Lottie Louise Riekehof

Dr. Lottie Riekehof, a retired dean, administrator, and faculty member, passed away on August 6, one week short of her 100th birthday. Dr. Riekehof was Gallaudet’s Dean of Women in the early 1970s, and a faculty member and department chair until her retirement in 1990. She was also the author of "The Joy of Signing: A Dictionary of American Signs." First published under a different title in 1961 and still available today, this book sold well over one million copies. According to her Wikipedia entry, Lottie Louise Riekehof was born in Germany on August 13, 1920. She, her parents, and a younger sister emigrated to northern New Jersey in 1923; her two brothers were born in the U.S. She learned sign language from deaf parishioners in her church and from Dr. Elizabeth Peet at Gallaudet, then became an interpreter and interpreter educator. Dr. Riekehof earned her bachelor’s degree at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, and her master’s and doctoral degrees at New York University. She served as Dean of Women at Central Bible College for 21 years before assuming the same role at Gallaudet in 1970. Dr. Riekehof later led the interpreter education program within the Office of Sign Language Programs, and subsequently became that office’s director. She served as the first chair of the Department of Sign Communication. She was also the author of The Joy of Signing: A Dictionary of American Signs. First published under a different title in 1961 and still available today, this book sold well over one million copies. Dr. Riekehof was a long-time resident of Arlington, Virginia. She is survived by her children, 29 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and a host of friends.