Submitted by: Dan Rich
1951 - March 7, 2007
South Bend Tribune 3/9/2007
GRANGER - Rex J. Rakow, 55, passed away in his home on
Wednesday, March 7, after a long illness. Rex was born in 1951 in
Mishawaka as the son of Henry F. and Emerencia A (Modos) Rakow.
He was preceded in death by his father.
On August 7, 1971, in South Bend, he married the former Linda Bollinger. Surviving Rex are his loving wife, Linda; a daughter, Stacy (Aaron) McMann, and grandchildren, Bryce and Kylie of Bristol, IN; a son, Derek (Jennifer), and grandchildren, Christopher and Cooper of Greenwood, IN; his mother, Emerencia Rakow of Elkhart; a sister, Lisa (Jean Hohn) Rakow of Loveland, CO; a brother, Mark Rakow of Enterprise, AL; and his in-laws, Lynn and Grace Bollinger of Elkhart.
Rex had been the Director of Security and Police at the University of Notre Dame since 1985 since coming to the department in 1979 as Assistant Director. He came to Notre Dame from Albion College in Albion, Michigan, where he was Director of Safety and Security. During his time at Notre Dame, Rex has also been an adjunct instructor at Indiana University South Bend in Criminal Justice for 10 years, and since 1997 had been a Deputy Coroner in St. Joseph County, and is a certified medicolegal death investigator. Prior to Albion College, Rex was a Police Training Specialist in Southern Illinois for 27 counties, providing in-service and basic training. Previously, Rex was a patrol officer in Richmond, Indiana, for three years and at Indiana University, Bloomington, as a member of the first class of the IU Police Cadet Program. Rex was involved with numerous security and police activities including Coordination of the 1987 International Special Olympics Games in South Bend; venue supervisor for the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis; protection team member for the 1987 Visit of the Pope to South Carolina; nine visits to the campus by United States presidents, four United States vice presidents, 11 foreign heads of state, and numerous dignitaries and guests.
He was a governor appointee to the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board. Additionally, he was a member of the National Institute of Justice Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Advisory Council. He has attended, participated and presented in seminars and conferences on topics from threat assessment to management systems. He was a graduate of the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, and countless other training opportunities. His awards and honors include a Special Presidential Award by the University of Notre Dame, past president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, past chairman of the College Police Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, past president of the Indiana Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, past chairman of the College Police Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, past president of the Indiana Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, past president of the South Bend/Mishawaka Leadership Program of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as serving as a member of several other professional and service groups and boards including the Alcohol and Addiction Resource Center, and Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka.
In 2005, Rex was awarded the State of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash award by Governor Joseph E. Kernan for service to Notre Dame, the local community and the State of Indiana. In 2006, Rex was given an award by the Notre Dame student government for outstanding service to the campus community. Also in 2006, Rex was made an honorary member of the UND Monogram Club for 4-year varsity athletes, and was recently named the 2007 recipient of the Alumni Association's James E. Armstrong Award. Rex earned a bachelor's of arts degree in forensic studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1973 and in 1982 completed a master's of science degree in institutional administration from the University of Notre Dame. His many interests and hobbies included golf, fishing, boating, water recreational activities, and making others laugh. He especially loved his grandchildren and spending time with family. He relied on his faith, family and friends to help him through his illness, and was grateful to all who were so caring. The family would also like to thank Dr. Rafat Ansari and all the staff at Michiana Hematology Oncology, along with the staff of The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care who took such good care of him at the end of his illness.
Visitation for Rex will be held today, March 9, from noon to 8:00 p.m. in the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, in the Basilica of Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, with Rev. Kenneth M. Molinaro, C.S.C, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, IN. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions please be made in Rex's name to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to The Cross in the Woods, 7078 M-68, Indian River, MI 49749.