Carolyn Rusin - Obituary

arolyn Inglesby Rusin made her surprise appearance on September 21, 1936, having been hidden behind her twin Connie for the previous 8 and a half months. Carol continued to surprise the world throughout her life as her diminutive stature and unassuming manner belied her many gifts – her keen intelligence, creativity, capacity for love, deep faith, and above all strong determination. Born in Camden, NJ, to attorney Edward J. Inglesby and professional artist Esther H. Inglesby, Carol excelled academically. Growing up in Merchantville, NJ she gained local notoriety at an early age after knitting Einstein’s Theory of Relativity into a pair of socks for a friend. Her musical inclination was expressed through flute and piano. She majored in math and minored in physics, with a strong interest in philosophy. Carol enjoyed competitive swimming both in high school and at Chestnut Hill College, from which she graduated in 1958. As a Fulbright Scholar, she studied mathematics at l’Université Paris - Sorbonne. After receiving a special delivery of her engagement ring in Paris, she married Bob Rusin on August 29, 1959 and they moved to the Washington, D.C. area to start their life together. She lived in Fort Washington, MD since 1966. Carol worked as a computer scientist and systems analyst for IBM on the Mercury and Gemini space programs. She then devoted herself to her growing family, using her creative talents for everything from sewing matching holiday outfits for all of her children to creating beautiful handmade gifts for holidays. With her analytical bent, repairs to appliances such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers came naturally to her. She served as Cub Scout Den Mother and room mother. Crabbing was a favorite pastime. Many wonderful family memories were made during vacations at her grandmother’s home in Ventnor City, NJ. She eased back into the workforce by translating French patents and later worked for many years on various NASA and military projects with AlliedSignal/Honeywell and Advent Systems at GSFC and NRL. Once retired, she took special delight in spending quality time with her grandchildren playing board games and making Christmas cookies with them. Carol had a lovely singing voice, an infectious laugh, and an impish grin. A devout Roman Catholic, her strong faith in Jesus and her tremendous love for her family were the most important aspects of her life. Carol passed away on July 8, 2014 after enduring a year-long battle with metastatic melanoma. She touched many individuals with her charitable spirit. Carol is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Robert J. Rusin Sr., as well as her sister Constance Inglesby Perotti and her husband Mel Pattison, and her brother Edward Inglesby and his wife Audrey. She leaves her four children: Robert J. Rusin Jr., Diane Rusin Doran and her husband Vince, Christopher H. Rusin, and Karin Rusin Thomas and her husband Dail, as well as grandchildren Michael, Lauren, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Adam, Luca, and Sophia and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to Carolyn’s Life Celebration on Friday, July 11 from 2 to 4 or 6 to 8 pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home at 6160 Oxon Hill Rd. in Oxon Hill, MD. A mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13401 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD 20735. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Catholic Charities – Archdiocese of Washington (www.catholiccharitiesdc.org).