January 16, 2025
Donald Temple Rhoads, Jr. “also known as the Piano Man,” was born on September 12, 1950, in Lancaster, PA. He was the son of the late Marie Francis Rhoads and Donald Temple Rhoads. His early years were spent in Columbia, PA.
Don graduated with honors from Columbia High School in 1968 and was awarded the trophy for outstanding musician. He graduated from Elizabethtown College in 1972 with a B.A. in English and earned a M.A. in English from the University of Missouri in 1974. During sabbatical leave in 1995, he took post graduate courses at the University of Maryland and Millersville College, and on six different occasions, from 1985-2000 he earned credits by attending the Yeats International Studies School in Sligo, Ireland.
Beginning in 1980, he served approximately 35 years as full-time Professor of English at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology while acting as Chairperson of the General Studies Division from 1995-2015. In addition, he was an adjunct professor of English at Elizabethtown College from 1990-2010.
Don published several works: a poem, “Partita,” which appeared in Midlands in 1974; an article “Ungrammatically Correct,” presented at and published by the American Teachers of English Grammar Conference in Williamsport, PA.; and Thaddeus Stevens: The Play, which was directed by Gary Smith and performed by the Theater of the Seventh Sister at the Fulton Theater in 2006. In 2007 the play was directed by George Mushamp and performed at the Kline Theater, Gettysburg College. His last work was a rhetorical analysis of Steven’s speech on public education (2023).
Don was always an avid musician. He began violin lessons at the age of ten and during high school played in the Columbia High School Orchestra, Lancaster Junior Symphony, Lancaster County Orchestra and District Orchestra. While in college he was a concertmaster of the Elizabethtown College Community Orchestra.
At the age of 15, he began playing keyboards in local bands, a hobby that continued the rest of his life. He played in a variety of clubs, bars, and restaurants, including Valentino’s Café and Kegel’s Seafood Restaurant. Among the many weddings and private parties he played throughout the area, he especially enjoyed Dick and Louise Pflumm’s annual Fourth of July picnic. In the late 1990’s he and a group of musicians and singers from Lancaster and York recorded a double CD entitled “Donnie and Friends.” For 29 years (1980-2009) “Donnie” was the house piano player for happy hours on Thursday s and Fridays at the Quality Inn/ Comfort Inn on Centerville Road, Lancaster.
Don was a member of the Lancaster Elks Lodge 134 where he served as organist for 11 years. He was also a long-standing member of the Thaddeus Stevens Society and a member of the Riverside Camping Association.
He is survived by his long-standing companion, Deb Nunemaker of Lancaster; two sisters: Brenda Jensen (wife of John) of Columbia and Darlene Pruett (wife of Larry) of Marietta as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Thaddeus Stevens Society c/o Ross Hetrick, P.O. Box 3484, Gettysburg, PA. 17325-3484.
This obituary was first published here.
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