"The Rock" Retires
Dave Rochlitz
40 Years as a Lutheran Educator
Because he was born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago, Dave Rochlitz is all Blackhawks, all Bears, and all White Sox. According to Rochlitz, current guidance counselor at Lutheran North, there were no other professional sports teams to support because these teams were in his back yard, part of his boyhood. “You need to be a fan of the teams you grow up with because that’s what creates memories,” stated Rochlitz.
This level of loyalty is also related to the reason Dave Rochlitz dedicated 40 years of his life to Lutheran education. “Lutheran schools were all I ever knew. I attended a Lutheran grade school, Lutheran high school, and Lutheran colleges. My whole teaching career has been God’s plan, not my plan in so many different ways. I was a product of Lutheran education, and I never considered anything else. It’s what I knew,” stated Rochlitz who will retire at the end of the current school year.
After graduating from Bethany Lutheran Junior College in Minnesota, Dave attended Mankato State University graduating with a degree in education. He then worked as a counselor for boys in Minneapolis for one year before returning to Chicago and earning his master’s degree in counseling and his colloquy at Concordia College River Forest. Dave returned to his high school alma mater, Luther South in Chicago as a teacher and counselor. In addition to those responsibilities, he also coached soccer and wrestling – two co-curricular passions that would also be a part of his teaching career. “Luther South was not known for wrestling, and that’s why I really enjoyed recruiting young men to wrestle. Watching them grow as athletes and students through wrestling was a joy.”
Dave’s second call was to Lutheran East High School in Harper Woods, Michigan. While at Lutheran East for six years, Dave continued serving God and the community as a counselor, teacher, and coach.
In 1993 Dave accepted a call as a counselor to Lutheran High School North, the same high school where his wife, Joy previously graduated. While at Lutheran North, Dave has been a counselor, teacher, and soccer coach. Some noteworthy soccer memories are being runner-up state champions in 1995, and numerous district and regional championships he compiled as the varsity soccer coach.
“Early on in my teaching career, I was anxious about being a teacher. That’s why the calming truth found in Proverbs 16:3 has been my favorite passage as it relates to teaching and life. ‘Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.’ ”
Dave’s retirement plans are to stay active, exercise more, enjoy more time with his family, and see more of the country. God has blessed Dave and Joy with 38 years of marriage, three children, a daughter-in-law, one grandchild and another grandchild on the way.
“It’s great teaching with colleagues who are committed Christians. Because we share the truth of God’s Word; teaching that Word is comforting and powerful. My advice to my colleagues, students, and families is to pray, praise, and give thanks – with a little more prayer after that.”
Thank you, Mr. Rochlitz for sharing the beauty and truth of God’s Word with your students, colleagues and families throughout these 40 years. God’s continued blessings in Christ.
MUSTANGS, please mark your calendars for Friday, September 24, 2021!
Join us in thanking Mr. Dave Rochlitz for 40 years of outstanding ministry in Lutheran education.
We will be honoring him at halftime of the Varsity Boys Soccer game.
Lutheran North vs. Cranbrook - 7:00 PM
Honoring Mr. Dave Rochlitz - Halftime
Lutheran North (Main Game Field)
16825 24 Mile Rd, Macomb, MI 48042
