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News Release

Contact: Tom Parisi, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-3635

April 13, 2004

NIU mourns loss of Professor D. Raymond Tourville

DeKalb, Ill. — D. Raymond Tourville, whose service to Northern Illinois University stretched more than four decades, died Friday, April 9, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He was 68.

Tourville, a professor of French, served as chair of the NIU Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. He is remembered for his dedication, his can-do spirit and his numerous professional accomplishments.

"Ray really was a citizen of the university. He had NIU's best interest at heart," said Frederick Kitterle, dean of the NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

"There is a deep sense of loss with the passing of Ray," Kitterle said. "He worked steadfastly to enhance the quality of undergraduate education for all students who enroll in language courses at NIU and who are interested in multiculturalism."

While he served as foreign languages department chair for the past 10 years, Tourville's influence as a guiding force in the department stretched decades. Under his leadership, the department grew in stature while expanding its course offerings to 15 Western, Southeast Asian and Classical languages.

"He was so dedicated and so full of life and energy, you felt the passion when you worked with him," said Anne Birberick, a professor of French and longtime colleague of Tourville's. "He's been a visionary in many respects. We're all devastated."

Tourville was the architect of a major renovation in 1997 to the Foreign Language Learning Center at NIU. The state-of-the-art, multi-media center for language learning and training now is perhaps the most advanced of its kind nationwide.

More than 30 years ago, Tourville founded NIU's highly successful Foreign Language Residence Program. That program, which was recently expanded, established foreign language floors in Douglas Hall, providing students with a 24-hour living-and-learning setting. The program has served as a national model.

NIU hired Tourville as a professor of French in 1962. In addition to teaching, he served several terms as director of the French and Italian division within the department. Over the years, he won numerous awards.

In 1994, the French government awarded Tourville the Palmes Academiques, its highest honor for academic achievement, recognizing his longstanding work in promoting foreign language and culture in the United States. Two years later, the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) presented Tourville with its National Teaching Award for teaching excellence at the post-secondary level. Tourville was a longtime member of AATF, serving terms as president and treasurer of the organization's Chicago chapter.

"In terms of recognizing the importance of international opportunities and globalization, Ray was way ahead of the curve," said longtime colleague and friend Joseph Grush, associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "With this in mind, he had a particular passion for finding ways to increase opportunities for our students to study abroad."

In addition to academics, Tourville had a love for NIU athletics and was a season-ticket holder for the football and basketball teams. He served on the University Athletics Board, as well as numerous other NIU committees and councils. He also was well known as an advocate for faculty, supportive staff and civil service employees alike.

Tourville met his wife Sharon while she was pursuing her master's degree in French at NIU. They married in 1965. Sharon Tourville retired recently from DeKalb High School, where she taught French. She also works at NIU in a part-time capacity, supervising foreign-language student teachers.

In addition to his wife, Tourville is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Ed Sullivan of Chicago; and his son Marc and fiancé Sarah Dorsey of Chicago.

Visitation is today (April 13) from 4 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S. Fourth St., DeKalb. A wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 14, at Christ the Teacher Parish (Newman Center) on campus with the Rev. Steve Knox officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in DeKalb.

A memorial is being established for the American Heart Association, Christ the Teacher Parish and through the NIU Foundation for the foreign languages department. For information, call Anderson Funeral Home at (815) 756-1022.

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