‘He made an indelible mark’

Former Anne Arundel coordinator of physical education and athletics leaves behind rich legacy

As a rookie athletic director of a brandnew school, Tim McMullen needed all the help he could get.

Hired in September 1981 to build the athletic programs at Broadneck High, McMullen leaned heavily on the advice of Paul Rusko.

“I had no experience as far as athletic administration,” McMullen told The Capital in 1991. “I remember dozens and dozens of phone calls and conversations with Paul concerning facilities, equipment, coaches — anything you could think of. He walked me step by step through the first year.”

Rusko, who was Anne Arundel County coordinator of physical education and athletics from 1970 to 1991, died Wednesday morning. Hewas 86. Rusko died at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury from complications due to a thoracic aortic dissection that occurred while hewas playing tennis.

“Paul Rusko’s legacy is one of devotion to students, to athletics and to the values of sportsmanship and fair play,” Bob Mosier, chief communications officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, said in a statement. “He made an indelible mark on our school system and our county that will never be erased, and we are saddened by his

passing.”

Rusko was named assistant coordinator of physical education and athletics in 1965 and then took over the top spot in 1970. He steadily transformed Anne Arundel County athletics into one of the finest in the state, often at the forefront of implementing innovative ideas or progressive changes.

Working with his longtime assistant Jean Boyd, Rusko pushed for the rapid growth of girls’ sports following the passage of Title IX. He was proud of promoting gender equity in terms of funding and treatment.

“It was not an accident that our county was among the most competitive statewide in a wide range of girls’ sports within a short period of time,” Rusko told The Capital in May 1991 after announcing his impending retirement.

Rusko made the job for athletic directors more manageable. It began with payingADsa separate stipend for performing those duties, then continued with measures designed to reduce the workload.

“Paul Rusko recognized the job of an athletic director was overwhelming and took steps to make it less demanding,” said Bernie Walter, former longtime athletic director at Arundel High.

Rusko gained approval of release days during which ADs could meet to discuss various issues such as scheduling, officiating concerns and busing contracts. He also got the Board of Education to create the position of assistant athletic director and allow for paid student interns to assist in the department.

“I would describe Paul as a workingman’s athletic coordinator,” said Terry Bogle, athletic director at Glen Burnie from 1978 to 1998. “He always supported the athletic directors and made sure we had input.

“Paul Rusko was a go-getter who had the ear of the superintendent andwas very influential in getting things done.”

Ruskowas also instrumental in bringing night football to the county, which led to a significant increase in gate receipts with the additional funds benefiting athletic programs. That effort began with convincing county executive Bob Pascal to provide funds to purchase lights for all 12 public high schools located in Anne Arundel at the time.

“Paul Ruskowas on the cutting edge of a lot of things,” McMullen said. “I wish all the current athletes in Anne Arundel County realized the massive impact Paul Rusko made.”

Mosier got to know Rusko while working as the high school sports editor for The Capital. He said the county coordinator was always up front and honest when dealing with media inquiries about Anne Arundel athletics issues.

“When it came to doing the right thing, Paul Rusko was a Hall of Famer,” Mosier said.

Rusko was a 1952 graduate of Uniontown High in Pennsylvania and 1957 graduate of Lock Haven University, where he was a fullback in football and middleweight wrestler.

Rusko spent 33 years as an educator and administrator in AnneArundel County. He helped implement the athletics programat Northeast High while serving as an administrative assistant in 1964-65, the year the Pasadena school opened. He founded the varsity wrestling program at Severna Park High and also coached football and track and field there.

Rusko loved wrestling andwas an active proponent of expanding the sport. He organized the inaugural Anne Arundel CountyTournament and served as director of the Maryland state tournament for many years. He was a longtime member of the committee that operated the state track and field championships.

Rusko was inducted into the Maryland State Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and is a member of the Lock Haven University AthleticHall of Fame.

Every public school in Anne Arundel County presents the Paul Rusko Award to its outstanding male athlete.

“There were no major and minor sports with Paul Rusko,” McMullen said.

Rusko was renowned for attending as many as five football games on Friday nights, starting at Southern High and working hisway north.

Paul andBarbaraRusko lived in the Glen Burnie Park neighborhood for most of their time in Anne Arundel. They moved full time to Ocean Pines in 2001 and enjoyed traveling. They cruised the Danube River, spent time in Moscow and climbed toMachu Picchu in Peru.

They particularly enjoyed touring all the national monuments and parks in the southwestand most recently visited Sicily — the last of many trips to Italy.

“Paul was a strong family man who loved his wife and children very deeply,’ Barbara Rusko said. “He was a loyal and devoted friend to many. He always strived to be fair, honest and balanced.”

Barbara said her husband exercised throughout the day— playing tennis in the morning then going to the fitness center to lift weights and do push-ups. He routinely went for a bike ride or longwalk later in the afternoon.

Rusko is survived by his wife of 63 years, children Beth Werner and her husband Tony of Severna Park, Peter Rusko and his wife Tiffany of Forest Hill, and Paula Navratil and her husband Joe of Fairfield, California, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Tony Werner, who coached in Anne Arundel County while his father-in-law was county coordinator of athletics, described him as a “great man of tremendous integrity.” Jason Werner, a standout lacrosse player at Severn School and Mount St. Mary’s, remembers realizing his grandfatherwas a legendary figure.

“It was weird going to elementary school and being introduced as Paul Rusko’s grandson and having my physical education teacher speak about him in such glowing terms,” said Jason Werner, currently the boys’ lacrosse coach at Indian

Creek. “He was always just Pop to me, but later in life I learned about the tremendous impact he made on Anne Arundel County athletics.”