CSDR Old Times

Ralph “Rick” Fertig in Heaven Now

Tonight I got a message from Mary Jane Fertig. She broke the news that Rick had died in sleep yesterday morning on March 10. He was 74. To our surprise, his life journey on Earth suddenly came to an end.

It seems like Rick was around with us forever because he spent 40 years teaching and working in different departments at CSDR from 1969 to 2009. Like his wife of 44 years, Mary Jane, Rick made positive touch on thousands of students of all ages, especially in high school. Hundreds of staffers also enjoyed working with him. He was easygoing and funny. To be sure, he was exceptionally bright. He could have become a nuclear physicist, but, instead, he was attracted to Deaf Education.

Dr Brill hired Rick to teach in Fall 1969 and wanted him to teach in high school. In a counteroffer, Rick asked to start in elementary school. He was only 19 years old with an MA degree. He didn’t want to teach seniors at his age. His request was granted. Two years later, he transferred to junior high school for social studies. Several years later, he finally moved to high school, where he stayed for decades. He mainly taught reading which was a perfect match for him. He grew up with books.

In 1975, Rick invited me to see his childhood house in Los Angeles, and I was shocked to see thousands of books stacked up from the floor to ceiling in one bedroom. His love for books inspired me to do likewise for myself. Starting in 1974, I have 1,000 books on the Deaf community in my home library.

Photo 1: The recent photo of Rick in his retirement since 2009. He looks good with white beard.

Photo 2: Rick volunteered his time with student activities in the first 20 years of his long tenure at CSDR. He felt at home at CSDR.

Photo 3: If his ship sinks, he would be happy to curl up with books on a small island by himself to pass time while his SOS distress is in effect.

Alumni and retirees have many fond and funny memories with Rick. Let us remember him that way. It remains to be seen if we will have a service in his Memoriam. We will wait and see. But for now, we pray for Mary Jane and their daughter, Erica, to pull through this difficulty. Our thoughts are with them. We are one big CSDR family.

On behalf of the thousands of students at CSDR from 1969 to 2009, we thank Rick for everything he did for our education and beyond. We knew he was a good teacher and a true friend of the Deaf.

Kevin Struxness, ‘76, MA
Editor, CSDR Old Times
11 March 2023

Before and Now Comparisons on Campus

Tom Divel, ‘77, found some cool pictures to compare campus parts from the past with today.

Photo 1: This is Gate 1 on Horace Street near Arlington Ave. The picture was snapped in 2011. The Superintendent's house was still in place. The Randall family was the last family to live there until June 1998. The chain link gate was used to close the traffic on weekends.

Photo 2: At Gate 1, the simple fence has been replaced with the iron-wrought fence that closes at 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and on weekends. Staff needs gate access cards to open the gate.

Photo 3: Today’s look on the corner of the Horace Street and Arlington Ave intersection. Take note of the four plants growing in individual letterforms.

Photo 4: The corner chainlink fence was filled with plants to maintain privacy and reduce the traffic sounds for the first three families: the Brills, the Lennans and the Randalls.

Kevin Struxness, ‘76, MA
Editor, CSDR Old Times
8 March 8, 2023

The coach!

Jeremias Valencia wins his second national Coach of the Year recognization. During the most recent season, he became the fastest coach in school history to reach 50 wins as well!

Well deserved Coach V!

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