The wife of Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate and pilot of the missing submersible on a mission to the Titanic's debris, has a tragic familial connection to the ship.
The New York Times reported that Wendy Rush is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Strauss, two passengers on the doomed voyage of 1912.
OceanGate CEO's Wife is Descendent of 2 Famous Titanic Victims
Mr. Strauss was one of the wealthiest passengers on the luxury liner, being a part-owner of the renowned New York department store Macy's and a Congressman for a short time. The Titanic was marketed as the pinnacle of luxury and attracted a star-studded cast of the wealthy and renowned.
According to historical accounts, as the ship sank, Mr. Strauss refused to board the lifeboats, insisting that all women and children be evacuated first. Mrs. Strauss reportedly left one of the lifeboats to return to her husband when she realized he had not joined her.
The tragic story served as inspiration for James Cameron's 1997 Hollywood epic Titanic, and the words attributed to Mrs. Strauss resemble a famous passage repeated by the film's protagonists.
The film immortalizes the original doomed couple by depicting them reclining in bed together in their stateroom below deck as the water rises. Ms. Rush married Mr. Rush in 1986 and has since been actively involved in his business endeavors, including OceanGate.
In recent years, she has participated in multiple expeditions to the Titanic and is presently listed as the company's director of communications and expedition team member.
The newspaper reports that the couple, who were among the wealthiest passengers on board, were seen standing arm-in-arm on the stern of the ship as it sank. In 2012, the wreckage was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Search for Titan Sub
The Times reported that Mr. Straus was born in 1845 and was a co-owner of Macy's department store. According to the newspaper's archives, Mr. Straus's body was discovered at sea several weeks after the Titanic collapsed, whereas his wife's remains were never located.
In addition to Mr. Rush, Pakistani industrialist Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Mr. Harding were among the missing submarine's passengers.
Sunday morning, the Titan sub began its voyage to the site, which is located at a depth of 12,500 feet in the Atlantic Ocean. After approximately one hour and forty-five minutes, the Titan lost contact with its surface vessel, the Polar Prince. The Titan is equipped with a four-day oxygen supply for emergencies, The Independent reported.
