According to his family, Dill was a happy and adventurous man who found pleasure in taking care of others. Born and raised in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, he loved to spend time with his friends, travel, ski, and listen to music. In 1974, he took his talents and passions to Penn State, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in health planning and administration. Soon after, Dill realized his passion was best focused on nursing, specifically geriatrics.
After graduation, Dill spent many years as a nursing home administrator, devoting his time to the residents. He was committed to providing exceptional care for his residents and decided to go back to school, continuing his education at West Chester State University and earning his bachelor of science in nursing in 1992. He then went on to receive his master's degree in nursing as a gerontological nurse practitioner, from the University of Pennsylvania.
At the age of 53, Dill was unfortunately diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, an unusual variant of Alzheimer’s disease. He remained a positive and upbeat man despite his disease, but in August 2015, at the age of 61, he succumbed to his illness. In 2017, his family created the R.L. Dill Memorial Scholarship in his honor.
"We wanted to celebrate his memory, and nursing was his passion. Some of Ralph’s most joyful years were spent at Penn State, so we thought it was best to establish a scholarship with the College of Nursing," said Jennifer Dill Podowski. "We hope to make a difference for underrepresented nursing students, such as men like Ralph, in their nursing career."
Family members are all Penn State alumni. Jennifer Dill Podowski graduated from the College of Agricultural Sciences and John Richard Podowski from the College of Engineering in 1979. Elizabeth Podowski, John and Jennifer’s daughter, graduated with a bachelor's and master's degrees in biology as well as from Schreyer Honors College.
“We have all benefited from our Penn State degrees, so we want to be able to help someone else have the same experience and pursue their passion," said John Podowski. "We feel privileged to be in a position to help, so it’s important to us to give back to the community and to continue Ralph’s legacy in the nursing field."
This gift will advance "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.