Ruth Mullen, longtime caretaker of the Cathedral of Learning, died at age 57

For almost 25 years, Ruth Mullen was not only a custodian in the Cathedral of Learning, she was also its caretaker. Known by Pitt students, faculty and staff for her warm, outgoing presence and unflappable disposition in the face of floods, muck and tarnished handrails, the employee of the University's Office of Facilities Management died on June 8. She was 57 years old.

In February, in recognition of her significant impact on the Pitt community, Mullen was awarded a Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award for Staff in the category of Outstanding Career Achievement.

In a nomination letter for the award, Rebecca Roadman, chief of staff for Pitt Finance and Operations, said Mullen was not only responsible for maintaining the Cathedral of Learning but also for helping define what it meant to be part of the Pitt community.

"As someone who interacts with Ruth daily in our office, I have witnessed firsthand how she transforms spaces into welcoming environments," Roadman wrote. "Her attention to detail and genuine pride in her work create an atmosphere where students, faculty and staff feel valued."

Chancellor Joan Gabel also fondly reflected on Mullen's steadfast, sunny presence when tending to the Cathedral.

"Ruthie greeted me and so many others every morning with warmth and generosity. She was so devoted to the University of Pittsburgh, and her kindness and care touched countless members of our community," said Gabel. "Ruthie will be remembered not only for her many years of service, but for the genuine care she showed everyone she met. I know I speak for all of us across the Pitt community when I say she will be deeply missed."

Bridget Gilbow, who worked as a custodian alongside Mullen for 16 years, also noted Mullen's dedication to her job. What drove her, said Gilbow, was her faith. "To get through a bad day, Ruthie would always say, 'God's got us,'" she said.

During the span of her Pitt career, Mullen worked on every floor and in every room of the Cathedral of Learning, her former colleague Floyd Clawson said. According to Clawson, everyone in the building knew him and Mullen, including Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg, who worked in the Cathedral's first-floor Chancellor's office for 18 years.

"Chancellor Nordenberg called us the A-Team," said Clawson, "because when he saw us coming, he knew something was getting done."

Mullen will be remembered for the genuine kindness and respect she brought to her interactions with anyone who visited the Cathedral of Learning, said Laura Zullo, vice chancellor for facilities management.

"She was truly a fixture on the first floor. She brightened our day when she entered our space, always sharing a smile and a warm 'Hello, hello!' Ruth's demeanor reflected professionalism and warmth and she consistently represented the University with integrity and pride," said Zullo.

Mullen is survived by her husband, Anthony Mullen; her loving children, John M. Gill and Lois (Mullen) Strickland; her cherished grandchildren, Nevaeh Rodgers, Bladen Strickland and Mariah Sines; siblings Frank Hayson, Gloria (Hayson) Vogel, George Hayson, Joni Gill and Kim Gill; and many nieces and nephews.

Photography by Tom Altany; from left, Chancellor Joan Gabel, Ruth Mullen, Executive Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and CFO Dwayne Lee Pinkney, and Senior Manager of Custodial Services Ernest Robinson at a February ceremony honoring the 2025 Chancellor's Distinguished Awards for Staff recipients.