Ithaca College

It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform the campus community of the sudden passing due to a medical emergency Friday morning of Richard Rainville, a lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

Rick’s ties to Ithaca College go back nearly 30 years. He taught in the department from 1990 to 2003, and returned to IC in a part-time capacity teaching Spanish courses last spring. He was a passionate and engaged teacher with an infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of pedagogy. Rick was also eager to pass on his love of teaching to our students, both by training teaching assistants in the modern languages department and by serving as the student teacher supervisor at Ithaca High School. His love of the college and his commitment to its educational mission is also evident in the active service roles that he played over the years. During his time on the faculty, Rick was a dedicated member of the department and college, serving on numerous committees, contributing to the enhancement of the curriculum across the school, and meeting with prospective students.

On a personal note, Rick was one of the first faculty members whom I met when I first arrived here at the college. As a colleague in the department, he was always willing to share teaching ideas, provide feedback, and be a resource for me as I began my teaching career. I will forever be grateful for his generosity and his support. He remains for me an inspiration and an ideal of the dedicated teacher, one who was always looking for new ways to help our students grow both intellectually and personally. He truly loved Ithaca College, and his passing is a great loss for all of us.

Faculty and staff can access the counseling services of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling 1-800-327-2255.

Support services for students are available through the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by calling 607-274-3136. Students needing to speak with someone outside of regular business hours can contact their RA on duty, or reach assistance through the Office of Public Safety at 607-274-3333.

Information on funeral or memorial services will be shared with the campus community when it becomes available.

I ask you to please keep Rick’s family, friends, students, and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Michael Richardson
Interim Dean
School of Humanities and Sciences