Obituary of Robert-B. Carruthers

ALBANY Robert Burns Carruthers died on Wednesday, December 8, 2004 at the Community Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital. Mr. Carruthers was born in Syracuse, N.Y., on July 2, 1919. He attended Syracuse Central High School and graduated from Syracuse University with an A.B. degree in 1941. In World War II, he served in seven campaigns in the European Theater of Operations. In 1946, Mr. Carruthers received an M.S. degree from Syracuse University and then did further study at SUNY and at Teachers College, Columbia University. After teaching high school English in schools in New York State for several years, Mr. Carruthers worked at the NYS Education Department (SED) until his retirement in 1991. As a supervisor of English and specialist in curriculum development, he visited over 1000 schools in the state, observing classes, conducting meetings and workshops and writing articles for teachers and administrators. Mr. Carruthers was a fellow of the NYS English Council. He had important responsibilities for the State Regents examination in English. While at SED, he was chief of the bureau of English education and president of the State Education Department Chapter of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) of NYS. Mr. Carruthers had a lifelong love of teaching which resulted in professional recognition: election to Kappa Phi Kappa, the education honorary; election as a fellow of the NYS English Council; and appointment to committees of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Mr. Carruthers also loved music. In his college years, he sang in musical shows. He directed many musical productions in the Capital District. Most recently, he founded and directed Singers for Enjoyment, a 30-voice community chorus which performed at nursing homes, hospitals, libraries, etc. in the Capital District. Mr. Carruthers was an avid reader, moviegoer, bowler, sports fan and traveler. He truly enjoyed life. Mr. Carruthers was a communicant of Holy Cross Church, Albany and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 267, Rensselaer. He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen of Albany; his sister, Dorothy Carruthers; a niece, Dorothy Krausnick; great-nephews, Matthew and David Krausnick, all of Syracuse; and cousins, Thomas and Gerald McMahon and Carlton Dence. He was predeceased by twin brother, William Carruthers and sister, Jane Leggett. Funeral services Saturday at 10:00 a.m. from the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany thence to Holy Cross Church at 10:30 a.m. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Friday 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. Those wishing to remember Robert and his family in a special way may send contributions to the Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090.