Luther H. Routte

Reverend Luther Hernandez Routté, of Wyomissing, PA, passed away June 9th, 2023, at Reading Hospital and Medical Center. He was 83 years of age.

Born in Jamaica Queens, NY, on October 17th, 1939, he was the eldest son of the late Reverend Jesse and Maude (Gomez) Routté. Luther was a 1959 graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island, with a BA in Economics and minor in Philosophy. He later went on to study ministry at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia graduating in1988.

Prior to being called to ministry, Luther worked in social services with at-risk youth in New York City and also worked as a track and football coach at Curtis High in Staten Island. He owned and operated A Taste of Nature, the first health food store on Staten Island, where he promoted holistic health and healing for the entire community. At this time Luther was an ultra-marathon runner, became a black belt in Judo, and competed as a semi-professional cyclist, hobbies he pursued throughout his life.

After serving as vicar at Christ Lutheran Church in Reading, Luther followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, also Lutheran ministers, and was ordained in 1988. He was called to his first church, Atonement Lutheran, Wyomissing, becoming the first Black minister in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod. He pastored at Atonement for 19 years, retiring in 2007. While there he led the congregation in multiple ways including overseeing a capital building campaign. The campaign ensured the church the space of a gym as a form of community outreach, which was later dedicated to his name. Luther developed many youth programs, integrating his love of health and sports into his ministry. He was also passionate about bringing the arts to ministry and worked with congregants to establish the yearly Atonement Arts Festival as well as a regular Jazz Vespers service. Luther returned to formal ministry in 2009, serving at Robeson Lutheran, and completing his pastoral vocation in 2022 at Salem Lutheran Church in Bethel, PA.

Luther served on multiple boards of directors throughout his career, including United Way of Berks County, Bear Creek Camp and the Lutheran Home at Topton (Diakon). He also enthusiastically hosted Courageous Conversations, a long standing show on BCTV. A serious debater and conversationalist, Luther enjoyed engaging in conversations over meals with family, friends, and community members. He also found joy in sitting down at any piano to improv a jazz piece. He was passionate about our duty to work towards justice both locally and globally. A voracious reader and writer, he held greatly to the importance of curiosity and learning as doors to freedom.

Luther is previously deceased by his parents, Jesse and Maude, as well as his brother, Jesse, and sisters Carmen and Eneid. He is also previously deceased by his son Darryl Routté, his first wife Fern Routté and his second wife, Carole Routté.

Luther is survived by his beloved wife, Rosemary Routté, his children; Jesse, husband of Emily Mooney Routté, Irene Routté, Guy, husband of Chinai Hardy Routté, and Lynore Routté. He will also be missed by his grandchildren; Arjuna Routté Prieur, Amani Routté and Naima Keza Routté. He is also survived by Rosemary's children; Tom and Shawn Deane, as well as his step-grandchildren Hailey and Hunter Deane.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24th at 12p.m at Atonement Lutheran Church, 5 Wyomissing Boulevard, Wyomissing. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the church. A luncheon will follow the service. In honor of Luther's commitment and dedication to justice and community, memorial donations may be made in his name to Trinity Lutheran Church's community outreach program: https://trinityreading.org/mission-and-service/