COLUMBUS, Ohio — Family, friends and community members gathered Sunday at the Southern Theatre to honor, remember and celebrate the life of Rita Wolfe.
Rita, who previously worked at WBNS-10TV and served on several community organizations and philanthropies in Columbus and Franklin County, passed away on Aug. 5. She was 56.
During the ceremony, Rita's family announced that they have established the Rita Jean Wolfe Deanship in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State in honor of Rita's involvement with the school and her love for animals.
As friends and family celebrated Rita's life, they also noted her approach to making a significant impact on the community through her work.
"It wasn't just sympathy for other people, but she put herself in other people's shoes. They might not have been stilletos, but she put herself in other people's and that's what forged her connection to do even more," said former Leadership Columbus Executive Director Laurie Marsh.
Rita was born on Oct. 4, 1967, to John and Ann Wolfe. John served as chairman of The Dispatch Printing Company before he passed away in 2016 from a two-year battle with cancer.
She graduated from the Columbus School for Girls and went on to attend Miami University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Inspired by her father, she began work at WGN-TV in Chicago before returning to Columbus in 1991 to work in the sales department at WBNS.
She was later promoted to corporate director of civic affairs for The Dispatch Printing Company. She held that position from 2000-2016. She was then named vice president and director of corporate relations.
Rita served on the boards of The Harmony Project, the James Cancer Hospital, Columbus Humane, Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine Engagement Council and Leadership Columbus.
In an obituary written by her family, Rita was described as someone who radiated positivity in good times and bad and had a keen sense of humor.