WALDORF, Md. – It is with great sadness that the Charles County Arts Alliance announces the passing of Robert Rausch. Robert has been serving as our Executive Director, over the past months. In 1987, when the Charles County Arts Council was going to be disbanded, Robert and his wife, Diane, founded the Charles County Arts Alliance as a membership organization, because they felt it was important that the community should be involved. The CCAA would be an umbrella organization to support all other arts organizations. He served as the first President of the CCAA and has shepherded the organization for 37 years. During this time, the CCAA has provided over one million dollars in grant funding to support county arts organizations. Robert’s absence will be greatly felt by both the organization and the community.
Commissioner President Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq. has ordered the Charles County flag to be lowered to half-staff effective immediately and returned to full-staff at dusk on Saturday, April 27, 2024 to honor Robert K. Rausch, Executive Director, The Charles County Arts Alliance.Â
The Charles County Arts Alliance, over the past 37 years has sought and received grants, and in turn has provided over $1 million to support the development of the Charles County arts community in music, visual arts, theatre, dance, and literature – supporting arts organizations, arts education, and individual artists.
In 1988, Mr. Rausch began teaching in the Charles County Public Schools, and was a band director for 19 years, teaching first at Matthew Henson Middle School, and later at Milton Somers Middle School, from which he retired in 2007.
Arrangements for Robert will be as follows: Visitation will be held on Friday, April 26, from 2:00-4:00 pm, and 6:00-8:00 pm, including prayers at 7:00 pm, at Raymond Funeral Service, 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD, 20646. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, April 27, at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Moravian Church, 8505 Heathermore Boulevard, Upper Marlboro, MD, 20772. Interment will take place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (“Piney Church”), 4535 Piney Church Road, Waldorf, MD, 20602.