Eleanor “Ellie” Brinkman
February 11, 1935 to Thursday, July 3, 2025
Lawrenceburg School Corporation
https://www.fitchdenney.com/obituaries/Eleanor-Ellie-Brinkman?obId=43258230
Cindy M. Hornbach
January 18, 1955 – May 7, 2024
Teacher: North Dearborn Elementary School
https://www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com/obituary/cynthia-hornbach
By: R.H. Nicholson
Teachers are humanity’s arborists,
Cultivating seeds.
They plant, they nurture, water, trim,
Whatever the saplings need.
They set their woodlies in the sun.
To sprout and grow and mature,
Spread their limbs, unfold their leaves,
Roots driving deep and secure.
With steady grasp and sturdy resolve
They protect, entreat, implore
Whatever care the upshoots require
To reach their potential score.
And when the arborists’ work is done
And their spades they give reprieve,
These trees bear fruit, give shade, host life
And help the world breathe.
DCRTA June 2024 Memorial Honorees
Mary Bradley 1943-2023
Mary taught French at Lawrenceburg High School for 35 years, she was the “Madame”, the embodiment of a French Teacher. Mary also loved to cook, was a member of the Dearborn County Retired Teachers Sewing Project and received the Indiana State Retired Teachers Association Volunteer of the Year Award in 2021.
Marita Cizek 1931-2021
Marita taught multiple grades at several schools, most notably Central Elementary in Lawrenceburg. She did everything from leading a Cub Scout Troop to serving on the 4-H Fair Board, from serving in leadership positions at Greendale Baptist Church to participating in the Tri Kappa Sorority. She was a member of the Lawrenceburg Review Club, the Hospital Auxiliary, and was a Lawrenceburg Library board member. She was a founding member of the DCRTA Sewing Project.
Jim Cook 1943-2023
Jim spent 40 years working in schools, including Eastern Shelby Schools but most notably Sunman-Dearborn Schools, where he taught social studies, was a guidance counselor, and served as an Assistant Principal. Jim also coached hundreds of students and was especially proud that he coached his own children and his grandchildren.
T.R. Ellis 1940-2023,
T. R. spent the last 18 years of his stellar career in education at Lawrenceburg Community Schools as curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. While at Lawrenceburg he earned his doctorate in education.
Paul Filter 1940-2023
Paul was an associate member and a life-long education advocate. Though a funeral director by trade, Paul worked countless hours for the Dillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, presenting fire safety and prevention programs at local schools, churches, senior centers, and organizations. His favorite quip was “Stop, drop, and roll!”
Dois Givan 1935-2022
Dois taught fourth grade at Aurora Elementary School for 30 years. She was a consummate educator and a long-time member of the prestigious 95-year-old Delta Kappa Gamma Society of International Women Educators.
William Hopping 1925-2022
WIlliam taught business, typing, accounting, and shorthand for 35 years, many of those as department chair. He was also the sophomore class sponsor and worked with the bands at Lawrenceburg High School, inspiring 22 members of his family to be teachers.
Paul Kinghorn 1935-2021
Paul was a serious St. Louis Cardinals fan in the heart of Reds country, even keeping statistics when we watched the games. He taught Industrial Arts, Drafting, Driver’s Education, and was a counselor for the Lawrenceburg Schools. Early in his career he taught at Howe High School and P.S. 57 in Indianapolis.
Christine McGraw 1939-2022
Christine spent 30 years teaching food service and culinary arts at the Southeastern Indiana Vocational School to hundreds of students.
John Mortiz 1928-2023
John was an associate member who strongly supported education via his teacher wife Myrna. John was a supervisor at Seagram’s for 35 years. He was a military veteran of the Korean War, a member of the American Legion, The Knights of Columbus, on the Riverview Cemetery Board, and an active member of St. Mary’s Church.
Kay Raffignone 1936-2023
Kay taught third grade at Rising Sun Elementary School for 25 years. Kay was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and loved reading, flowers, and birds.
Patty Rullman 1939-2024
Patty taught English and Speech in Iowa and Illinois before moving to Aurora, Indiana to teach at South Dearborn High School where she was famous for teaching the novel Rebecca. She also taught for the Purdue Extension.
Roger Rullman 1936-2022
Roger was an associate member who also taught junior high school science in Illinois for four years. The owner of Rullman Funeral Home, Roger was a strong supporter of education, serving on the South Dearborn School Board. Roger was the husband to Patty Rullman. A practical man, he often quipped, “Common sense isn’t very common.”
Pat Titkemeyer 1943-2023
Pat taught for 35 years at the Guilford School then at Central Elementary in Lawrenceburg but was also a “super-sub”. She was president of the A.F.T., co-chair of the Adopt-a-School program, and owner of the Pin Oak Roller Skating rink for many years.
William Vaughan 1940-2022
William taught for forty years at several schools, including Lawrenceburg High School. He taught U.S. History, Driver’s Education, and was Athletic Director for six years. He coached football, baseball, and cross country.