NCDHH Board Member Dies
Carruthers: A Determined, Inspiring Leader

By Mike Konz

The world lost an inspiring soul (January 11) when Mike Carruthers, 54, of Minden died. He found ways to cope with the hardships of his own physical disabilities, while also helping other people with their disabilities.

Carruthers was a long-time language arts educator. His teaching took him to Kearney, Hastings and Minden. In addition, he was a fixture at many of the region's competitive speech meets before - and after - his personal tragedy.

An unthinkable setback occurred at the time Carruthers taught and coached speech at Minden High School.

He lost his hearing.

Imagine losing a sensory or cognitive function that is integral to your profession. For a photographer, that might be the loss of eyesight, or to a cook, the loss of taste or smell. If you can imagine such a loss, you can begin to understand the hurdle that Carruthers faced.

How do you teach and coach youths the nuances of public speaking when you are unable to hear them?

The hearing loss sidelined Carruthers professionally, but it was on the sidelines where he inspired others. He couldn't teach and coach as he once had, but he remained a part of the competitive speech scene, and he eventually became an advocate for others with hearing loss.

I met Carruthers during one of those Fridays or Saturdays when my wife, Mary Alice, the speech coach, roped me into helping at a tournament. Between flurries of entering scores into the tab room computer, Carruthers told me how medical technology helped him to stay involved.

A cochlear implant partially restored his hearing, but to say it gave him back his old life would be going too far. He refused to allow his difficulties to stop him.

The implant fell short of a miracle, but Carruthers still was part of the excitement as the names surfaced of speakers who would compete for medals. Squeals and hollers erupted outside the tab room as finals were posted. Just a glance away from the commotion, it was easy to see how badly Carruthers wished he could still be coaching, not just helping.

During dozens of Fridays and Saturdays, Carruthers soldiered on in the tab room, tallying points and assisting as he could.

His hearing loss all but closed the door on a part of life that he cherished.

The Motivator
Carruthers refused to bow out. He discovered new purpose in 2004 with his appointment to the oversight board of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

"Mike always ensured important issues for the hard of hearing community were addressed, especially those pertaining to people with cochlear implants. He brought a needed sensitivity to other commissioners, staff, and state residents," said Tanya Wendel, the NCDHH's executive director.

I was fascinated when Carruthers told me how his implant worked, but I didn't know how he helped test drive other assistive technology for people like himself.

"He was one of the first people in the state to try a CapTel phone," Wendel said. A CapTel phone is a device that combines text and speech messages, and it's now commonly used by people with hearing loss.

Public Servant
In announcing Carruthers' death to Nebraska's hard of hearing community, Wendel recalled his caring nature. "We will remember his kindness and willingness to work without complaint."

Carruthers also served on Nebraska's Telecommunications Advisory Committee and led several hearing loss groups.

For many years, he read to a man with Lou Gehrig's disease. Wendel said he also was fond of Camp Anderson, a summer camp near South Bend for deaf and hard of hearing children.

Having endured an unthinkable setback, Carruthers found ways to pry open new doors and open others' eyes. Nebraskans won't soon forget the speech coach who could not hear.

This article was first published in the January 20 issue of the " Kearney Hub." The author, Mike Konz, is managing editor of the daily newspaper.

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MINDEN - Michael Carruthers, 54, of Minden died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at Kearney County Health Services Hospital in Minden.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney with the Rev. Michael McDonald officiating. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Battle Creek.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Layton-Craig Funeral Home in Minden.

He was born Aug. 18, 1952, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to James and Lloydette (Weatherill) Carruthers.

On Dec. 28, 1973, he married Lucie Kuchar in Lynch.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Maureen of Blacksburg, Va., and Abigail Esparza and Colleen, both of Houston; his parents of Omaha; and sisters, Marsha Krabbenhoft of Omaha and Melinda Suhr of Silver City, N.M.

Additional survivors include his son-in-law, Eduardo Esparza of Houston; brothers-in-law, Al Krabbenhoft of Omaha and Jim Suhr of Silver City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Millard High School and received an undergraduate degree from Wayne State College and two master's degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

He and his wife lived in Omaha, Newman Grove and Minden. He taught English at Millard, Newman Grove, Lindsay Holy Family and Minden Public Schools. The family attended the Catholic Newman Center in Kearney.

He served on the board of Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, lectured at the Newman Center, worked with the Kearney Region 3 mentor program, was a CASA volunteer and was active in the community theater.

Memorials are suggested to the family for scholarships for deaf and epileptic children.