This year, Naz welcomes Richard Hetke as a part-time supervisor in the Testing Center to assist with test make-ups.

Hetke was born in California, but moved to Arlington Heights at the age of three. After graduating from Arlington High School, he attended Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university in New Hampshire. There, he played on the baseball team and worked as a radio announcer. 

After graduating from Dartmouth, he then attended another prestigious institution: Harvard Law School. Hetke practiced law for 30 years as a corporate lawyer and worked as a lawyer for two family businesses. 

Hetke said, “I think what you learn as a lawyer is organization skills. You learn to be able to compartmentalize things and make lists that really approach something in a really well organized or deliberate way. And I think that helps in almost any job, and the ability to read well and write well helps in just about anything you do.”

While Hetke came out of retirement to work at Nazareth, he said, “I’ve driven by Nazareth hundreds of times. And my son and daughter who went to Hinsdale Central, played sports with and against Nazareth kids, so I knew about Nazareth Academy.” Hetke acknowledged that Nazareth students had always seemed like respectful and nice kids.

Hetke enjoys reading books, kayaking, and hiking in his free time. He also collects porcelain and sports cards. Hetke also said he enjoys attending Nazareth sports events, such as recently going to the Mount Carmel versus Nazareth’s Varsity football team game. He is a sponsor for the school’s Varsity soccer program. 

While Hetke works at the Testing Center only two days a week, on Mondays and Fridays, he says enjoys working with young people and feels able to to approach his role in a positive and lively way.