Professor Rainville, who encouraged students to call him Ricky, passed away unexpectedly on November 9 at the age of 53. Rainville worked at Ithaca College from 1990 to 2003 and then returned to the college this year to teach part-time.
Rainville was a highly devoted teacher who brought his Spanish lectures to life with his witty sense of humor. He really could light up a room and was always met with smiles and laughter from his students.
In my Spanish class with Professor Rainville, he expressed many times how much he loved his job, and how much he loved his students. He was an incredible teacher with a passion for learning, and love for the Ithaca community.
He was an incredibly dedicated teacher who played a very important role in the college community. He will surely be missed by all who knew him.