." Many remember Rausch for his undying spirit to serve and help others. "If you had a problem [you would] get a hold of Carl," Bean recalled. "You saw night, and he saw day," said Sam Cutrafello, a coworker of Rausch's. "But if you needed a hand, he was always there." Cutrafello also remembered Rausch taking care of employees' families and children by offering them summer jobs and employment when they fell on hard times. With exceptional school spirit and pride for his workplace, Rausch was known to have perpetuated a comprehensive oral history of Penn. "When I was an undergrad here there was a catch phrase of 'Penn Pride'," Bean said. "And Carl was the embodiment of that." Rausch fought a long, hard battle with cancer for more than two decades, with the last few years being especially difficult ones. His co-workers recalled that the dedicated employee showed up to work without fail throughout his illness and maintained a stoic demeanor. "You had to be inspired by his strength," labor relations specialist Dennis Deegan noted. "It was not until the very end that he was complaining about the pain." Demanding and hardworking with a generous heart and a consistently positive attitude, Rausch had a profound impact on the lives of all those with whom he interacted. "He was gruff and loud, with a heart as big as Walnut Street," remembered Cutrafello. A Penn institution, Rausch will be sorely missed. "There will be no monument, no plaque," Cutrafello said sadly. "But he was a great man." Rausch is survived by two daughters, three granddaughters and one great-grandson.