Requiescat in pace, Dr. Leitner

Life’s lessons in a Latin class have big impact on Burke students and faculty, By Nancy Kriz MONROE - It’s a rarity for any school to close on a regular school day in order for its students, teachers and administrators to honor one of its faculty members. But that’s just what happened on Dec. 2 when John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen cancelled classes so everyone would be able to attend the funeral services for its beloved teacher, Dr. Ralph Leitner Jr. of Monroe. Leitner taught at Burke for only seven years. He was diagnosed with lymphoma 13 months ago, but was able to complete the entire school year while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. He retired last Aug. 31. His death on Nov. 26 didn’t just affect his family. For those who had a chance to know him as a teacher, mentor or colleague, Leitner’s impact was more far reaching than that short seven-year time span could ever provide. “He was so influential,” said Meghan Travers of Monroe, a junior at Burke who studied Latin with Leitner for two years. “I felt I learned lessons about Latin, but he made you feel like you learned about everyday life. His lessons didn’t stay in the classroom. I took them with me.” 46 years, 8,000 students Leitner’s family estimated that during his 46-year teaching career, he taught approximately 8,000 students at the high school and undergraduate levels, in French, Latin, and Japanese, English, ethics, philosophy and history. With two doctorate degrees - in Asian history and philosophy, his wide range of knowledge, including subtle and not so subtle messages about life, was passed onto to students no matter what subject matter Leitner was teaching them. John Dolan, Burke’s assistant principal who also heads its guidance office, called Leitner a good friend. “He loved each and every student,” Dolan said. “He took pride in what he did. And he was loved by the faculty as well. In a short time, he won over the heart of the school.” His daughter, Beth Zeman of Monroe, agreed. “Through his broad intellectual interests, he was a true Renaissance man,” Zeman said during her eulogy at her father’s funeral Mass on Dec. 2 at the filled to capacity Sacred Heart Church in Monroe. “However, his passion was the thrill of seeing his students succeed. As an educator, you calculate success with a very different yard stick than you do in business. You measure it in lives you enrich. And judging from the outpouring of messages and prayers just in the last few months of his life and the attendance here today his success is glorious. Dolan was glad the school made the decision to cancel classes that day so the Burke community could attend Leitner’s funeral services. Smart, intelligent, funny His students saw those attributes in him as well. “He was so accomplished and did so many things,” said Kathryn Hancharick of Warwick, a junior at Burke, who studied Latin with Leitner last year. “It’s just that he knew all the answers about all things … all topics. He knew things that most people didn’t. He made you want to study and do other things. And he had the best sense of humor. He made Latin fun.” And students admired him, too. “There was something about him that made you want to respect him,” said Travers. “He deserved your respect. I feel he would talk to you as an equal. He was always trying to better us as students and people. In conversations with him, he always made you feel like he really wanted you to succeed, and that made me want to succeed.” Dolan noted Leitner’s faith was important to him. “He was a very spiritual man,” said Dolan. “His spirituality had a lot to do with how people felt about him.” Dolan was among the last people to see Leitner. “When I visited him, I remember saying to him, ‘Ralph, it’s good to believe in the things we believe in, it makes everything so much easier,’” added Dolan. “I know this (faith) makes it (his death) easier, because of what we believe in. I hope his spirituality and kindness are what people would take back at Christmas and think about.”

I felt I learned lessons about Latin, but he made you feel like you learned about everyday life. His lessons didn’t stay in the classroom. I took them with me.”Meghan Travers of Monroe, a junior at Burke

Teaching career
Dr. Ralph Leitner Jr. of Monroe, who died last month, spent 46 years as an educator. His college career included teaching at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan; Nassau Community College in Garden City; Molloy College in Rockville Centre; the University of Delaware at Wilmington; and Wesley College in Dover, Del., where he was also dean of its School of Arts and Sciences.
Fluent in seven languages, he served as associate principal and academic dean at St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale for 13 years; and as principals at St. Agnes High School in Uniondale and Locust Valley Junior Senior High School in Locust Valley.
Leitner also taught at Jericho High School in Jericho and Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Del.; and was the founding headmaster at St. Thomas More Preparatory in Magnolia, Del. He joined Burke in 2004.