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Timothy J. Rutenber, associate vice provost for international education
Timothy J. Rutenber, associate vice provost for international education, died yesterday in his home in Clarence Center after a spirited and unyielding battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). He was 50.
Born in Sidney, New York, Rutenber grew up on his family's dairy farm near Mt. Upton. A graduate of Mt. Upton Central Schools, he earned a bachelor's degree from Clarkson University and a master's degree in public administration from Cornell University.
Following his undergraduate studies, Rutenber joined the Peace Corps and served in Upper Volta. He returned to the United States and served as a recruiter for the Peace Corps before going back to West Africa in 1978 as part of an agricultural research project. His work with Niger continued when he accepted appointment as administrator of a U.S. Agency for International Development project involving the nomadic peoples of Niger.
Rutenber joined UB in 1986 as director of the program office for the university's cooperative education project with the government of Malaysia. Appointed associate vice provost for international education in 1991, he was responsible for integrating the operations of all units of the Office of International Education, providing personnel administration and fiscal management, and facilitating and supporting externally sponsored international activities.
From the time he joined the university, Rutenber distinguished himself as a model of professional service whose pursuit of excellence in international education administration set an outstanding example for his colleagues at UB and SUNY, as well as those with whom he worked at institutions of higher education around the world. In recognition of his outstanding service to the university, Rutenber was awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 2003.
Rutenber was an active member of several professional associations of international educators, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and the European Association for International Education. In 1999, he was appointed director of the Secretariat of AIEA, the association's coordinating office. In recognition of his many contributions to AIEA, the association established the Timothy J. Rutenber Award to honor members who have rendered exemplary service to AIEA.
An active member of St. Mary's parish in Swormville, Rutenber was a longtime lector and coordinated the scheduling and training of lectors for the parish. He enjoyed working around his house and yard, and was an avid woodworker, carpenter and gardener. A devoted husband and father, he took great pleasure in attending his son's gymnastic and track meets.
Viewing hours will be held at Urban Brothers Funeral Home in Clarence Center from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Church. Burial will be on Tuesday in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Sidney. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the ALS Association or Hospice Buffalo.