Dr. Rosenwald Delano Altheimer was born to Reverend Silas Jenkins Altheimer and Jeanette Porche Altheimer in Pine Bluff, Arkansas- in the same house he made his ascendence eighty-seven years later. He had come full circle-full circle in a journey that had taken him from small towns in Arkansas to a large city like Detroit, Michigan-to the capitals of Europe, the West indies, and Canada, the length and breadth of Mexico, and finally back home. Like many youngest members of the family, he exulted in the love, support, and nurturance of his older siblings and parents, and he reciprocated that back to them and all he encountered.
Dr. Altheimer was multi-talented and multi-lingual. Fluent in Spanish, he could draw with uncanny likeness, play, and sing a gospel song that he had just heard, tell a story almost as well as his father, and teach. A natural teacher, he was named for Julius Rosenwald, who had built over five thousand schools for Black children all over the south. He exuded a love and thirst for learning-life time learning. Drawing on the educational foundation laid by his parents and older brothers, he excelled at every level of academic enterprise. He loved movies, concerts and opera, figurines and different cuisines, and traveling.
He was an honor student as a Merrill High School graduate of 1950, AM&N graduate in Sociology, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Kappa Mu honor society member of 1954, Master's degree recipient from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1961, and as a Doctor of Educational Sociology from Wayne State University in 1980. Additionally, he attended eight University Institutes studying Islam, comparative religion, and the sociology of the inner city. In each instance, his searching mind and probing intellect allowed him to glean hidden connections and make original contributions. His dissertation; "The Social Implications of the Afro-American Experience in the Roman Catholic Church: An Examination of Attitudes and Habits of Parishioners in Two Inner-City Detroit Churches," documents his firsthand survey and research of how African Americans have transformed Catholicism to fit their experience and cultural sensibilities.
Known as 'Ro' or even 'Rosendo' by his dearest and closest friends- he delighted in intelligent company. Colorful, handsome, and magnetic-he had a ready smile that exuded warmth concealing a sometimes-sarcastic wit. Often, he would be in the center of things or the main attraction, playing his favorite gospel songs accompanied by a story. He was not shy. In later years, an average day would be interspersed with several phone calls from Detroit, Texas, Flint, Michigan, or California. And he spoke to each with enthusiasm and interest as if he were waiting just for them to call.
Dr. Altheimer loved Christianity-all 360 degrees of it-even in one day. He could literally visit as many as four different churches on one Sunday if he were visiting from out of town-he desired the full range of the Christian experience. Raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, he loved the rootedness of its century's old tradition. Exposed to Pentecostal churches early on where he experienced the power of the 'Holy Ghost'-he knew personal experience of God's power yielded unshakable faith. And he reveled in his full, hearty embrace of Catholicism. A member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, a predominantly African American Catholic organization, he sought to make known the magnificent work done by African American Catholics and wanted the world to know and recognize the contributions of African Americans to the Catholic church.
He made a difference in the lives of others. A Social Studies, history, and Spanish teacher for over forty-four years, Dr. Altheimer brought his wealth of educational, travel, and personal experiences to enrich inner city school children who rarely left the confines of their neighborhoods. His generosity and love of young people led him to give to numerous charities, church fundraisers, college graduations, and to family members in need. He was the Uncle who brought each niece and nephew a special gift selected just for them. And he was the hub around which several interlocking families revolved-he loved conversing and his conversations made others reflect.
His list of affiliations and organizations is long, including Pi Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, NAACP, UAPB National Alumni Association, Association on American Indian affairs, Charter Member National Museum of the American Indian, and church membership at St. Peter Catholic Church, where he was instrumental in opening its first chapter of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.
While we will miss his illuminating and charismatic presence, we are enriched by a life well lived and a legacy of education, love of family, world culture, and God. His message to us-his family, friends, students, colleagues, and associates alike is this-live and enjoy life, worship sincerely, and give generously-for it will all be repaid to you by receiving the light of God shining from your heart for all to see.
He leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews and friends from all over the United States and Western Hemisphere.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church. A Rosary and visitation will be held at the P.K. Miller Mortuary on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 6-8 p.m.
Obituary and photo by
P.K. Miller Mortuary
Dr. Altheimer was multi-talented and multi-lingual. Fluent in Spanish, he could draw with uncanny likeness, play, and sing a gospel song that he had just heard, tell a story almost as well as his father, and teach. A natural teacher, he was named for Julius Rosenwald, who had built over five thousand schools for Black children all over the south. He exuded a love and thirst for learning-life time learning. Drawing on the educational foundation laid by his parents and older brothers, he excelled at every level of academic enterprise. He loved movies, concerts and opera, figurines and different cuisines, and traveling.
He was an honor student as a Merrill High School graduate of 1950, AM&N graduate in Sociology, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Kappa Mu honor society member of 1954, Master's degree recipient from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1961, and as a Doctor of Educational Sociology from Wayne State University in 1980. Additionally, he attended eight University Institutes studying Islam, comparative religion, and the sociology of the inner city. In each instance, his searching mind and probing intellect allowed him to glean hidden connections and make original contributions. His dissertation; "The Social Implications of the Afro-American Experience in the Roman Catholic Church: An Examination of Attitudes and Habits of Parishioners in Two Inner-City Detroit Churches," documents his firsthand survey and research of how African Americans have transformed Catholicism to fit their experience and cultural sensibilities.
Known as 'Ro' or even 'Rosendo' by his dearest and closest friends- he delighted in intelligent company. Colorful, handsome, and magnetic-he had a ready smile that exuded warmth concealing a sometimes-sarcastic wit. Often, he would be in the center of things or the main attraction, playing his favorite gospel songs accompanied by a story. He was not shy. In later years, an average day would be interspersed with several phone calls from Detroit, Texas, Flint, Michigan, or California. And he spoke to each with enthusiasm and interest as if he were waiting just for them to call.
Dr. Altheimer loved Christianity-all 360 degrees of it-even in one day. He could literally visit as many as four different churches on one Sunday if he were visiting from out of town-he desired the full range of the Christian experience. Raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, he loved the rootedness of its century's old tradition. Exposed to Pentecostal churches early on where he experienced the power of the 'Holy Ghost'-he knew personal experience of God's power yielded unshakable faith. And he reveled in his full, hearty embrace of Catholicism. A member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, a predominantly African American Catholic organization, he sought to make known the magnificent work done by African American Catholics and wanted the world to know and recognize the contributions of African Americans to the Catholic church.
He made a difference in the lives of others. A Social Studies, history, and Spanish teacher for over forty-four years, Dr. Altheimer brought his wealth of educational, travel, and personal experiences to enrich inner city school children who rarely left the confines of their neighborhoods. His generosity and love of young people led him to give to numerous charities, church fundraisers, college graduations, and to family members in need. He was the Uncle who brought each niece and nephew a special gift selected just for them. And he was the hub around which several interlocking families revolved-he loved conversing and his conversations made others reflect.
His list of affiliations and organizations is long, including Pi Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, NAACP, UAPB National Alumni Association, Association on American Indian affairs, Charter Member National Museum of the American Indian, and church membership at St. Peter Catholic Church, where he was instrumental in opening its first chapter of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.
While we will miss his illuminating and charismatic presence, we are enriched by a life well lived and a legacy of education, love of family, world culture, and God. His message to us-his family, friends, students, colleagues, and associates alike is this-live and enjoy life, worship sincerely, and give generously-for it will all be repaid to you by receiving the light of God shining from your heart for all to see.
He leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews and friends from all over the United States and Western Hemisphere.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church. A Rosary and visitation will be held at the P.K. Miller Mortuary on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 6-8 p.m.
