Rev Theodore A Rutkowski

Rev Theodore A Rutkowski

September 19, 1937 - April 09, 2020
Beaver Falls

Rev Theodore A Rutkowski

September 19, 1937 - April 09, 2020
Beaver Falls

Obituary

Rev. Theodore A. Rutkowski, 82, of Beaver Falls, died Thursday, April 9, 2020 in Providence Care Center.

Born September 19, 1937 in Beaver Falls, Pa. son of the late Anthony and Betty (Sydlik) Rutkowski, he attended Holy Trinity School and Beaver Falls High School, graduating in 1955. He was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on May 4th, 1963, by John J. Wright, then Bishop of Pittsburgh. He was assigned as assistant pastor to St. Michael Church, Elizabeth Pa.

In September 1968 he was assigned to the theology faculty of Orchard Lake Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan. There he taught courses in Introduction to Theology, Ecclesiology, Christology and World Religions, and team-taught a course in Sacramentology. He served as Spiritual Director of the Seminary, then as Dean of Students and Assistant Academic Dean of Theology. He was Director of the workshop “The Midwest in the 70’s” in the summer of 1970 at the University of Chicago, sponsored by the Midwest Association of Theological Schools. He co-authored part of the “Church, World, Kingdom” series for adult education in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He lectured and gave retreats for priests, sisters, and lay people in Michigan, Indiana, and Virginia. He studied in the areas of sociology and psychology at Wayne State University, Detroit, and in theology at Aquinas Institute of Theology, Dubuque, Iowa, for three summer sessions.

In 1973 upon returning to Pittsburgh, he was appointed director of the Office of Campus Ministry of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In addition to the administrative position, he served as campus minister at Robert Morris College and Penn State’s Beaver County Campus. In 1975 he was appointed Consultant for the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA). In 1976 he was elected chairman of Pennsylvania Catholic Campus Ministers and to the Board for Campus Ministry at the United States Catholic Conference. Later that year he was elected chairman of the Board and chairman of the Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry in the United States. In 1979 he was appointed program director for the ecumenical Nation Institute for Campus Ministries (NCIM).

From 1976 until 1980 Father Ted served as Administrator of Guardian Angels Church, Pittsburgh. He is a judge in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and served for 12 years o the theology faculty of the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. He was host of the weekly Diocesan radio program “Faith Today: A Catholic View” heard over KDKA.

In June 1980 he was appointed Director of the Newman Center at Slippery Rock University. In August 1980 he was appointed nation chairman of the Consultation Service of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association. In June 1983 he was appointed to the Advisory Council for Campus Ministry at Princeton University. In 1984 he was appointed to the Priest Council of the Pittsburgh Diocese. In 1985 he was appointed rector of St. Paul Seminary, Pittsburgh. In 1986 he was appointed Associate General Secretary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. During that time, he also served as Administrator of Immaculate Conception Church, Carnegie. In 1987 he was appointed Secretary for Clergy and Pastoral Life of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In 1988 he was appointed diocesan chaplain for the Catholic Alumni Club. In 1991 he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church. He retired in 2004 to St. John Vianney Manor.

Several years later he moved to Franciscan Manor in Patterson Heights to be near his family. Father Ted enjoyed spending time in Sea Isle City, New Jersey with his extended family. He was well known for his crab cakes, fudge, and sense of humor.

He is survived by his sisters, Nancy Markel and her husband Ron, Lee Greco and the late Don, Mary Ann DeMonaco; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private family gathering will be held, followed by private internment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beaver Falls, PA.

A memorial Mass will take place at a later date.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home-117 Blackhawk Rd.-Chippewa Twp., www.gabauerfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

 

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5 responses to Rev Theodore A Rutkowski

  1. My prayers and condolences to the Rutkowski family. I remember Fr. Ted and his ordination as I was a student in Holy Trinity school.

  2. We were so fortunate to have Fr. Ted when he was at the Newman Center at Slippery Rock University. He was such an incredible teacher. I loved his classes. He had such a dry sense of humor and was so kind. His homilies were the best. He was a tremendous priest. I thoroughly enjoyed his time with us. We were all the better for having him as a part of our lives.

  3. Phil Susie says:

    I remember Father Ted from my time at Slippery Rock when he ran the Neuman Center on campus. He was the reason why a lot of dumb college kids continued to practice the faith. Thank you Father Ted!

  4. Awww, thank you for sharing Anita, that was so nice to read. This is Father Ted’s niece. We all loved hanging out with Fr Dave too and I remember Fr Ted telling us his trip to South Africa was the most beautiful location he had ever visited.

  5. Bob Clarke says:

    Just learned of Fr. Rutkowski’s death while searching Diocesan website. Ted and I had two linked assignments: #1 when I was a parochial vicar at St. James (West End) and then when I was the Diocesan Vocation Director/Vice-Rector of St. Paul Seminary. One year he and I spearheaded a seminarian rafting trip @ Ohiopyle which was labeled “Bob n Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” Ted had a remarkable and most delightful sense of humor, along with 100% credibility as a down to earth priest. He certainly was one of our best.

    Bob Clarke

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