John and Barb during their time at Etown.

Throughout its 125-year history, Elizabethtown College has served as the backdrop to many love stories. For alumni John R. ’72 and Barbara (Danzeisen) ’72 Rotz, theirs began in the quiet confines of Zug Memorial Library.

John frequently visited the library’s Circulation Desk to check out assigned readings that were on reserve. It turns out, he was also using it as an opportunity to check in with the young woman who worked evenings behind the desk.

When John finally asked Barb out on a date, he did not know her last name or which dorm she lived in. At that time, men calling on someone living in the women’s dorms had to provide the resident’s first and last name and wait in the lobby. Too proud to admit his error, John commissioned several of his buddies and their girlfriends to seek out the required information – and the rest is history.

Both were first-generation students and finances were a challenge, so they took advantage of on-campus employment opportunities that also covered room and board. John worked for the Audio-Visual Department and served as a resident counselor. In addition to working at the library, Barb monitored the infirmary and the College’s overnight switchboard. She also worked as a resident counselor and picked up odd jobs in the Communications Department.

An Accounting major, John served as president of the Society for the Advancement of Management and was class president during his junior year. He received the College’s 1972 Educate for Service Award for his campus involvement and volunteer activities during his four years at Etown.

“Given our very busy schedules, our dating was often limited to on-campus dates snatched between classes, work, and campus activities,” Barb said. They wed about six months after graduation, with Barb’s Etown roommate and best friend, Melinda (McCandless) Bergen ’73, serving as maid of honor and John’s brother, Alan, as best man.

As they began their married life in Philadelphia, John worked as a staff accountant at Price Waterhouse and Co., which is now known as PricewaterhouseCoopers. Barb, who had earned her bachelor’s degree in Religion and Philosophy in less than three years, pursued a master’s degree in Library and Information Science at Drexel University.

“While I worked in the Etown library, I came to appreciate the importance of access to a wide variety of information,” Barb said. “My work in the library and several computer science courses influenced my decision to pursue a master’s degree.”

After Barb’s graduation from Drexel, John accepted a position as a management consultant with the Pennsylvania Farmers Association and they relocated to Franklin County. A later position with Valley Bank and Trust Company launched his 40-year banking career, which culminated in serving as president of Citizens Bank of Southern Pennsylvania.

Barb’s professional career included serving as a Cataloging Librarian at Wilson College, performing freelance work overseeing public library automation projects, and serving as managing editor of a small publishing company. In 1995, she accepted a position as Head of Circulation at Shippensburg University, eventually transitioning to Collection Management Librarian.

In retirement, John and Barb enjoy spending time with their two sons and four granddaughters. They have traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada, planning trips around visits to National Parks and embarking on interesting train rides—a passion of John’s as a train enthusiast.

In addition to being the place where their more than 50-year relationship began, Etown was instrumental in John and Barb’s success in their lives and careers.

“The accounting knowledge and leadership skills I gained at Etown were extremely valuable throughout my career and involvement in many nonprofit and for-profit boards and committees,” John said. “Through my work with nonprofits, I like to think that I helped lessen the struggle for many individuals in need by helping with their taxes and budgeting.”

Barb credits her Etown education with helping to broaden her perspective.

“I arrived at Etown with a very narrow worldview and left with a greater openness to new ideas,” Barb said. “I often say Etown gave me an understanding that the questions we ask in life are more important than the answers.”

View more Etown Changemakers at etown.edu/125.