Dr. Leah E. "Doc" Jordan

Photograph from the CHS 1945 annual courtesy of
Margaret Minner Turner

Many thanks to Loretta H. Gallagher, West Grove, PA, for sharing this with us.

In life, Dr. Leah E. Jordan inspired writers and lawyers, doctors and CEOs, and teachers - many teachers.

In death, Dr. Jordan is carrying on her legacy of inspiring young minds with her donation of 7,000 volumes to Widener University's Wolfgram Library.

Today Widener recognizes Dr. Jordan's contribution with a memorial plaque in her honor.

The former head of the English Department at Chester High School and a resident of Chester for more than 60 years, Dr. Jordan died October 29, 1993 at the age of 82. A 1929 graduate of Chester High School, she earned her bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College in 1933 and both her master's degree in 1940 and her doctoral degree in 1945 from the University of Pennsylvania.

After her resignation from Chester High School, she taught at West Chester University for 12 years. She then pursued studies toward a Master of Divinity degree at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, but failing eyesight prevented completion of her degree work there.

Loretta Gallagher, a former student of Dr. Jordan's, said that Widener was chosen to receive Dr. Jordan's books because of her love for Chester.

"She kept talking about coming back to Chester," Gallagher said. "She can't come back, but her books can."

Dedication Program:

Invocation: Dr. Glen Koch, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Speaker: Renee (Bookman) Robbins, Chester High School '48

Presentation of Library Collection: The Honorable Francis J. Catania

From Dr. Jordan's Funeral Service:

d. October 29, 1993 - Towanda, PA

Funeral Service: Memorial Chapel of Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle, DE

Wednesday Afternoon, November 10, 1993, 2:00

Interment: Gracelawn Memorial Park

Arrangements by Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes

[Obituary]