Helga Rist Memorial Fund

Helga E. Rist was born in 1928 in Germany and grew up under Nazi Germany’s control. At the end of World War II, she was arrested without warning by the Communists who flooded into the Eastern part of Germany as the Nazis fled. Her ‘crime’? Her name appeared in a boy’s address book, and he was called a “spy.” Helga spent the next seven and a half years imprisoned, sleeping on straw like an animal, all without benefit of a trial. When she was finally released, she dedicated herself to becoming educated, and to educating others.

Upon emigrating to the United States, she began teaching German at Lower Dauphin High School where she was named “Teacher of the Year.” Having taught there for many years she concluded her teaching career at Wilson College. Helga valued education greatly, and upon her death she bequeathed almost the entirety of her Estate to TFEC, to be used for scholarships for students of foreign languages. Her compassion and foresight led her to create “The Helga E. Rist Memorial Fund”, which will provide, in perpetuity, generous scholarships for language students of proven ability.