Obituary and photo by
P.K. Miller Mortuary
Dr. Rosenwald Delano Altheimer was born to Reverend Silas Jenkins Altheimer and Jeanette Porche Altheimer in Pine Bluff, Arkansas- in the same house he made his ascendence eighty-seven years later. He had come full circle-full circle in a journey that had taken him from small towns in Arkansas to a large city like Detroit, Michigan-to the capitals of Europe, the West indies, and Canada, the length and breadth of Mexico, and finally back home. Like many youngest members of the family, he exulted in the love, support, and nurturance of his older siblings and parents, and he reciprocated that back to them and all he encountered.
Dr. Altheimer was multi-talented and multi-lingual. Fluent in Spanish, he could draw with uncanny likeness, play, and sing a gospel song that he had just heard, tell a story almost as well as his father, and teach. A natural teacher, he was named for Julius Rosenwald, who had built over five thousand schools for Black children all over the south. He exuded a love and thirst for learning-life time learning. Drawing on the educational foundation laid by his parents and older brothers, he excelled at every level of academic enterprise. He loved movies, concerts and opera, figurines and different cuisines, and traveling.
He was an honor student as a Merrill High School graduate of 1950, AM&N graduate in Sociology, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Kappa Mu honor society member of 1954, Master's degree recipient from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1961, and as a Doctor of Educational Sociology from Wayne State University in 1980. Additionally, he attended eight University Institutes studying Islam, comparative religion, and the sociology of the inner city. In each instance, his searching mind and probing intellect allowed him to glean hidden connections and make original contributions. His dissertation; "The Social Implications of the Afro-American Experience in the Roman Catholic Church: An Examination of Attitudes and Habits of Parishioners in Two Inner-City Detroit Churches," documents his firsthand survey and research of how African Americans have transformed Catholicism to fit their experience and cultural sensibilities.
Known as 'Ro' or even 'Rosendo' by his dearest and closest friends- he delighted in intelligent company. Colorful, handsome, and magnetic-he had a ready smile that exuded warmth concealing a sometimes-sarcastic wit. Often, he would be in the center of things or the main attraction, playing his favorite gospel songs accompanied by a story. He was not shy. In later years, an average day would be interspersed with several phone calls from Detroit, Texas, Flint, Michigan, or California. And he spoke to each with enthusiasm and interest as if he were waiting just for them to call.
Dr. Altheimer loved Christianity-all 360 degrees of it-even in one day. He could literally visit as many as four different churches on one Sunday if he were visiting from out of town-he desired the full range of the Christian experience. Raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, he loved the rootedness of its century's old tradition. Exposed to Pentecostal churches early on where he experienced the power of the 'Holy Ghost'-he knew personal experience of God's power yielded unshakable faith. And he reveled in his full, hearty embrace of Catholicism. A member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, a predominantly African American Catholic organization, he sought to make known the magnificent work done by African American Catholics and wanted the world to know and recognize the contributions of African Americans to the Catholic church.
He made a difference in the lives of others. A Social Studies, history, and Spanish teacher for over forty-four years, Dr. Altheimer brought his wealth of educational, travel, and personal experiences to enrich inner city school children who rarely left the confines of their neighborhoods. His generosity and love of young people led him to give to numerous charities, church fundraisers, college graduations, and to family members in need. He was the Uncle who brought each niece and nephew a special gift selected just for them. And he was the hub around which several interlocking families revolved-he loved conversing and his conversations made others reflect.
His list of affiliations and organizations is long, including Pi Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, NAACP, UAPB National Alumni Association, Association on American Indian affairs, Charter Member National Museum of the American Indian, and church membership at St. Peter Catholic Church, where he was instrumental in opening its first chapter of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.
While we will miss his illuminating and charismatic presence, we are enriched by a life well lived and a legacy of education, love of family, world culture, and God. His message to us-his family, friends, students, colleagues, and associates alike is this-live and enjoy life, worship sincerely, and give generously-for it will all be repaid to you by receiving the light of God shining from your heart for all to see.
He leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews and friends from all over the United States and Western Hemisphere.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church. A Rosary and visitation will be held at the P.K. Miller Mortuary on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 6-8 p.m.
Obituary and photo by
P.K. Miller Mortuary
Dr. Altheimer was multi-talented and multi-lingual. Fluent in Spanish, he could draw with uncanny likeness, play, and sing a gospel song that he had just heard, tell a story almost as well as his father, and teach. A natural teacher, he was named for Julius Rosenwald, who had built over five thousand schools for Black children all over the south. He exuded a love and thirst for learning-life time learning. Drawing on the educational foundation laid by his parents and older brothers, he excelled at every level of academic enterprise. He loved movies, concerts and opera, figurines and different cuisines, and traveling.
He was an honor student as a Merrill High School graduate of 1950, AM&N graduate in Sociology, Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Kappa Mu honor society member of 1954, Master's degree recipient from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1961, and as a Doctor of Educational Sociology from Wayne State University in 1980. Additionally, he attended eight University Institutes studying Islam, comparative religion, and the sociology of the inner city. In each instance, his searching mind and probing intellect allowed him to glean hidden connections and make original contributions. His dissertation; "The Social Implications of the Afro-American Experience in the Roman Catholic Church: An Examination of Attitudes and Habits of Parishioners in Two Inner-City Detroit Churches," documents his firsthand survey and research of how African Americans have transformed Catholicism to fit their experience and cultural sensibilities.
Known as 'Ro' or even 'Rosendo' by his dearest and closest friends- he delighted in intelligent company. Colorful, handsome, and magnetic-he had a ready smile that exuded warmth concealing a sometimes-sarcastic wit. Often, he would be in the center of things or the main attraction, playing his favorite gospel songs accompanied by a story. He was not shy. In later years, an average day would be interspersed with several phone calls from Detroit, Texas, Flint, Michigan, or California. And he spoke to each with enthusiasm and interest as if he were waiting just for them to call.
Dr. Altheimer loved Christianity-all 360 degrees of it-even in one day. He could literally visit as many as four different churches on one Sunday if he were visiting from out of town-he desired the full range of the Christian experience. Raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, he loved the rootedness of its century's old tradition. Exposed to Pentecostal churches early on where he experienced the power of the 'Holy Ghost'-he knew personal experience of God's power yielded unshakable faith. And he reveled in his full, hearty embrace of Catholicism. A member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver, a predominantly African American Catholic organization, he sought to make known the magnificent work done by African American Catholics and wanted the world to know and recognize the contributions of African Americans to the Catholic church.
He made a difference in the lives of others. A Social Studies, history, and Spanish teacher for over forty-four years, Dr. Altheimer brought his wealth of educational, travel, and personal experiences to enrich inner city school children who rarely left the confines of their neighborhoods. His generosity and love of young people led him to give to numerous charities, church fundraisers, college graduations, and to family members in need. He was the Uncle who brought each niece and nephew a special gift selected just for them. And he was the hub around which several interlocking families revolved-he loved conversing and his conversations made others reflect.
His list of affiliations and organizations is long, including Pi Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Fraternity, NAACP, UAPB National Alumni Association, Association on American Indian affairs, Charter Member National Museum of the American Indian, and church membership at St. Peter Catholic Church, where he was instrumental in opening its first chapter of the Knights of St. Peter Claver.
While we will miss his illuminating and charismatic presence, we are enriched by a life well lived and a legacy of education, love of family, world culture, and God. His message to us-his family, friends, students, colleagues, and associates alike is this-live and enjoy life, worship sincerely, and give generously-for it will all be repaid to you by receiving the light of God shining from your heart for all to see.
He leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews and friends from all over the United States and Western Hemisphere.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church. A Rosary and visitation will be held at the P.K. Miller Mortuary on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 6-8 p.m.
Obituary and photo by
P.K. Miller Mortuary
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