Christina Elizabeth Glatfelter

Christina E. Glatfelter passed away Monday, March 30, at York Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer. She was 74. Daughter of Dr. Charles H. and Miriam (Krebs) Glatfelter (deceased), she devoted her life to the arts in Adams County.

A 1969 graduate of Gettysburg High School, Chris studied theater at Temple University before returning home to launch a lifelong career in playwriting, performance production and, eventually, helping to found and directing the Adams County Arts Council.

Early on, she worked in the Gettysburg Times mailroom and traveled for Feld Productions, selling tickets and handling finances for the traveling circus and children's theater shows across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Establishing the Civil War Theater Project with Ann Griffith, Chris also wrote, produced and directed four plays about civilians surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg. She also directed plays for Hanover Little Theater and directed The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for a Girl Scout Jamboree at Rec Park. The headless horseman's horse ran off during the show, but he was captured.

In 1982, with Chad Huber and Don Rinehart, she launched "Deja Vu: Two Nights of '60s Music," and she created The Leatherettes, a musical comedy group which grew from three singers to eight during a 30-year run.

With the Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice, in 1988, Chris co-produced Peace Child, a cast of international performers supplemented by 160 Adams County children.

With Karl Held, she worked to restore the Majestic Theater.

Chris was also a member of the Casper Glattfelder Association of America board of directors and produced and directed skits for the association's celebrations of the 250th anniversary of Casper coming to America in 1993 and the 100th reunion in 2005.

In 1993, Chris and Judy Marti built a foundation which became the Adams County Arts Council. The ACAC began in the old Times Publishing building with Chris as board chair and Melinda Warren as executive director. With the ACAC board, Chris oversaw the purchase, renovation and opening of the ACAC on Washington Street.

In the Council's infancy, she and Marti initiated the STAR grants, giving students and artists funding to supply lessons and materials and bring professional artists and musicians to schools and nonprofits. Led by Griffith, Chris also supported a theater summer camp which traveled to towns around Adams County.

In 2000, Chris produced the Adams County Bicentennial Concert led by Bob Zellner and featuring a full-length, three movement classical band composition by Rob Maggio. The Adams County Arts Council won the state's only national award for this achievement.

As long-time executive director of ACAC, she collaborated with the YWCA to produce "Dancing with Local Stars," along with many programs, classes and special events continuing today.

Since her retirement, she was active with Gettysburg's Rotary Club, met with two book clubs, and invested with GALS - Gettysburg Area Lady Stockpilers - which researched, reported and played stocks of interest.

Chris is survived by brother Philip, Hallam, York County; close friends Lana Gowin and Patrice Smith, and Patrice's children, Caroline and Gideon French, and grandchildren Sebastian and Alana.

Geiple-Predicce Funeral and Cremation Services, Glen Rock, is coordinating arrangements.

A Celebration of the Life of Christina Glatfelter will be scheduled soon at the Adams County Arts Council.