Richard J. DuRocher, age 55, died of cancer on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The fifth child of Mildred (McNamara) DuRocher and Camille Joseph DuRocher, Rich grew up on the Gulf Coast.

Rich attended St. Theresa of the Little Flower Elementary School in Myrtle Grove, Florida; Pensacola Catholic High School; and Loyola University of New Orleans, graduating with degrees in English and Classics. As an undergraduate, he was awarded a student leadership award and a Danforth Fellowship. Rich continued his education at Cornell University, earning M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the English Renaissance. His first teaching post was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rich and Karen Cherewatuk were married in 1984. Together they moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where Rich taught at Florida State University. They came to Northfield, Minnesota in 1986, when the English Department at St. Olaf College offered both of them a faculty position. A naturally graceful writer and disciplined scholar, Rich left a legacy of books and articles, most of them exploring the 17th century poet John Milton. In addition to his scholarship, Rich loved to play competitive chess, particularly at the Chess Castle in Minneapolis and in the annual Catfish Days tournament in Franklin, Minnesota. After growing up in Florida, he retained a lifelong love of the beach and often gathered there with his extended family.

Rich brought a playful patience and compassion into the classroom, where his ability to blend eloquence and goofy humor challenged and inspired St. Olaf students for 24 years.

Above all, Rich loved his children, Helen and Mary Clare. The most patient of fathers, he was often on the floor playing with the girls. He was the best dollhouse maker in the entire world, turning boxes into castles for Helen and Mary Clare’s beanie babies and Barbies.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Helen, his parents, his in-laws, and most recently, by his nephew Nick Zinicola.

Rich remained a graceful, thoughtful, and dear man until his dying day.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Northfield Food Shelf (Northfield Community Action Center) or to Canine Companions for Independence. Canine Companions is the organization that trained and provided Sawhney for Rich and Karen’s daughter, Helen.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; his daughter, Mary Clare; two brothers and their wives: Joseph and Rosemary DuRocher of Orlando, Florida, John and Carole DuRocher of Yorktown, Virginia; 2 sisters and their husbands: Judith and John Wolgamott of Palm Desert, California, Anne and Wilfredo Melgarejo of Glendale, California; and 2 sisters-in-law and their husbands: Kathryn and Thomas Marks of New Milford, Connecticut, Christine and John Tretolo of East Williston, New York; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10AM Monday, November 22, 2010, at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield with Fr. Dennis Dempsey officiating. Music will be provided by Donna May, Kent McWilliams, and colleagues and students from St. Olaf College. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Northfield. Casket bearers will be Killian Norvell, Thomas W. Marks, Marc Ferraiolo, Thomas Ruppel, Max Jennings and Randy Jennings. Visitation will be 3-7PM Sunday, November 21, 2010, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.