Rita Wolfe, daughter of former Dispatch Publisher John F. Wolfe, dies at the age of 56

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Rita Wolfe, daughter of former Dispatch Publisher John F. Wolfe, ***** at the age of 56

Rita Jean Wolfe, a community leader and daughter of former Dispatch Publisher

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, ***** Monday at the Arthur G. James ******* Hospital at Ohio State University.

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Rita J. Wolfe, daughter of former Columbus Dispatch Publisher John F. Wolfe, has *****.

She was 56. She was known for her work serving on boards of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping people and animals.

Like her father, Wolfe preferred to work behind the scenes, often making discreet inquiries about those who were in need.

“She believed everyone should have an opportunity whether it was a person or an animal,” said Laurie Stein Marsh, the retired executive director of Leadership Columbus, where Wolfe was a board member and a graduate. “She had an ability to connect with people regardless of their social status in life and the same with animals. She had an abundance of love in her heart I called a generosity of spirit.’’

“She positively impacted the lives of so many people and so many animals,” said Rustin Moore, the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State. “That was the memory we will keep of her.’’

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Miami University in Ohio in 1989, she went to work at WGN-TV in Chicago.

In 1991, she returned to Columbus to work in the sales department at WBNS-TV, which also was owned by the Wolfe family at the time.

Nine years later, she was promoted to corporate director of civic affairs for The Dispatch Printing Company, a position she held until 2016 when she was named vice president and director of corporate relations.

Besides Leadership Columbus, Wolfe served on the boards of The Harmony Project and the James ******* Hospital and Leadership Columbus. Her compassion for animals led to serving on the board of Columbus Humane (formerly the Capital Area Humane Society) and Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine Engagement Council.

She helped raise awareness of human trafficking and supported CATCH Court, a special docket within the Franklin County Municipal Court to help break the cycle of ******.

“She would see somebody who didn’t even make overt request for help. She would work behind the scenes and figure out a way to connect with people to help with the opportunity they were seeking,” Marsh said. “It didn’t matter who that person was. She did the same with animals.’’

David Brown, creative director of the Harmony Project, said when he first came to town, Wolfe was one of the first people she met. The Wolfe family helped get the project off the ground and have continue to be supportive, he said.

“Rita understood that she belonged to a family that had a huge impact and huge imprint on the community,” Brown said. “She never took that for granted.’’

Her father ***** in 2016.

She is survived by mother Ann I. Wolfe and sisters Sara W. (Michael) Perrini and Katie W. (Clark) Lloyd.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Club, 181 E. Broad St., and a Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Southern Theater, 21 E. Main St.

Memorial contributions may be made to the James ******* Hospital, through the Ohio State University Foundation, or Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation.

*****@*****.tld

@BizMarkWilliams

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch:

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