Bar Harbor – Thomas Rush III, 82, died February 10, 2024, at home surrounded by his loving family. They are deeply saddened by the loss of their husband, dad, and papa.
Tom was born July 18, 1941, in Weymouth, MA, the son of Thomas Rush Jr. and Helen (Shaw) Rush Worthen. Tom attended schools in Quincy and Haverhill, MA, where he graduated high school in 1959. Upon graduating Tom attended Huntington Prep School, Boston, MA, followed by Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1964, the first four-year class. Tom immediately began a sailing career initially as 3rd engineer aboard the SS Manhattan, at the time the largest ship in the world. Within the next eleven years Tom upgraded his license to chief engineer. Also, during this time he was a member of the Naval Reserves, retiring in 1971, having received the rank of lieutenant.
While a student at MMA Tom met his wife, Mary Deane (Ingalls), on a blind date on the dock of the bay in Portland, ME, and have been married for 59 years (“Oh the Bliss”). The lure of his family convinced Tom it was time to retire from sailing life on the high seas and in 1979 he began an entirely different career change by becoming general manager of A.L. Stewart & Sons/Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd., in Cherryfield, ME, retiring after 33 years.
Tom was a longtime deacon of Eden Baptist Church and loved his church family, and considered them dear to his heart as Sisters and Brothers in Christ. Tom often led his own family and friends in prayer and set a good example of a gentleman who truly demonstrated his faith in the Lord.
Tom hadn’t completely ended his sailing by becoming captain of his 18 foot wooden lap streak, and through acquiring other small crafts through the years, eventually received his residential lobster license and enjoyed harvesting his catch with son, Tom S., in Frenchman Bay.
Tom also enjoyed gardening, golf, and other landlocked interests, but mostly being the patriarch of the Rush family, including Marydeane Hanscome and husband, Mark, Thomas S. Rush, and Christopher A. Rush. He was the epitome of a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, along with family connections he treasured, including Elisabeth Bostwick and husband Peter Bradford. He was papa to six grandchildren, who he loved dearly, Robert and Andy Hanscome, Skya Downey-Rush, Joshua Perry, Alisha Kouletsis, and Mary M. Rush. In addition to his immediate family, Tom is survived by loving sister, Judy Bologna and friend, Stuart Lieberman; brother-in-law, Sheldon Ingalls and wife, Sharon; special cousins, Nancy Stuart and Jackie Smith; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by “big sister,” Marilyn (Rush) Mayor; and cousins (like brothers), David, Kenny, and Donald Smith.
Services will be announced in the spring.