Brother Dominic Ruegg
Brother Dominic Ruegg '41, a beloved teacher and scholar at Saint Mary's College, passed away on February 15, 2019. He had celebrated his 100 th birthday on August 31, 2018.
In a final interview, Brother Dominic Ruegg reflected on a long history with the Christian Brothers (81 years to date) and Saint Mary's College. In 2016, Brother Ruegg retired after spending 66 years at Saint Mary's College. He enrolled in the College in 1938 – two years after he became a Christian Brother – and earned a degree in philosophy in 1941. Brother Ruegg returned to teach at the College in 1949, lecturing on a wide range of subjects that included Latin, Greek, the Bible and the Scriptures, and ancient history. "Teaching about the Bible brought together all my scholarly work and interests in Roman and Greek history and archaeology," he said, noting that he had led underwater archaeology expeditions for the College almost every summer for 20 years. A prolific scholar and traveler, Brother Ruegg continues to write articles and travel books. "I did a lot of traveling in my career," he said. "My goal was to visit all the Greek and Roman ruins in the Mediterranean and then I also expanded to other historical sites such as Macchu Picchu and Easter Island."
At the College, Brother Ruegg's passion was creating educational opportunities for adult students. During his tenure as Academic Vice President of Saint Mary's from 1974-1978, Brother Ruegg instituted several adult education programs, including the MBA program and the Extended Education program for working adults. He also helped to expand the education department to offer more masters programs. "I felt strongly that Saint Mary's should provide opportunities for adult education," he said. "I enjoyed teaching the extended education students because they were motivated and focused. These programs also strengthened the relationship between the College and the community."
His commitment to life-long education was reflected in his philanthropy and legacy gift to the College. Through his estate, Brother Ruegg established the William and Hellen Ruegg Endowed Fund to create an endowed scholarship for students who are at least 25 years old, working full time, and returning to school after an absence of at least one year. The Ruegg Fund honors his parents William and Helen, who were San Francisco natives.
"Remembering Saint Mary's College with a bequest from your estate will help to sustain and strengthen the College, and also provides a wonderful opportunity to honor a family member or support a favorite cause," said Cavan McCarthy, Executive Director, Legacy Giving. Endowed scholarships become part of Saint Mary's endowment - funds that are invested for the long term to support the College's educational goals and needs. The endowment is the foundation of the College's financial stability, and provides program support funding that is independent of enrollment, tuition, or annual giving.
For more information about creating a legacy at Saint Mary's College through bequests or endowed scholarships, please contact Cavan McCarthy at 925.631.4914 or [email protected].
