Posted on: Thursday, June 5, 2003

Rush Spencer Clark, former Pan Am executive, dead at 85

By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Staff Writer

Rush Spencer Clark, former director of sales and services for the Pacific division of Pan American World Airways, died May 30. He was 85.

Before Clark came to Hawai'i in 1978, he ran the company's South Pacific operations from Australia for 16 years. He was also the airline's Far East director, based in Tokyo.

Clark retired from Pan Am in 1980 after 41 years with the company. After retirement, he opened a Hawai'i-based consultancy offering market research on Pacific tourism and served as the treasurer for the Hawai'i division of the Australian/American Chamber of Commerce.

Clark is survived by his wife, Shirleigh; his sons Rush II and Jonathan; a daughter, Barony Rush; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held today at Star of the Sea Catholic Church, with visitation at 9 a.m. followed by Mass at 10 a.m.; scattering of the ashes at sea will be private. Aloha attire.