Penn State police lieutenant remembered

UNIVERSITY PARK – Deborah Stitt, administrative lieutenant for Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) and past station commander at Penn State Altoona, died unexpectedly on Monday, Oct. 26. She was 55.

Stitt served at Penn State for 23 years, most recently at the UPPS headquarters at the University Park campus where she oversaw recruiting, hiring, on-boarding of new employees, and training for employees at 22 campuses.

“Deb served the Penn State community for more than two decades and had a passion and drive for her work unlike any other. Her level of professionalism and dedication to her work not only benefited our entire department, but it also had a positive impact on the entire Penn State community,” said Charlie Noffsinger, associate vice president of University Police and Public Safety. “She will be greatly missed by all of her colleagues at UPPS, including those she worked closely with at headquarters and her colleagues and friends at Penn State Altoona, where she served for many years. We continue to mourn this great loss.”

Stitt graduated from Central Cambria High School in 1982. She is also a graduate of the Johnstown Municipal Police Academy. She worked as a police officer for 28 years, having also served at Shippensburg University. Stitt was also a volunteer for the Blue Knob Ski Patrol and a member of the Catalyst Church. She enjoyed playing golf, skiing and kayaking.

Born Sept. 3, 1965, Stitt was the daughter of Rosie Duman Springer and the late Clair Springer. In addition to her mother, Stitt is survived by her husband Charles R. Stitt II, with whom she shared 24 years of marriage. She is also survived by her three daughters, Alexis, Aubrey and Ashden; two sisters, Linda Sclesky, and husband Jim Sclesky, of Reading and Rosemarie Hughes, and husband Joe Hughes, of Altoona; and three brothers, Richard Springer, and wife Diane Springer, of Carrolltown, Raymond Springer of New Germany, and Daniel Springer of Ebensburg.

Friends will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 at New Hope Baptist Church, Duncansville. A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will take place at New Canoe Creek Cemetery.