Richard R. Rutter
Oct. 8, 1932-Sept. 20, 2025
Emerald Hills, California
Dr. Richard “Dick” Remmel Rutter passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025, in Emerald Hills, CA at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cloud and Marian (Remmel) Rutter. He is survived by his wife, Joanne (McHenry) Rutter, his brother Don (Marcy) Rutter, his daughter Karen (Mark) Weber, his son Jim (Cindi) Rutter, five grandchildren (Mackenzie, Allison, Jeffrey, Ava, and Logan) and one great-grandson, Roman.
A long-time resident of Menlo Park and Emerald Hills, he practiced the specialty of orthodontics for 25 years on Welch Road in Palo Alto. Born on October 8, 1932 in San Francisco, he graduated from San Mateo High School [‘50] and Stanford University [‘54] where he played water polo and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO). He received his dental degree from the College of Physicians & Surgeons (now UOP) in 1958 and earned his graduate certificate in Orthodontics from Columbia University in 1961. Dr. Rutter was the founding department chairman for the graduate program in Orthodontics at the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. For 52 years, he was a much-loved and slightly-feared faculty member and professor, retiring in 2009 at age 77.
He married Joanne McHenry on September 12,1959 at Stanford Memorial Church, a blessed union that lasted for 66 years.
Dr. Rutter was a man of many passions, interests, and talents. He was a longtime member of the Palo Alto Kiwanis Club, the International Wizard of Oz Club, and the Knights of the Gnomon, the Redwood City scion of the Sherlock Holmes society, The Baker Street Irregulars. He enjoyed Stanford sports above all, attending more than 1,200 football, basketball and baseball games over more than eight decades. He enjoyed reading, collecting, letterpress printing, swimming, and travel.
Dr. Rutter courageously endured Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) for the last several years of his life, but he maintained his sense of humor and social interactions.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 1:30 PM at Menlo Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave. Menlo Park with a reception to follow.
Tags: teacher/educator
