Dr. Alexander B Rakow

Alexander was born in Hicksville, NY and later moved to Lebanon with his family. He was a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and the School of Hygiene and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Alexander began his medical career in private practice in Harrisburg in 1945. After 21 years in private practice, he began a new chapter in his career with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While working at the State, Alexander served in many important roles. He worked in the Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Resources and the Department of Welfare. Most notably, Alexander served as the Deputy Secretary for Community Heath and Chief of Medicine at the Harrisburg State Hospital. He retired from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1999.

Alexander was certainly proud of his professional accomplishments, but he took even greater pride in his personal accomplishments. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Arthritis Foundation, an Alumni Association Citation from Lebanon Valley College and was a Distinguished Practitioner and Member of the National Academy of Practice in Osteopathy. In 2009, Alexander was awarded Emeritus status by the American Public Health Association. He served as a public health consultant to the Camp Hill Borough Board of Health, was a 4th Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus and an Assembly Life Member of the Bishop J.W. Shanahan Assembly #0917, volunteered as a lector at St. Theresa Parish for over 40 years, and was an Imperial Turtle of Turtledom. He loved sports. While at Lebanon Valley College, Alexander played center for the football team. He continued his passion for sports by loyally cheering for Notre Dame and the New York Yankees. More the anything else, Alexander loved his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Dr. Josephine Musi Rakow, daughter Constance Rakow Egan, his granddaughter Catherine Stone and her husband Christopher, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 23 from 7 to 9PM at Neill Funeral Home in Camp Hill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 24 at 11AM at St. Theresa Parish in New Cumberland. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Alexander’s name to St. Theresa Parish, Holy Spirit Hospital, or Pinnacle Hospice