Kenneth Wayne Rush

Kenneth Rush Obituary

Kenneth Wayne Rush 4/8/33 - 9/30/09 Passed away peacefully after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Maxine Monaghan, sister Carolyn (Jerry) Van Eeckhout of Evergreen, CO, 3 nieces Jill (David) Sneed, Pam (David) Trigg and Kim Van Eeckhout, 4 grand-nephews and 1 grand-niece, 2 stepchildren, Patrick Monaghan and Kathy (Cedric) Moore and 7 grandchildren. He was born in Philadelphia to Nevin and Katharine Kirk Rush. After graduating from Haverford High School Ken attended the Drexel Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. While attending Drexel, Ken was a member of Theta Chi, Scabbard and Blade, played trombone in the band and did gigs with dance bands in the Philadelphia area. Before starting his career in engineering, Ken served in the Army Reserves as a 1st Lieutenant at Fort Belvoir (Home of the Army Engineers) and spent considerable time playing on the tennis team. Ken spent the first part of his career with Ingersoll-Rand as a sales manager. On 7/7/77, Ken started his own business, Rush Representatives, representing manufacturers of heavy equipment in the mining and energy industries and retired in 2003. He was a lifelong member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers and belonged to the Engineers Club. Ken traveled to many countries on both work and pleasure and had become a history buff. A member of the Olympic Club since 1976, he had 4 holes-in-one, was on the board of the Senior Golf Association and on the Golf Tournament committee. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to UCSF Cancer Resource Center, 1600 Divisadero, 1st Fl, SF 94143, prostatecancerfoundation.org or to a favorite charity.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Oct. 4, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Rush

12 Entries

Richard & Barbara Bechelli

October 30, 2009

Maxine - Ken was a delightful person, fine gentleman and exemplary Olympian. It was always a good day when we would see Ken, whether in fitness classes or golfing. We will miss him.

David Minson

October 15, 2009

Dear Maxine,
Ken will always be cherished not just by me, but also by my colleagues at Delkor. I have passed this sad news to those in Delkor who knew him, and they all have spoken of Ken as a gentleman, a consummate professional and a special person to those who met him. Those memories are mine as well and I also remember him for his sage advice; normally delivered with a punctuating laugh! In many ways he mentored me, and his enthusiasm for this industry was something that I absorbed and is his legacy.

Our deepest sympathies go to you and your family.

David Minson,
and also from many at Delkor in Chile

Dennis/Paulette Webb

October 11, 2009

Dear Maxine: We are both saddened to hear of Ken's passing. He was always a gentleman. Ken will live on in our memories. Our prayers are with you.

Gary Willson

October 9, 2009

Maxine, we are so very sorry to hear about Ken passing away. I just spoke to him a couple of months ago and he sounded so good. I asked about golf and he said he couldn't play at that time but would later when he got better. He was always asking about other people like Dick Detata. What a great guy. I will miss him so and never forget him. He was special. We had such great fun together listening to that big band and visiting with you at Pacific Grove.

Sheena Hebbar

October 9, 2009

Many at Bechtel M&M are saddened by his passing. I, for one came across Ken in our normal business back in 1988 but became a good friend of his over the past several years, played many rounds of golf, and had many social lunches and dinners with him. Ken is one of the very few sales reps who is an engineer at heart and we always depended on him from start to finish. Ken never forgets what he sold to his clients. He worked to make his sales a real success. Sincere condolences to Maxine from present and former members of Bechtel M&M group here in San Francisco and in Santiago, Chile.

Shapoor Hashemi

October 8, 2009

Dear Maxine, my deepest condolences. I first met ken in 1997, as a fellow volunteer for the Northern California chapter of the Drexel University alumni club. Since that time I learned all kinds of things from Ken, amongst the more memorable, was what it took to be a "startup guy." I will never forget him, and truly appreciate the opportunity to have known him.
My sincere regards,
Shapoor.

Darren & Julie Nelson

October 8, 2009

We are so sad to hear of Ken's passing. We are happy that we had a chance to visit with him and Maxine this summer. It will remain a fond memory for us.

Mark Folsom

October 7, 2009

Maxine I would like to express my deep sorrow for you and your family. Ken was a special individual and one that was fun to work with and one that became a very good friend. Ken will be missed but never forgotten!

Regards,
Mark Folsom
Folsom Associates
SLC, Utah

Richard Smoot

October 7, 2009

We were blessed to have known Ken and are deeply saddened at his passing. We remember many good times together. Peace be with you Ken. You will be greatly missed. Richard and Patricia Smoot

Pat/Dick Smoot

October 7, 2009

Maxine, We were so sorry to get this news. Working with Ken for those many years was such a pleasure. His impact for ITT AC Pump in the mining industry [especially copper] was monumental. We will miss him.

Erik van der Kuij

October 7, 2009

It fills us at GEHO in Holland with pain to receive this bad news.

Ken was a good person and an exemplary professional. He was a friend and a person we all admired and enjoyed to work with.

Around the year 1980 GEHO asked Ken, who had just started his own company, to take the company and the product to the market in the USA. Knowing the industry Ken understood the benefits of this new design and he did so succesfully. He sold the first GEHO pumps in the USA and has been instrumental in getting GEHO accepted as the first choice for slurry pipeline transportation, worldwide. It took Ken to many remote places out side the USA like Papua New Guinea, Argentina and Chile to achieve this. He spared no costs or energy to reach this goal.

He taught us how business is done and how engineering contractors work and should be worked with. His approach has been taken as exemplary for GEHO sales, worldwide.

Apart from his successes he was a man to interact with personally and a friend.

He worked for GEHO untill he retired.

Ken will not be forgotten.

all colleagues from Weir Minerals Netherlands
GEHO
Erik van der Kuij

Mary Jo Barrett

October 6, 2009

We truly enjoyed working with Ken. A consumate professional.
Please accept our deepest sympathies and know that Ken will be fondly remembered.

Sincerely,
Weir Floway, Inc.
Fresno, CA

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