Rush Thompson Haines, II (aka “Rusty,” aka “Rushie”) – of Ocean City, NJ; of Haverford, PA; and of Anna Maria Island, FL – fought valiantly until he finally left this life on the falling tide and under the full strawberry moon on June 22, 2024. He was 81 years old. He was at his home on the bay in Ocean City with his family all around him, playing R+B hits for him until the end.
Born in Lansdowne, PA on April 2, 1943, Rush was the youngest of three. He loved being with his buddies biking, fishing in Darby Creek, and playing baseball and basketball. He began his educational career at Lansdowne-Aldan Elementary School; transferred to the Episcopal Academy, graduating in 1961; received his Bachelor’s Degree from Princeton University in 1965; and received his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1968.
Rush was an esteemed and accomplished Philadelphia banking and real estate lawyer and partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath for his entire career, retiring in 2019. An “old-school” lawyer, he spent hours working with his clients and developed lasting relationships with them. He was committed to the Episcopal Academy, supporting the school as it became co-educational, serving as an active member of the Board of Trustees for 20 years and as the Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2005, and helping facilitate the school’s move from Merion to Newtown Square. He was honored with EA’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005 and served as an Emeritus Trustee from 2005 until his death. And although there is no swanky title for this, his most beloved job at EA was on the sports sidelines, cheering on his daughter and her teammates.
Rush married his beloved Susan in 1966, and their daughter Jennifer was born in 1970. The family spent every summer in Ocean City, enjoying all things saltwater. When Rush became a grandfather in 2006, he was over the moon! Two more grandchildren followed, and he adored playing with Monty, Annabelle, and Madeline, who called him “Rushie.” He took them out on his rowboat, talked to them about the tides, taught them how to fish, introduced them to Kessel’s hot fudge sundaes, assembled his childhood train set with them, and danced with them. Rush’s happiest place was surrounded by his family at the shore.
Rush will be missed by his wife Susan Cirillo Haines; his daughter Jennifer Haines Butler (Christopher); his grandchildren Monty, Annabelle, and Madeline; his sister Helen Haines Thieler (Edward); his other brothers-in-law John Boothby, Rick Cirillo (Leann), Joseph Cirillo (Maryann); and his nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father C. Robert Haines, his mother Mildred Tapper Haines, and his sister Jeannette Haines Boothby.
A funeral service will be held at the Episcopal Academy, 1785 Bishop White Drive, Newtown Square, PA 19073 on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 4:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrance donations in Rush’s name to the Episcopal Academy designated for Financial Aid at https://give.episcopalacademy.org/campaigns/41974/donations/new?a=7273113 or to the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of Breakthrough T1D (the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization) at https://www.breakthrought1d.org/ways-to-give/
Arrangements are by The Godfrey Funeral Home of Ocean City. For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com
