Richard DuRocher majored in Physics and electrical engineering for three years in college, before he underwent conversion to English and Classics. In graduate school Rich continued to pursue the classical and biblical roots of literature in English. Not surprisingly, today his main teaching and research area is the Puritan poet, John Milton. Rich has taught courses in Renaissance women writers, visionary poets, 17th-century lyric, Shakespeare, and The Great Conversation. He has published articles on Milton, Marvel, Marlowe, Ovid and Virgil; his book Milton and Ovid appeared in 1985 (Cornell University Press). Rich is currently finishing a book entitled Milton among the Romans.
Rich received his BA from Loyola University in New Orleans and his MA/PhD from Cornell University. Before coming to St. Olaf in 1986, he taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Florida State University.
Rich is married to St. Olaf English professor, Karen Cherewatuk. If Rich had world enough and time, he would spend more hours in the library with Milton and on the golf course with friends.
