A family link between the (extended) team of the missing submarine and passengers of the Titanic in 1912. By drawing the genealogical thread of Stockton Rush, boss of OceanGate and pilot of the Titan lost at sea, the New York Times came across quite an anecdote. Wendy Rush, Stockton’s wife, has two Titanic passengers in her family tree in 1912.
She is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, who were among the wealthiest passengers on the “Wonder Ship”, as recalled The Parisian. The couple owned Macy’s stores. But that’s not all.
A direct family connection to the Titanic
The two lovers met a tragic end on the Titanic. According to several accounts, Isidor Straus refused to board a lifeboat until all the women and children were rescued. Knowing this, Ida joined her husband.
They were therefore unable to leave the ship and sank. Isidor’s body was recovered from the sea, but his wife’s remains were never found. A story passed down to posterity when the film Titanic was released in 1997. Director James Cameron portrayed the couple, romanticizing the story somewhat.
More than a century later, OceanGate executive Wendy Rush is still awaiting news of her husband, who disappeared with four crew members on Sunday while exploring the wreckage of the Titanic.