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Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art announce the death of Chairman Otto J. Ruesch: Businessman and Philanthropist October 15, 2004–
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WASHINGTON, DC, October 15, 2004 Supported always by his loving wife Jeanne Weaver Ruesch, Mr. Ruesch worked tirelessly on behalf of the Corcoran family and served the Board with great distinction. He served the Corcoran as a Board member since 1994 and as Chairman since 2003. As Chairman of the Campaign Steering Committee, he provided leadership during the quiet phase of the Campaign for the Corcoran, which produced $60 million in gifts and pledges. Mr. Ruesch also served on the Campaign Executive Committee for the public phase of the Campaign. David Levy, President and Director of the Corcoran, said today, “Otto
Ruesch was the most selfless person I have ever known. In more than three decades
of work in education and the arts I have never encounted anyone who better
understood the true meaning of stewardship and service or who did as much to
put that understanding into practice. Otto believed fervently in the imperatives
of goodness and his actions always were a response to this belief and to its
implicit principles. His death is an incalculable loss to this institution
and the entire city of Washington.” Til Hazel, Vice-Chairman of the Corcoran Board of Trustees and Co-Chairman of the Campaign, stated, "Otto's integrity and extraordinary leadership as Chairman was an inspiration to us all. He was a wonderful friend and generous philanthropist whose support benefited numerous cultural institutions in Washington. On behalf of the Corcoran family, I extend our deepest sympathies to the Ruesch family." Mr. Hazel, who has been the Vice-Chairman since 2003, will act as Chairman until the Board appoints a new Chairman. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Campaign for the Corcoran along with his wife Anne, a Trustee. Mr. Hazel is CEO of the Angler Companies, headquartered in Manassas, VA. The Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran faculty and staff extend their deepest sympathy to his wife, Jeanne Weaver Ruesch, and his two children, Matthew and Christoph. OTTO J. RUESCH BIOGRAPHY Born in Zürich, Switzerland, and educated in Zürich and Geneva, Ruesch began his career in banking before moving to the United States in 1965. He continued his career in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Montreal. Ruesch lectured before financial, investment and corporate organizations in Europe, Canada, the United States and the Middle East on a variety of topics related to foreign exchange markets, the global economy and international banking systems. Ruesch was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Corcoran Gallery of Art. He provided campaign leadership during the quiet phase of The Campaign for the Corcoran as Chairman of the Campaign Steering Committee, which produced $60 million in gifts and pledges. Mr. Ruesch also served on the Campaign Executive Committee for the public phase of the Campaign. He and his wife are long-time generous supporters of the Corcoran. Mr. Ruesch was Chairman of the Kennedy Center’s International Committee on the Arts. Mr. Ruesch and his wife were Co-Chairs of the Kennedy Center’s Spring Gala in 2001, and he led an international fundraising initiative for the Kennedy Center in 2002. Mr. Ruesch served as Chairman of the Board of the Swiss-American Cultural Foundation and was a member of the Boards of Arts for the Aging, the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. and the International Advisory Board for the Sellinger School of Business and Management, Loyola College in Baltimore, MD. Mr. and Mrs. Ruesch were also supporters of Democratic candidates and causes and Catholic charities. Mr. Ruesch lived in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife, Jeanne Weaver Ruesch, and their sons, Matthew and Christoph.
Founded in 1890, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington’s only four-year college of art and design. The College offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Fine Art (painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and digital art), Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Photography, and Photojournalism; a two-year Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree in Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Design, Interior Design, and Digital Media Design; a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Interior Design; and a 5-year combined BFA/MAT in Art Education. The College’s continuing education program encompasses more than 250 courses and 12 certificate programs aimed at meeting the needs of part-time adult students. The continuing education program, which offers part-time credit and non-credit classes for children and adults, attracts more than 3,500 students each year. The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at New York Avenue and 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC, and is open every day, except Tuesday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Thursday. The public information line for the college is (202) 639-1800 :: View images and further details from this exhibition
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