Enriching Education - Meet “Aunt Herta,” the 94-year old who still volunteers 5 days a week at the school she graduated from in 1944

Every weekday morning, 94-year old Herta Fuchs walks several blocks to her alma mater of St. Joseph's Catholic Academy in Astoria, where she volunteers her time to help with student registrations, alumni appeals, and even assists with the school’s computer system. 

“I love what I do here,” says Fuchs. “Using your mind and learning new things is good for you, and the foundation I learned here at St.Joseph’s 80 years ago is what made it all possible.”

Fuchs graduated from St. Joseph’s in 1944, decades before it adopted its current academy model. She went on to work at Equitable for 40 years, rising from the mailroom all the way to becoming a chartered underwriter and financial assistant. Although she left Equitable in 1988 to become a consultant, the word “retirement” was never in her vocabulary. 

After 9/11, Fuchs contacted the diocese and asked if she could volunteer as a way to stay active, make a difference, and feel more connected to her community. 

“I work on all of the school’s alumni appeals, I’m involved in student registration and immunization records, and I serve on the school’s board of directors. But my favorite part of the job right now is seeing all the new enrollments,” says Fuchs. This year she was thrilled to see over 100 students enroll in the school’s Pre-K and Nursery programs.

“Our students call her Aunt Herta,” adds Lucy Alaimo, Principal at St. Joseph's Catholic Academy. “She is well known and loved by all.”

Fuchs’s parents were childhood sweethearts in Germany who moved to the U.S. in 1925 and were married in St. Joseph’s church 100 years ago this year. Fuchs even lives in the same home her parents bought in 1937. Their love and hard work set a powerful example, inspiring Fuchs to want to do good for others. As a financial consultant, she helped other female entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Today, she helps her alma mater expand its alumni giving. She also holds an annual Christmas party on her property for all of her tenants, past and present, including many who have been coming back year after year. 

“I’ve been an aunt to many people,” says Fuchs. “I’ve had 19 sponsored children, never more than 3 at a time, up through age 18. All of my friends have children, and I’ve been an aunt to their kids too. In fact, I just wrote a card to my friend’s son who turned 72, and I signed it ‘Aunt Herta.’” 

Although Fuchs has cousins in Germany, she has no relatives here in the U.S. 

Instead, she created her own family at St. Joseph’s.