Age 87
Sister Mary Rosita was internationally known as an educator, researcher, and leader in the field of dietetics. A kind, caring, wicked smart, and fun college professor, she was also a visionary and a tireless mentor to her students.
At the age of sixteen, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Detroit, Michigan. A graduate of Mount Mercy Academy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercy College in Detroit, Michigan, completing her dietetic internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She then earned a master’s degree in organizational management from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, and a doctorate in dietetics from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Sister Rosita began her career as a hospital dietitian in Manistee and Lansing, Michigan, and, in 1966, joined the faculty at Mercy College of Detroit. Next, she became the director of medical dietetics in the School of Allied Medical Professions, at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, a position she held for 20 years. In this role, she shaped the minds of future professionals and revolutionized the landscape of dietetic education and practice.
Known by her students and professional colleagues as Dr. Schiller, she was a Fellow of the American Dietetic Association and internationally known as an educator, researcher, and leader in the field. She authored three books, sixty articles, and book chapters on topics related to dietetics. She has served in many leadership positions and held offices at the state and national levels. Among her many honors were the Medallion Award from American Dietetic Association and the President’s Award from the Ohio Dietetic Association. In retirement she worked with Saint Mary’s Foundation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a grants specialist, helping raise millions of dollars to support vulnerable patients. Beyond her dietetics work, she promoted literacy in young children through Mercy’s Reach Out and Read program, served on the board of the Ohio State Alumni Club of West Michigan and read regularly for Sunday Televised Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. She also had an adventurous spirit and visited all 50 states.