Last October Russell Rush, my colleague and my friend, passed away from a rare type of lymphoma. Just about every day something comes up I want to tell him about. Like Pauly D coming to the Espee, the Black Crowes (his favorite) being on tour with Aerosmith, the Sucia Patrol car that's been seen around San Antonio, and that I DID vote even though they ran out of stickers. It sucks not being able to text, email, or even just talk to him.
Russell touched SO many people. Not only was he a great on air personality (you heard him in the afternoon on 96.1 NOW), he did SO much for our community. He was a great supporter of Make-A-Wish. He also organized the annual Roofist for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) to promote safe sleep patterns for infants in honor of his niece Caroline who passed away from SIDS in 2002. He was a constant presence at the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure (go 60-Minute Milers!). And he did so much with and for the City of San Antonio. He was really big into service. I think that might have been his love language, but don't tell him that! He would be horrified I said that about him. To tell you the truth, he wanted people to think he was a grump but he was just the opposite; always smiling and telling jokes/stories. I miss his laugh.
We don't want to forget him. Thankfully two of his best friends from college, Jimmy Laciak and Eric Anderson, have set up a scholarship in Russell's name at his alma mater, St. Ambrose University.
Ideally, we're trying to set up the scholarship for students at St. Ambrose who are interested in studying radio, or pursuing a career in communications," said Eric Anderson. "But most importantly, the student has to give back to their community. That was something that Russ was known for, throughout his life. You all know, in San Antonio, the great work he did, that was the cornerstone of who he is. So it's meant for someone like Russ, who has wants to fund a radio, but really more like Russ using his voice to better serve his community."
The goal is to get it to $50,000. When it does, it will become an endowment that can go on forever. You can donate HERE.
(News4)