Fr. Arthur Francis Rutledge, 87, died at Good Samaritan
Hospital, San Jose, California,
on January 30, 2008. He was a Jesuit for 69 years and a priest for 56 years.
Art was born in Los
Angeles on February 18, 1921. He graduated with a
classical diploma from Loyola High School and entered the novitiate at Los Gatos on July 30,
1938. First studies were made at Mount St. Michael’s, Spokane,
1942-45, and he taught physics, mathematics and philosophy at Loyola High School,
Los Angeles, 1945-48. He was accepted for the China Mission and he left California for language school in Beijing in 1948, arriving there on a journey
by ship, train, ferry boat, bus, jeep, pedicab and on foot. In October, with
the Communist forces advancing, the American Consulate advised all Americans to
leave China.
Art and his confreres chartered a plane to Shanghai
to await transportation home, but at the last minute all were ordered to remain
in China
by Father General Janssens. Art began his study of theology at Zikawei, but in May
1949, for reasons of health, he returned to California
and continued his studies at Alma College, Los
Gatos. He was ordained to the priesthood in San Francisco on June 15,
1951. He pronounced his final vows at Santa Clara University
in 1957.
After completion of studies, Art had a number of teaching
and pastoral assignments in the Province. He taught Theology and Philosophy at
Santa Clara University, 1956-61 and at Loyola University,
Los Angeles, 1962-69. High school teaching was done at Brophy College Prep,
1953-54, Garcia Diego
High School, Santa Barbara, 1961-62,
and Jesuit High
School, Sacramento,
1971-73. Interspersed were parish assignments in San Diego
and San Jose.
He also served as chaplain and teacher at the Brothers of St. John of God Novitiate and Hospital in
Ojai.
In 1974 Art returned to Asia, and taught a multitude of
subjects at St. Xavier
School, Katmandu,
Nepal. From
1977-80, he was assistant professor at Sophia University’s International
College, Tokyo, teaching philosophy, education and English. Art then taught
English at Wah Yan College,
Hong Kong, 1980-82, and he also taught Theology at the regional theologate
there. During summers he gave eight and 30 day retreats in Nepal, India
and Japan.
Returning to the U.S. in 1982,
Art served as visiting lecturer in theology and philosophy at Gonzaga University,
Spokane for a
year.
In 1983, Art moved to Sacred
Heart Jesuit
Center, Los Gatos, where he engaged in retreat and
pastoral work.
Art was a man of great enthusiasm, zeal and dedication and his
wide range of interests was coupled with an iron constitution. His teaching
experience encompassed middle school, high school and university levels on two
continents and in six Jesuit provinces. Art was a life-long student of
language, taking classes in 12 and pursuing independent study in 10 others. One
of his major interests was the study of Esperanto. A chance discovery of a text
in a used book store led to Art’s implementation of it in his apostolic work. After
contact with Esperanto societies in Japan
and China, he became
convinced of the usefulness of this artificial language in the evangelization
of Asia. Coupled with use of the Internet, Art
envisioned a new method of spreading the Gospel without learning complex
language structures. He showed creativity in devising new plans for various
kinds of Jesuit apostolate and was tireless in promoting them to superiors.
Fr. General Kolvenbach, on the occasion of Art’s jubilee,
described his life work as “unique colors on the palette of sites in which [he
had] exercised a varied ministry.” May he rest in peace.
Daniel Peterson