From Sarup Mathur, president of the Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (and a former student of Rob’s), here is a formal statement of the sad news that reached us this weekend about Rob’s death.
It is with profound sadness and deep sorrow that I inform you of the terrible news that one of our finest leader, colleague, mentor, and friend Robert Rutherford died unexpectedly at his home in Arizona on Friday, May 4, 2007.
Rob devoted his life to understanding individuals with emotional and behavioral disorders, working assiduously to help those most at-risk in our society develop ways to enhance their chances for success. His extraordinary dedication and commitment will always remind us to continually strive towards making the world a better place for students with emotional and behavioral disorders and their families.
I ask that you keep Rob and the Rutherford family in your prayers during this most sorrowful of times.
A viewing will be held Wednesday evening, May 9th, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Messinger Mortuary 7601 E. Indian School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ.
The funeral will be held Thursday morning, May 10th, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help 7655 E. Main Street Scottsdale, AZ.
Sincerely,
Sarup Mathur, CCBD President
Here’s a link to the CCBD Web site. I’ll add my observations in a comment.
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With many in the communities of special education, mental health, and juvenile justice, I morn Rob’s death. Rob was far more than a man of very substantial achievement in these fields. He was a wonderful host, considerate colleague, and fine friend.
To be sure, Rob had substantial impact on education of students with disabilities, especially those with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (see vita from May 2006). He helped develop and sustain an important graduate education program that nurtured many professionals who have gone on to make valuable contributions to special education, including a doctoral training processes recognized by the Carnegie Foundation and the well-regarded conference of the Teacher Educators of Children with Behavior Disorders.
Whenever I participated in the TECBD meetings, I always looked forward to attending the reception that Rob and Pat Rutherford held on Saturday nights. There were always fine foods, good wine, swell folks with whom to chat, and the other necessary ingredients for a good time. I remember one time when I was ill with a sinus infection but still didn’t want to miss the gig; I fell asleep in a big chair at their place.
When I was working with children with disabilities in Los Angeles area, I may well have run into Rob. We were in the same geographical area and the same business in the early 1970s; Rob was at the University of Southern California and I was working for LA County Unified (teachers aide), a grant-funded home near Camarillo (teaching parent), and private schools in Altadena (teacher). We talked about those times, but we could never figure out whether our paths had crossed. Rob leaned his head a little to the side, looked at me directly, and said, “You know, I just can’t remember.”
More recently, Rob and Pat took time out of their busy schedules to do some shopping for me. I wanted to get some Southwestern ceramics for a new room in our house. They found two wonderful pots, which they had shipped to us. These marvelous examples of Native American crafts rest quietly on the mantel in our living room. I’ll see them often.
Well, I’ll remember Rob, happy to have known him.
[Ad hominem comment removed.]