Charles Robert “Charlie” Rutherford passed away peacefully at home in Grosse Pointe Park on May 11 at the age of 95.
Born in Toledo, OH, on February 14, 1929, Rutherford was the 8th of 10 children and the last to pass. Growing up on Toledo’s east side, he attended Good Shepherd Catholic School, which was across the street from his family’s three-bedroom house at 539 Clark Street. He attended Morrison R. Waite High School, playing sports and working as a roofer, railroad worker, and most proudly as batboy with the Toledo Mud Hens. Some 50 years after graduation, Waite honored him with an alumnus of the year award.
Rutherford graduated early to enlist in the U.S. Army towards the end of World War II, where he visited Japan and later served in the Army of Occupation in Korea as a military policeman. When he finished his enlistment, he took
advantage of the GI Bill to enroll at the University of Detroit. He joined the campus ROTC and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1953.
While working as an engineer, Rutherford also taught engineering at U-D during the day, while in the evening attending U-D Law School (receiving an alumnus of the year award 60 years after his 1957 graduation). He found time to attend Bill McGowan’s Umpire School in Florida and became a certified professional baseball umpire, working minor league baseball games in the Midwest. Rutherford also enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served as a judge advocate general. In 1985, he retired as a full bird colonel, shortly after receiving the Legion of Merit honor, awarded for outstanding service and seventh in the order of precedence of all U.S. military awards.
Through a six-decade legal career, Rutherford practiced Intellectual Property Law, most recently as a partner with Dykema Gossett. His leadership extended to multiple professional associations. He served as a president of the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and as a member, president, and chair of multiple sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He was a fellow for the American Bar Association and the Michigan State Bar Foundation, where he also served as a trustee and past president.
Beyond his professional life, Rutherford’s civic engagement and cultural contributions included sering as a life member of the NAACP, pivotal roles in organizations such as the Legal Aid and Defenders Association, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, and the Detroit Rotary Club. He was a founding board member of Loyola High School in Detroit and a charter member of the President’s Cabinet at the University of Detroit Mercy.
An avid Detroit Tigers fan, Rutherford was even more so a fan of the University of Detroit Mercy Titans Men’s Basketball team. He was a Titans season ticket holder for more than 70 years. He relished singing in the church choir at St. Clare of Montefalco and was an active member of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Cardinal’s Club.
Rutherford’s commitment to enhancing the lives of others was an unwavering endeavor that he undertook with his wife, Patricia Mary Rutherford, by his side. Besides his devoted wife, he is survived by his loving son, John Anthony Rutherford, and predeceased by his son Charles R. Rutherford Jr.
The funeral, coordinated by Verheyden Funeral Homes, will take place today, June 4, with instate at noon until the time of mass at 1 p.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, 629 E. Jefferson, Detroit. Committal service with military honors will take place Wednesday, June 5, at 1 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
Donations in Rutherford’s name to Loyola High School, St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, and Ss Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, are appreciated.
Born in Toledo, OH, on February 14, 1929, Rutherford was the 8th of 10 children and the last to pass. Growing up on Toledo’s east side, he attended Good Shepherd Catholic School, which was across the street from his family’s three-bedroom house at 539 Clark Street. He attended Morrison R. Waite High School, playing sports and working as a roofer, railroad worker, and most proudly as batboy with the Toledo Mud Hens. Some 50 years after graduation, Waite honored him with an alumnus of the year award.
Rutherford graduated early to enlist in the U.S. Army towards the end of World War II, where he visited Japan and later served in the Army of Occupation in Korea as a military policeman. When he finished his enlistment, he took
advantage of the GI Bill to enroll at the University of Detroit. He joined the campus ROTC and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1953.
While working as an engineer, Rutherford also taught engineering at U-D during the day, while in the evening attending U-D Law School (receiving an alumnus of the year award 60 years after his 1957 graduation). He found time to attend Bill McGowan’s Umpire School in Florida and became a certified professional baseball umpire, working minor league baseball games in the Midwest. Rutherford also enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served as a judge advocate general. In 1985, he retired as a full bird colonel, shortly after receiving the Legion of Merit honor, awarded for outstanding service and seventh in the order of precedence of all U.S. military awards.
Through a six-decade legal career, Rutherford practiced Intellectual Property Law, most recently as a partner with Dykema Gossett. His leadership extended to multiple professional associations. He served as a president of the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and as a member, president, and chair of multiple sections of the State Bar of Michigan. He was a fellow for the American Bar Association and the Michigan State Bar Foundation, where he also served as a trustee and past president.
Beyond his professional life, Rutherford’s civic engagement and cultural contributions included sering as a life member of the NAACP, pivotal roles in organizations such as the Legal Aid and Defenders Association, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, and the Detroit Rotary Club. He was a founding board member of Loyola High School in Detroit and a charter member of the President’s Cabinet at the University of Detroit Mercy.
An avid Detroit Tigers fan, Rutherford was even more so a fan of the University of Detroit Mercy Titans Men’s Basketball team. He was a Titans season ticket holder for more than 70 years. He relished singing in the church choir at St. Clare of Montefalco and was an active member of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Cardinal’s Club.
Rutherford’s commitment to enhancing the lives of others was an unwavering endeavor that he undertook with his wife, Patricia Mary Rutherford, by his side. Besides his devoted wife, he is survived by his loving son, John Anthony Rutherford, and predeceased by his son Charles R. Rutherford Jr.
The funeral, coordinated by Verheyden Funeral Homes, will take place today, June 4, with instate at noon until the time of mass at 1 p.m. at Ss. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, 629 E. Jefferson, Detroit. Committal service with military honors will take place Wednesday, June 5, at 1 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
Donations in Rutherford’s name to Loyola High School, St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, and Ss Peter and Paul Jesuit Church, are appreciated.
