Julia Halloran Rush's Obituary
Julia Ann Halloran Rush was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 25, 1927. Her parents were Flavia Griffin Halloran of St. Louis, and Edward R. Halloran, later Admiral Edward R. Halloran.
“Julie” as she was affectionately known, was raised in St. Louis and attended Principia School, later moving to the Washington, DC area where she graduated from St. Agnes Episcopal School in Alexandria, Virginia, and was presented to Society as a Debutante in Washington. She obtained her B.A. in Art History from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Julie’s fresh beauty led her to become a John Robert Powers model. She later became an accomplished watercolor artist, having exhibits in the U.S. and Panama. She became Social Director of the local military USO in Panama, arriving daily in her yellow Buick convertible.
At one of her “one-man” art shows in Washington, Dr. Richard H. Rush was captivated by her. Dr. Rush had been advisor to President Truman and to J. Paul Getty of Tidewater Oil. He got her attention when he sought to purchase a “Julie” painting for his mother. A friendship developed, and they eventually went into business together and enjoyed an unimagined level of success. They were married on August 15, 1955 at the Navy Chapel in Virginia.
The combination of Julie’s background in Art History with Dr. Rush’s background as an economist and tax expert, the couple explored acquiring beautiful things in step with IRS code. “Art as an Investment” was published in 1961, creating a huge stir in the art world. At that time in our culture, art was to be “enjoyed or inherited,” but it had no monetary value. They discovered a tax loophole which created an opportunity for collectors to donate or sell a work of art based on the valuation and attribution, not the purchase price. This “business” of buying, selling, and “gifting” works of art led to huge tax breaks, and more income for Collectors.
Julie and Dr. Rush’s first investment in art was the purchase of an El Greco on their honeymoon. They began to collect Old Masters, antique furniture, and objets, including teddy bears. Julie was an expert on Old Masters and Impressionists, as well as antique furniture, particularly French and Venetian. They researched and also wrote “Antiques as an Investment,” “Automobiles as an Investment, “Investments You Can Live With and Enjoy,” “The Techniques of Becoming Wealthy,”“Selling Collectibles for Profit and Gain,” “Collector Cars for the New Millenium,” and others. The official author of the books and numerous published articles is Richard H. Rush, but it was their brilliant teamwork and combined expertise that led them to collect, research and write.
In their pursuit of collecting, they contacted Dr. Wilhelm Suida, Curator of the Kress Foundation and, almost naively, told Dr. Suida that they wanted to buy a Leonardo da Vinci. Dr. Suida, impressed with their knowledge and confidence, introduced them to his daughter Bertina Suida Manning and her husband, Bobby Manning, both art experts and collectors. They became mentors to the Rushes, and lifetime friends.
Julie was proudly “the woman behind the man.” While never accepting credit for co-authorship, she painted illustrations of antique furniture for global lectures. She readily expressed that her life was “magical.” Their lifestyle was grandiose and they frequently stayed in the world’s best hotels in Europe, travelling on the QEII, and locating and restoring a magnificent but abandoned 16th Century Villa designed and executed by Andrea Palladio. From time to time, they would rent a simple apartment just to remind themselves to be humble - or to save money. As much as they enjoyed their affluence, they enjoyed returning to “simplicity.”
They lived in Washington, DC, New York City, Rye, Greenwich, Westport, and Darien, Connecticut, ultimately moving to Palm Beach, Florida, and then to their beloved home on the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers where they remained for over 30 years. For the first time in their lives they learned and appreciated the value and loyalty of close neighbors who became like family to them.
Their favorite acquisition and accomplishment was their discovery and subsequent 30-year restoration of a Veneto villa, the Villa Cornaro outside of Venice, Italy in Piombino Dese, P.D. (Provincia di Padova). The Villa had fallen into disrepair with broken windows and birds nesting throughout. Important, magnificent frescoes depicting the Old Testament were on the first floor. The New Testament was illustrated on the second floor walls and ceilings. The Superintendent of Monuments frequently visited to supervise the restoration to the original – with the addition of water and electricity, working modern kitchens and bathrooms.
They spent several months yearly at the villa. Julie was delighted to host operas, tours, weddings and community events at the villa. The Rushes eventually sold the Villa Cornaro and moved to Florida. Thirty years later they gifted their riverfront home and Delacorte “Romeo and Juliet” Fountain to the former Edison College, now Florida SW State College in Fort Myers, Florida. The Richard H. Rush Library houses the Julia and Richard Rush Art Collection gallery and the Rush Auditorium.
Julie and Dr. Rush were a “unit.” They were inseparable. When Dr. Rush proposed to Julie, he promised to bring her fresh coffee and croissants in bed every day – which he did religiously. He also told her he would tell her he loved her every day – and he did. Dr. Rush also promised to read “Science and Health,” the “Bible” of Christian Science to Julie daily. They attended the Episcopal Church often. Julie attended the Sunday Chapel at Gulf Coast Village most Sundays with services led by Rev. Tom Hafer, who baptized her.
Richard H. Rush passed away on May 4, 2011 and Julie decided to remain in their small apartment at Gulf Coast Village. She was active in the community there, proudly becoming the President of the Friends of the Foundation. She initiated the annual Pet Memorial Day where Gulf Coast Village residents brought their pets, or a photo of a departed pet, and celebrated them, hosted by Pastor Tom Hafer. She later moved to Shell Point where she enjoyed her perfect view of Southwest Florida, and gained pleasure finally watching her TV soaps and Turner Classics movies back-to-back and around the clock.
Julie was frequently seen carrying a white toy poodle everywhere she went. That famous ”Happy” was known to many of us over a period of about 40 years!? In fact, when the original “Happy” passed away at age 15, Happy Too took her place for another 14 years. One Christmas eve, her granddaughter Farah showed up with a tiny white 8-week old toy poodle – who became Happy 3! Julie and Dr. Rush would attend the nightly piano concerts at GCV, and the pianist Del indulged their walking around the audience singing “How Much is That Doggy in the window?”
Julie suffered a stroke a few years ago which diminished her once-lively speech, rapid walking, and taking charge. She remained kind and loving to all. She was a favorite at Shell Point with both staff and the administration.
Julie was very beautiful all her life – even into her 90s. She consistently charmed us all with her bright smile and sparkling eyes until she said goodbye.
Julia Rush is survived by her stepdaughter, Sallie H. Rush-Tayfour of Sanibel, Florida; her granddaughter Farah Alessandra Tayfour Luchian of Naples, Florida; a great grandson, Roland Alessandro Luchian, 3, and a second great grandson due August 24, 2022. She is also survived by her St. Louis family members, first cousins Peter Griffin, Ralph Griffin, Nathaniel Griffin, Dustin Griffin, Perry Griffin and Chuck Cale, Esq.
Julia Rush is at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens located at 1589 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers 33907 where she will be cremated to rest alongside her beloved Richard. There will be a Celebration of her Life at the Julia and Richard H. Rush Collection gallery located in the Richard H. Rush Library on the Fort Myers campus of Florida Southwestern College, at 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers 33919 on Saturday June 18, 2022 from 3:00-6:00pm.
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