Terrence Reuther stood firmly by his beliefs

Terrence Reuther, a retired Anoka-Ramsey Community College professor and union leader, was a tenacious advocate for union members.

Reuther, who taught anthropology, sociology and criminology for 33 years, died of renal cell cancer on Oct. 23 at his New Brighton home. He was 64.

"He came from a long line of fighters," said his daughter, Jessie Tiede of Golden Valley, who said he was a distant relative of Walter Reuther, an early leader of the United Auto Workers union.

Reuther grew up in Seattle and earned a bachelor's degree in English at the University of Washington. In 1970, he received a master's degree in sociology from Purdue University.

He moved to the Twin Cities in 1970, joining the Anoka-Ramsey faculty in Coon Rapids.

In the 1980s, he served as president of the faculty association, leading the college's local unit of the old Minnesota Education Association.

"He was not a person to back down," said Rolan Anderson of Fridley, a retired biology professor and friend. "He very much stood by his opinions."

A contributor to the Star Tribune's op-ed page, Reuther was "very articulate," Anderson said.

Reuther taught with enthusiasm, said Anastasia Grinberg of Plymouth, a former anthropology student. His lectures sometimes dealt with controversial and uncomfortable subjects, such as human sexuality, unfamiliar religions and exotic cultures.

"He opened people's minds," Grinberg said. "He taught us not to judge" and got his students to think.

In the 1980s, Reuther twice ran unsuccessfully for the state Legislature and remained an active DFLer.

He had once lived not far from a dump in Andover, and after he questioned all the activity there he found toxic waste was being illegally dumped.

Reuther became the chairman of Clean Water Action in Minnesota and later the chairman of the national organization in Washington, serving that group until the mid-1990s.

"He felt he had to do something for the greater good, and he wouldn't have to run for office to do it," said his wife, Bettie of New Brighton.

Reuther was a talented carpenter and auto mechanic, and when he retired in 2003 he found more time to apply his skills for the Holy Hammers-Habitat for Humanity, and the Metropolitan Interfaith Council for Affordable Housing.

He served on the social justice committee of his church, the United Church of Christ in New Brighton.

In addition to his wife of 41 years, and his daughter, he is survived by his son, Stefan of St. Anthony; parents Earle and Frances of Kennewick, Wash.; brothers David of Fairfax, Va., and Richard of Richland, Wash., and four grandchildren.