St. Viator High mourns English teacher, Brother

Students at St. Viator High School paused before the start of their musical Sunday to dedicate their performance to memory of a longtime English teacher who passed away suddenly, Br. Robert Ruhl.

The Viatorian Brother suffered an apparent heart attack Saturday in his room, located on the third floor of the Arlington Heights Catholic high school. He was 60.

"He was a true educator in the Viatorian tradition," said the Rev. Thomas von Behren, Viatorian provincial. "We as Viatorians all strive to be educators in faith, and he was that in the best sense of the word."

Ruhl had taught advanced placement English, literature and composition at the school since 1970, except for two years when he left to pursue a master's degree in English at the University of Chicago.

This semester he had carried a full load of classes, teaching mostly juniors and seniors.

The Rev. Michael Egan, St. Viator High School president, said grief counselors and campus ministry officials will meet with students in the chapel throughout the day.

"Bob brought nearly 40 years of experience to our faculty," Egan said. "He was committed to excellence, and of challenging students to fall in love with English literature, and the English language."

Word of his sudden passing drew an emotional response from students at the school Sunday, but his former students felt the loss just as closely.

They began recounting some of his famous quotes that reinforced his insistence on a tight writing style and compact use of modifiers, including: "Very is a useless intensifier," "It's like nothing, it is."

Egan recalled one of his trademark lines, that Ruhl would say when beginning a particularly challenging unit: "Get your scuba gear on kids, we're going deep."

He surmised that the reference may had led to the familiar mermaid, named "Ethel" who sat on Ruhl's desk, and was a constant every year.

"She was named after Ethel Merman," said Soran Leahy, a 2000 graduate, "and she definitely was a part of the class."

Members of the Viatorians themselves struggled to come to terms with their sudden loss, adding that their dinner conversations would never be the same.

"He devoted his entire career to St. Viator High School," Egan added. "And that is his legacy, his commitment to Catholic education, and to teaching young people."

Funeral services were pending Sunday night.