BROOKSVILLE – Rudolph Henry Deetjen Jr. died unexpectedly Aug. 29, 2011, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. He was born Feb. 6, 1932, in Newark, N.J., to Rudolph H. and Muriel (Clearman) Deetjen.
Rudy grew up in Montclair, N.J., and graduated from Montclair Academy with cum laude honors in 1950. He attended Princeton University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He enlisted in the ROTC program at the University of Vermont and went on to become a captain in the Army Reserve. He also attended Columbia University Teachers College for education administration. Starting at age 10 as a camper, and continuing for more than 25 years, his summers were spent in Sargentville at Robin Hood Camp for Boys. He worked as a counselor, directed the horseback riding program and became the associate director of the camp, where he continued until 1968. He loved music and helped to write many shows and songs for the camp, many of which are still being sung today. As a result of Rudy’s love of teaching children, he knew education was the path he wanted to follow. Through his charisma, leadership, grace and humor he taught individual excellence and instituted numerable programs throughout his career. His teaching began with the sixth grade at Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, Conn., and culminated with him as head of the GCDS middle school for 12 years. From there he moved to Essex Fells, N.J., to assume the headmaster position at Brookside School, Montclair, N.J. He was instrumental in the merger of Brookside, Kimberley and Montclair Academy schools. He took over the headmastership of the Kimberley campus – middle school, until he was offered a position in 1977 at Peck School, Morristown, N.J. Rudy presided as headmaster of The Peck School for 17 years until he retired in 1994. He left his mark on the school by increasing the enrollment and diversifying the curriculum. He also saw to the expansion of the physical campus and the endowment. He initiated the improvement of financial aid to enable the children of diverse backgrounds to attend Peck, began the “Great Expectations” newsletter, the “RSVP” celebrations, Grandparents days, and wrote the Peck School Alma Mater and countless other musical contributions. He was recognized for the mantra of “Consideration of Others,” which he applied everywhere he went. Rudy considered this every bit as important a personal achievement as an academic grade. Rudy was honored by The Delbarton School, Morristown, N.J., for Distinguished Teacher Award in 1982. He was a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and Country Day Headmasters Association, Elementary School Headmasters Association and New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. He served as a trustee for Forman School, Litchfield, Conn., and Winston School, Summit, N.J. Rudy was also a trustee of Montclair Kimberley Academy and won the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994, their highest honor, for “achieving distinction in some field of endeavor and through outstanding character and dedication has made a special contribution to humanity.” After retirement Rudy and Patty moved to Brooksville full time in 1998 to their home on Eggemoggin Reach. A member of Bucks Harbor Yacht Club, he served on local boards for Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Parker Ridge Retirement Community and Maryann Snow Bates Educational Foundation, which awards scholarships to local residents. Rudy also was a member of St. John on the Mountain Episcopal Church, Bernardsville, N.J., and later became an active member of St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church, Blue Hill. He loved the ocean, boating, sailing and woodworking and traveling. He always celebrated life with music and enjoyed his times with all singing groups from the Windjammers to the South Street Singers.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Patricia Ann Blun Deetjen; and his two sons, Rudolph H. “Leif” Deetjen III and his wife, Christina, of Sedgwick and Clifford Melville Deetjen and his wife, Kimberley, of Burlington, Vt., and their two sons, Alexander and Benjamin; his sister, Marilea Schlobohm and her children, Todd, Kimm, Rudy and Ty; numerous other nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of Rudy’s life 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church, 330 Hinckley Ridge Road, Blue Hill. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Rudy Deetjen’s memory to his two favorite local charities: The Maryann Snow Bates Education Foundation, P.O. Box 277, Brooksville, ME 04617 or Blue Hill Heritage Trust Foundation, P.O. Box 222, Blue Hill, ME 04614. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.