Natalie M. Ruschell, Esquire, Executive Director

Mary Domonkos, Vice President | Maria D. Cecchini, Development Director
Raegan Whoolery, Executive Assistant | Ryan P. McKenna, Administrative Assistant

The Tale of Ruschell

Natalie Ruschell was born in Midway, Pennsylvania on May 5, 1959 and was the valedictorian of her Fort Cherry 1977 graduating class. Natalie attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology with minor degrees in Molecular, Cellular Developmental Biology and Chemistry. She went on to attend the Western New England College School of Law graduating in 1987 and was admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Federal District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in May, 1988. She was the first blind female attorney to be admitted to practice in Pennsylvania. Further, Natalie has also been admitted to practice law in the State of West Virginia and Ohio in both the federal and state court systems.

Natalie worked as a Legislative Assistant to Representative Victor J. Lescovitz from November 1989 until August 1990 at which time she joined a law firm in the greater Pittsburgh area. She left that firm upon being appointed Director of Vision Resources for Pittsburgh Vision Services, formerly the Pittsburgh Blind Association and the Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind. Natalie concluded that project in May, 1999.

Striving to assist the ever-growing elderly population, individuals with special needs, and the concerns of our charitable and non-profit organizations, Natalie, a sole practitioner, now focuses the majority of her practice and continuing legal education in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Estate and Trust Administration but also deals regularly in Real Estate and Business and Corporate law.

Her diverse business interests also include ownership of The Timber Crest Inn, a bed and breakfast and fine dining restaurant located in Paris, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

She is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the McDonald Heritage Library and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind where she served additionally as the Board's Secretary-Assistant Treasurer. She now serves on the Board of Directors of Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh.