Thomas R. Ruttledge

Was thinking about Dr. Ruttledge and decided to see if he was still at Cornell and so saddened to hear of his passing. He was thee only chemistry teacher at Ursinus who made chemistry not only understandable but fun. He was an amazing professor and person.

Tom was my kids favorite babysitter; then after I went back to school at Wayne State as a non-trad, he began as a freshman. I would run into him as he came out of a math class with a TA who barely spoke English—-we frequently talked about his frustration with that. When I moved to Montana as he was moving to Chicago, my ex and I gave him some furniture. When Tom offered to pay for it, I told him that people had given us furniture and services because while my ex was in law school so he...

I got to know Tom when he worked in the same lab in the Plant Pathology department at Cornell. He certainly kept the lab lively. I can still hear him sound the alarm, Red Alert, bwooo, bwooo, bwooo! Incoming Ferengi vessel to cargo bay 4. to warn us of an approaching lab tech. I think that he got in a bit of trouble for that.
Later, I followed his travels on fb including his journey to Ethiopia, until he decided to stop using fb. I kept thinking that I would surely run into him at...

I had Tom for several chemistry courses at Earlham College in the 1990s. Tom brought a love of learning, compassion, and humor into the classroom and lab. From Tom, I learned to see all students as real people and to make learning simultaneously joyful and challenging where students are pushed to learn more than they think they are capable of and know they are supported throughout the process. Thank you, Tom for your inspiration and care for a cohort of Earlham science majors.

I worked with Tom's dad at Schalm School for many many years. Chuck was so proud of his entire family and I felt like I knew each of them personally. In time I did meet each of the kids and their spouses and then their children came along. Chuck made me feel like I knew them all and that I was almost a part of that IRISH FAMILY. We spoke of Ireland so often and felt like we were related. God bless you all and know that I am thinking of you and my prayers are coming your way. God bless you.

Tom had an eye for students who needed him most. I met Tom two years before I ever took a class with him. I struggled considerably during my
freshman year of college for reasons that arent important here. What is important, however, is that Tom saw me struggling and reached out. On one of my many many trips to the gen chem tutoring room, which just so happened to pass Toms always-open-door, he dipped his head out and told me that, while I looked like I was in a hurry at the moment, I...

Tom was an extremely kind and generous mentor to me and the other TAs for organic chem. He helped instill in me passion for teaching and his enthusiasm was infectious. I'm devastated to hear this and send my condolences to his friends and family.

Rest in peace, Tom. You'll be in our hearts forever.
You'll live on in the memories of all the people you touched.