Town Talk: Joseph Rutherford

Joe Rutherford is a member of the Penta Career Center Board of Education, representing the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West.

Joseph W. Rutherford, 79, serves on the board of education for Penta Career Center in Perrysburg Township as a representative from the Governing Board of the Education Service Center, Lake Erie West (formerly known as Lucas County Schools). He and wife Cece Rutherford live in Holland, Ohio, and have raised three children.

What was your former occupation? Administrator of Toledo Public Schools.

Have you served in the military? Yes. United States Marine Corps: 1951-1954 (active duty) and Reserves 1954-1960.

What other community service involvements do you have? Member of Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Zoo, American Legion, Marine Corps League - Lou Diamond Detachment.

What is your philosophy on education? Education is a partnership between the home, the school, and the entire community with mutually supportive roles interacting with the student.

How do you see Penta's role in the community? Penta launches the students on career paths that would not normally be available in their home schools.

What were you like in high school? Shy.

How big of a family do you come from? Youngest of a family of 10 with 5 brothers and 4 sisters

Do you have other family members who have held public service roles?

My wife is active in the Christ Child Society of Toledo, and our son Joe is deputy director of Ohio Department of Transportation, District 5. My brother Charles was president of the Detroit Bar Association (among other roles in Michigan and Detroit Bar Associations), and sister Mary Margaret Haight worked for the USO during World War II, as well as with social service organizations in the area of geriatrics throughout her career. Sister Rita Krall has been a founding member of St. Vincent’s Medical Association Retirees, taught gerontology for five years at Lourdes College after retirement, and was a parish nurse with northwest deanery of the Diocese of Toledo. My brother Edward coordinated the basketball program for the Catholic Youth Organization for 25 years and was elected to the Basketball Officials Hall of Fame. Edward also served in Korea during the Korean War. My oldest living sibling is Albert D. Rutherford, Jr. He graduated from Waite High School and served in the Army Air Corps in WW II. He subsequently received his engineering degree from the University of Toledo and had a long career with Western Electric.

Where is your favorite place to eat in the Perrysburg area? Biaggi’s

What are some of your holiday traditions? Family dinner on Christmas Eve after Mass earlier, then opening of the gifts.