Richard Henry Duerr

Brother Richard Henry Duerr FSC (1922 – June 18, 2005), formerly Br. Crescentius Richard FSC, is an American De La Salle Brother who was instrumental in the transformation of De La Salle University in the Philippines into becoming a pillar of Philippine education.De La Salle University-Manila. (2005). "Conferment". Manila: DLSU Press.] He was President of De La Salle University from 1961 to 1966 and was named its President Emeritus in 1981.

Early life

Richard Henry Duerr was born in 1922 in Brooklyn, New York; the third of four children. He studied at the Saint James Diocesan High School in Loughlin and Saint Joseph's Normal Institute in Barrytown, New York, graduating valedictorian from both schools. In 1935, at the age of 13, he entered the Junior Novitiate of the Christian Brothers in New York and began his postulancy on June 26, 1936. On September 7, 1936, he received the Holy Habit and was given the religious name Crescentius Richard.

In 1941, he earned his undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Science, major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology, from The Catholic University of America and in 1948, he received his master's degree from Fordham University.

Early career

Upon his graduation from the Catholic University of America, Br. Crescentius assumed a career of teaching. He spent the first 12 years of that career in New York and Washington, handling a variety of students, from fifth graders at Saint Mary's Parochial School in New York to the college students of the Manhattan College or La Salle College, teaching General Chemistry, Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, College Mathematics, and the General Science, among others.

Assignment to the Philippines

In 1953, Br. Richard was assigned to the Philippines, being first posted to De La Salle College. He would also be assigned to La Salle Academy-Iligan in 1958, the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod in 1969, and La Salle Green Hills in 1980.

Presidency of De La Salle College

In 1961, Br. Richard was appointed President of De La Salle College. During his term, he was instrumental in accomplishing the College's post-World War II growth including the conferment of academic accreditations upon the College. He also institutionalized the use of modern management techniques such as educational planning and budgeting to promote efficiency and initiated the formation of a Board of Trustees and the incorporation of the school as a non-stock, non-profit corporation. During his term, he also oversaw the construction of De La Salle University's William Hall. On July 17, 1981, in recognition of his contributions to the growth of the Lasallian schools in the Philippines, Br. Richard was conferred the title of "President Emeritus" by De La Salle University.

Return to the United States

In 1984, after his stint at La Salle Green Hills, he chose to settle down to Lincroft, New Jersey. He was thus assigned to the Christian Brothers Provincialate in Lincroft in 1984 to De La Salle Hall in 1987 and to the Christian Brothers Academy in 1992. In 2001, he was again posted at De La Salle Hall, where he stayed until his death on June 18, 2005.

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