An old English proverb tells us that good things come to those who wait. Susan Bender is living proof to the veracity of that statement.

Bender is a resident of Otterbein Green Hills. Over the years, she made friends with Mary Jo Altstaetter after the two met during their frequent trips to the Logan County Friendly Senior Center.

During the course of their communications, Altstaetter learned that back in the 1960s, Bender had matriculated at Saint Rita’s School for the Deaf in Cincinnati, but had never officially graduated or received a diploma, a fact which Bender shared with Altstaetter using American Sign Language gestures which indicate sadness or crying.

Taking matter into her own hands, Altstaetter made a number of calls to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where she learned that Bender did in fact earn enough credits to qualify for a high school diploma from St. Rita’s, but for some undiscovered reason – likely a filing or transcription error – Bender never received her diploma.

There were a number of obstacles to overcome as Altstaetter researched the matter. The Archbishop of the Cincinnati at the time that Bender attended school at St. Rita’s has long since passed and that were almost 60-year-old-records were hard to come by, but finally the matter was cleared. Bender was indeed deprived of her chance to put on a gown and mortarboard and receive her diploma as did her classmates back when Lyndon Johnson was President.

Fast forward to 2026. Altstaetter, with the help of Bender’s friends at the Friendly Senior Center, organized a graduation ceremony for Bender Wednesday, July 1, at the center, 934 S. Main St.