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'One Big, Happy Family'
In a world of instant messaging and transcontinental job hopping, there
is still a place for Jeanne Schwartzer, a secretary who has served The
Bon-Ton Stores and its founding family for more than 60 years. Schwartzer started at The
Bon-Ton in 1942 at the age of 17, fresh out of York High, where she
studied business. The Bon-Ton now has 72 stores
spread across nine states, but back then there was only one Bon-Ton,
located on the corner of West Market and Beaver streets downtown. "It was one big, happy
family," said Schwartzer, now 78. "We were close to one another
and really looked out for each other." Her first assignment was in the
cash room, but within weeks she was promoted to secretary for owner M. S.
"Tom" Grumbacher, a position she held full time until Grumbacher
was succeeded as chief executive in 1991 by his son Tim. Though she has
cut back her hours now, Schwartzer still handles most of Tom Grumbacher's
personal and financial affairs. Despite their many years
together, Schwartzer has always called Tom Grumbacher, "Mr.
Grumbacher." "Mr. Grumbacher is Mr.
Grumbacher, and Tim is Tim," she said. Looking back: Schwartzer
has many fond memories about her years of service, especially of the
former downtown store: the Thanksgiving parade with the arrival of Santa;
the windows ornately decorated for the holidays; selling war bonds to the
public during WWII; the famous tea room on the balcony; and riding the
escalator, the first one in town. Her professional duties have
blurred into personal responsibilities with the Grumbacher family. She
occasionally baby-sat for Tim Grumbacher and his sisters. A favorite
memory is sliding down the banister at the Grumbacher's home with the
children. "They consider me one of
the family," Schwartzer said. "I guess I am." The closeness to the family was
not only a joy to her life, but an aid in her work as well. "In a sense, Jeanne
represents the very best combination of efficiency, confidentiality,
mature judgment and strong work ethic that are still the hallmark of the
many hardworking people in York county," Tim Grumbacher said. Her commitment to the family is
part of what keeps her working more than 13 years beyond a normal
retirement date, but activity is just in her nature, Schwartzer said. "I'm not one to play cards
in the afternoon, or drink tea or watch TV. I just have to have some
action," she said. "It keeps my mind occupied. In here, I'm
around a lot of people, which is nice." You might think Schwartzer would
go home and relax at the end of the day, but she keeps going. She
volunteers at York Hospital and at the Union Lutheran Church, where she is
active on the fellowship, evangelism and other committees. Earlier in her career, she
co-founded the local chapter of the Audubon Society and a retiree club for
The Bon-Ton. "I'm not one to sit still
for very long," she said. Schwartzer said she never
planned to stay at The Bon-Ton so long, but after 61 years on the job she
has no plans to leave either. Someone once asked her how long she had been
with the company, and Schwartzer had to stop and think about it. "Thirty years," she
said. "Then it was 40 years. One
year just went into another year. And I loved everything about it."
Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
