The wife of one of the five people missing after a tourist submarine vanished while exploring the wreck of the Titanic is the great-great-granddaughter of a famous couple who died on the ship.
Wendy Rush, the wife of Stockton Rush, is a descendant of Isidor and Ida Straus, who were among the wealthiest people aboard the Titanic’s ill-fated transatlantic voyage in 1912. The Straus’s died in the sinking, along with their two teenage daughters.
Stockton Rush is the founder and CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company that operates the Titan submersible. The sub went missing on Sunday, June 18, while on a trip to the Titanic wreck. The search for the sub is ongoing.
Wendy Rush’s connection to the Titanic has added to the tragedy of her husband’s disappearance. She is said to be “devastated” by the news, and is praying for his safe return.
In the “Titanic” film, a fictionalized version of Isidor and Ida’s story shows an older couple holding each other in bed as water pours into the ship and the orchestra plays “Nearer My God To Thee.” While the Strauses are not named in the film, the couple is mentioned in the credits, according to Insider.
The Straus’s were well-known philanthropists and civic leaders in New York City. Isidor Straus was the co-owner of Macy’s department store, and Ida Straus was a prominent suffragist. The couple was married for 40 years and had seven children.
Their deaths on the Titanic were a major news story at the time. Isidor Straus was offered a seat on a lifeboat, but he refused to leave his wife’s side. The couple was last seen embracing on their bed as the ship sank.
The Straus’s story is one of the most enduring and tragic stories of the Titanic disaster. Their sacrifice has been an inspiration to people for generations.
Wendy Rush is married to Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the company behind current expedition. Her great-grandfather was Isidor Straus, a co-owner of Macy’s, who was on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. https://t.co/NuCsAWk2hX
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 22, 2023
