Theresa Rutty, Rsm
To the Berrigan Family,
Mr. Berrigan was my junior English teacher at Onondaga Valley Academy in the 1960's. Of all the teachers I had at Valley he has stayed with me the most.
In a public school where God could not be mentioned, he taught us values. I remember him teaching us that freedom is not license to do whatever one wanted. He told us that "freedom is the liberty to do what one ought." He wrote it on the board for us to copy. Now reading his obituary I see that he certainly lived that maxim.
I recall another quote, which I believe is credited to Thomas Jefferson: "To thine ownself be true, and as night follows day, you cannot be false to any man." These two sayings have often come to my mind and given me direction.
Another rule I learned from Jerry, which I follow to this day, is: Read 40 pages of a book before deciding it's not worth reading. Seldom have I discarded a book but once in a while I come to page 40 and decide it's not worth the effort.
One day in class he shared a snippet of family life. He rarely shared personal things. Perhaps he was explaining a simile or metaphor, I don't remember. But I do remember him telling us that he was outside at night with his small son. His son said, "Look, daddy, there's God's fingernail," as he pointed to the moon. Sitting in class I couldn't image what the little boy saw in the moon that looked like a fingernail. But many nights through the years I have looked at the sliver of a crescent moon and remembered that little boy's comment--God's fingernail!
I didn't graduate from OVA, but moved to Charlotte, NC for my senior year. After high school I entered the Sisters of Mercy in Rochester NY. Through the years I have followed Fr. Daniel in the news and have read some of his work. But I was not surprised to read that Mr. Berrigan was also an activist.
My sincere sympathy to you his family and I pray for the repose of his soul and for all of you as you grieve your loss.
Sincerely,
Theresa Rutty, RSM