Interviewee: Brother Richard Rancourt

Interviewer: Richard Foy, John Ansley

Interview Date: February 21, 2002; March 14, 2002

Summary: In part 1, Brother Richard recalls his early childhood, his family and his early education. Brother Richard discusses his many experiences in becoming a Marist Brother. His talent as a pianist and his many different teaching roles .His commitment to the Marist Brothers and their teachings.
In part 2, Brother Richard Rancourt speaks about the early days of Marist College as a student and as a professor. After studying in the Juniorate at Esopus, Richard Rancourt continued his studies by becoming a Brother at the Novitiate at Marian College. After being a Brother in the Novitiate, Richard Rancourt joined the Scholasticate and began teaching after that. In the interview, Brother Richard Rancourt talks about his daily life as a student in the Novitiate as well as the changes that took place in the college as lay students began to come on the campus. The interview also focuses on Richard Rancourt’s account of the physical grounds of Marist College in its earlier years before construction of several of Marist’s current buildings. The interview ends with Brother Richard Rancourt’s account of the transition of Marist’s student population from mostly Brothers to the majority being lay students.