Pharmacy was more than a career for Ohio Northern University alumna Barbara (Reeves) Stitzel, BSPh ’80, it was a calling.
For 43 years, Barb served thousands of patients across seven states, offering not only prescriptions, but also compassion, guidance, and a trusted voice in healthcare.
In May 2023, Barb passed away from ovarian cancer. Two years later, her husband, Dan Stitzel, honored her life’s work with a generous gift to ONU’s Raabe College of Pharmacy in support of programs for the HealthWise Pharmacy and the HealthWise Mobile Clinic. Dan has a passion to specifically support programs that include cancer screening services within the Pharmacy and at Mobile Clinic sites.
“My hope is that this gift will help future pharmacists develop the same passion for building trust with patients that Barb had,” said Dan.
Barb and Dan’s story began in the small town of Gowanda in rural western New York, where they were high school sweethearts. They maintained a long-distance relationship while Dan attended Syracuse University and Barb came to ONU. Dan fondly remembers visiting Barb on campus for her sorority dances.
After graduation, they married and embarked on their careers. Dan’s work in the forestry and heavy equipment industry required the couple to move frequently. They lived in several states, including Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico, and Illinois. With each move, Barb obtained licensure so she could continue practicing pharmacy. Being a pharmacist was core to her identity, according to Dan.
“Her passion for the profession went beyond the workplace,” he recalled. “Family and friends frequently turned to her for trusted advice for their health and medication needs.”
Following Barb’s passing, Dan reconnected with ONU. It was something the couple had long intended to do, but life and Barb’s illness had delayed. When Dan learned about the ONU Healthwise Mobile Clinic, he knew immediately that it was something Barb would have loved.
The Mobile Clinic serves rural residents in Hardin and surrounding counties, bringing critical healthcare services directly to those who don’t have easy access to healthcare professionals. It also focuses on preventative care, one-on-one interactions, and building trusting relationships with patients. These tenets were central in Barb’s long career.
“The town we grew up in could have benefited from a mobile clinic like this,” said Dan. “Especially my parents who lived on a farm and were reluctant to seek any type of medical care.”
“The generous gift of the Stitzel’s will have a profound impact on ONU HealthWise,” said Stuart Beatty, dean of ONU's Raabe College of Pharmacy. “Our operations are targeted to provide our community access to care, while showing our students the critical role pharmacists can play in serving medically underserved areas. To be able to add cancer screening and prevention events enhances both the power of our hands-on education and the impact on the health of our community.”
Max Lambdin, executive director of development, shared his appreciation for Dan’s meaningful gift.
“We are deeply grateful to Dan for honoring Barb’s life and legacy in this way. Dan told me Barb often talked about how ONU was the foundation of her successful career. While she wasn’t one who sought the spotlight, he knows she would be pleased to support the education of future pharmacists and help bring healthcare to underserved communities.”
Before her passing, Barb and Dan were on a quest to visit every Major League baseball stadium in the U.S. After Barb’s death, Dan met his fiancé, Deb, when he was giving a talk about Barb’s cancer journey and the importance of preventative care. Deb’s husband had also died of cancer and they had also been on a cross-country journey to visit ballparks together.
Dan and Deb now continue that journey. They plan to marry in June 2026.
Visiting ONU’s campus this May for a dedication of the plaque in Barb’s honor was an impactful moment for Dan. Supporting Barb’s alma mater has given him a sense of closure and peace. It’s an honor, he explained, to move Barb’s legacy of patient care forward for future generations.
“Barb tried to make a difference for others during her life,” he said, “and with this gift, I am trying to do that too, in her name.”