The phrase a gentleman and a scholar is part of the English lexicon often used to recognize someone who is admirable or held in high esteem. To say that Ralph J. Rohner was a gentleman and a scholar is not hyperbolic. It’s not the empty use of a tired idiom. The statement has been said by many, with the utmost sincerity, when describing Rohner and the legacy he has left behind. As a former colleague, Michael Cozzillio ’73 put it, “In a world where the term ‘gentleman and scholar’ is often tossed about somewhat cavalierly, Ralph not only epitomized it, he defined it. Few individuals have ever equally distinguished themselves as both outstanding human beings and brilliant academicians.” It is from this place of high esteem and loving memory that we pay tribute to Ralph Rohner — honoring the impact he had on the Columbus School of Law, on the legal world, and on all who knew him.
Rohner was a self-proclaimed “lifer” of Catholic University. He stepped onto the Catholic University campus in the Northeast quadrant of D.C. as an undergraduate and he never really left. Catholic Law Professor Emeritus Leah Wortham shared, “Ralph was dedicated to CUA since he came as an undergraduate in 1956 and he stayed on for law school.” Rohner graduated from his undergraduate studies in 1960 with an Artium Baccalaureus (A.B.) in Philosophy; earning the distinction for his demonstration of proficiency in Latin, Greek, and German. He chose to stay at Catholic to pursue his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Law School. In his three years as a student at Catholic Law, Rohner set himself apart—both in the classroom and out. Rohner was a winner of the 1962 Sutherland Moot Court Competition, editor-in-chief of the Catholic University Law Review Volume 12, and valedictorian of the Class of 1963. He was also an exceptional friend. Classmate Dena Feeney ’63 remembers Rohner as her ally, “I arrived in August 1960 to find myself not only the sole female in my law school class, but also the only female in the school. I needed a protector and helper. Ralph was it—sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes openly [...] Ralph was a real friend and a gentleman in the true sense of those words.”
Read the full tribute on the Columbus School of Law website