After serving as the university’s liaison to city, county and state governments for more than 25 years, longtime administrator Rick Armitage will retire this summer.

Armitage, a university alum and the director of state and local government relations, will officially leave the university in July, having worked in multiple departments and with numerous local legislators.

“It was a privilege to have represented UD for 27 years with every level of government,” Armitage said.

While studying at the university, he became a member of the school’s campus security force in 1972. He attended the New Castle Police Academy in 1979 and was one of the first two university police officers to be assigned to work with Newark’s department.

District 3 Councilman Doug Tuttle, who previously served as the director of the Office of Public Safety, worked with Armitage since he joined the university’s police force. He said the two worked during a time when the role of police officers at the university was in transition.

Tuttle and Armitage worked closely as members of the crime prevention unit as officers. He recalled an occasion when the two observed a member of the school’s housekeeping staff through a ventilator in Recitation Hall to see if the suspect was stealing money from a desk.

“We put up a bogus sign about a field trip saying, ‘Get your money in today, so you don’t miss the field trip,’ then we laid in wait,” Tuttle said.

He said the investigation did not lead to criminal charges and was handled by the human relations department.

While working for the Office of Public Safety in 1986, Armitage began representing the university at state legislative meetings in Dover and was promoted to his current position two years later.

University President Patrick Harker stated in an email message that Armitage’s work at the university has been positive.

“Rick has been a great asset for the university for nearly 40 years,” Harker said. “Over this time he has strengthened ties and enhanced relationships between UD and state and local government officials that have benefited our students, faculty, staff and community.”
Although Armitage worked with numerous state legislators during his career, he is known by many for his frequent appearances at Newark City Council meetings and would make presentations regarding university construction projects.

Tuttle, who has been a councilman since 2006, said Armitage’s presence at city council meetings was beneficial because he was often the university’s sole representative. He informed councilmembers about university initiatives.

“Part of Rick’s value is that he’s devoted the time to be there,” Tuttle said. “He’s in the room, which is a lot. He’s been to more council meetings than practically anyone on council.”
Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III, Armitage’s neighbor for eight years, said the outgoing administrator also has a positive personality that wasn’t always reflected by his position.

Funk recalled Armitage’s willingness to help him after he suffered a stroke in 1993, which Funk said displayed his generosity to help others.

“I mean, he was constantly calling my wife trying asking, ‘Do you need any help? Do you need anything from the store?’” Funk said. “He was just a quality person.”
He said Armitage’s representation at council has been positive because it allows city and school officials to easily interact.

“For us, he’s the go-to guy if we have a question about something going on down at the university and we’re having difficulty getting an answer,” Funk said. “He helps us find the answer and if it’s a problem between the city and the university, he’s very good at smoothing the way to a solution.”