On Thursday, July 19, 2018, Ethel Swavely Kochel –one of Behrend’s most prominent and poignant figures—passed on amongst the comfort of her family at the gentle age of 94. Ethel had been both a resident of the Springhill Living Community and Harborcreek Township during her time in Erie, Pennsylvania.

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The daughter of the late Howard and Florence Swavely, Ethel was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on April 24, 1924. She was preceded in death by her sister, Virginia Egolf, and her husband, Irvin Kochel.

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In 1954, Ethel and Irvin moved to Erie so that Irvin could assume the department head position at the Behrend Center which was what the now Penn State Behrend was called up until its name change in 1987. When the time came for Irvin to transfer to the University Park campus where he would assume the position of vice president for administration, the Kochels had seen the college transition into a full, four-year institution. Furthermore, they were able to witness multiple on-campus additions that ranged from the incorporation of on-campus housing to an influx of students attending the college.

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Both Ethel and Irvin poured their hearts and souls into their work at Penn State Behrend. The pair was very involved with campus happenings as they attended most student events together while also hosting all of the college’s functions. According to Penn State Behrend News, Ethel once said, in reference to their time at Behrend, that they felt that it “was very rewarding and exciting and fun to be part of every one of those 26 years.”

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Jeffrey Kochel, the eldest child of Ethel and Irvin, commissioned for the creation of a landscaped garden and patio that would honor Ethel in 2007. Jeffrey commissioned this work so as to bring light to the multiple hats that she wore throughout the progression of Penn State Behrend that helped make it the institution that it is today.

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Ethel was also named an Honorary Alumna of Penn State in 2013. This title is given to individuals who did not graduate from Penn State, but who have made noteworthy contributions which have reinforced the Penn State name and legacy.  

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Penn State Behrend’s chancellor, Ralph Ford, said: “Ethel was a tireless advocate for Behrend, both during Irv’s administration and after their retirement in Erie, when she was an active member of Behrend committees and helped to host social events… She was a gracious individual whose influence on Behrend’s student-centered campus culture cannot be underestimated.”

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The Kochels constructed a myriad of scholarships which have enabled students to continue their education while broadening their horizons given these gracious, philanthropic endowments. From funding the Irvin Kochel Leadership Scholarship to the Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassadors Fund, the Kochel’s love and support runs deep through each and every Penn State Behrend student today.

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Ethel is survived by her three children: Jeffrey of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, Patricia Young of Erie, and Irvin III of Indiana, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by three siblings—Jane Cadmus, Howard Swavely Jr., and Peg Batdorf— along with seven grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren.