Penn Township manager retires after nearly half-century of service
PENN TWP — On Thursday, June 25, Linda Zerfoss is about to officially retire after 48 years of service to Penn Township, including 17 years as township manager.
“It’s hard. I knew it would be hard, but it’s harder than I thought,” Zerfoss said. “This has been my home and my family and I will miss them all.”
Zerfoss’ retirement, which is effective July 2, prompted a special board of supervisors meeting on Thursday night to accept her notice of retirement and appoint her replacement. Her colleagues took the opportunity to send her off into retirement gracefully.
Some, such as township Supervisor Doug Roth and administrative assistant Nicole Tempalski, struggled to hold back tears as they wished Zerfoss well in retirement.
“When I joined Penn Township, I had no idea how much I would learn from you, not only about local government, but about leadership, dedication and service to the community,” Tempalski said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have an opportunity to work alongside you and learn from someone who has devoted nearly five decades to making Penn Township a better place. … It’s been an honor to work alongside you and I will always be grateful for the impact that you have made.”
“We really appreciate the time and service you put in for Penn Township and we wish you all the best,” Roth said. “Please enjoy your retirement.”
Zerfoss first joined the township in 1978 as a secretary to the police department and her administrative duties gradually expanded over the years. She was first appointed as interim township manager in 2009. The “interim” tag was removed one month later.
Prior to taking her first role at Penn Township, Zerfoss lived in Arlington, Va., and held roles at both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pentagon.
“I worked in the exhibit section at the FBI right out of high school,” Zerfoss said. “From there, I went to the Pentagon and worked at the drug and alcohol abuse assistant team as a secretary and supervisor.”
What she said she’ll remember about her time in Penn Township is the family atmosphere, both among the citizenry and in the workplace.
“We all work together as a family,” Zerfoss said. “We may have a squabble here and there, but we’re still a family. And like a family will do, we all come together. We’re always there for each other. You could not ask for a better community to live and work in.”
To succeed Zerfoss, Penn Township has appointed Mary Hess as interim township manager. Hess served as Lancaster Township’s manager from October 2023 to January 2026 and also served on Zelienople Borough Council for a 16-year period which also ended in January 2026.
“I’ve had a chance to spend the last week with Linda and she’s been incredible,” Hess said.
