Rush Archives

Here’s an email I recently received from a reader regarding the passing of John Rutsey.

I knew John personally from 80 to 89 and then lost all contact.

We were all regulars at Mack’s Gym. He was extremely friendly and always had a hello for everyone. He had no use for material possessions, wore an old grey sweat suit, had a bad haircut, took the streetcar to the gym, and had the same gym bag for years. He often wore a wool cap for training before it was fashionable.

He never ever dissed the band or anyone else. He ended up becoming close friends with 2 gym members who were decent well rounded fellows completely unlike the rock scene. He ended up tearing his knee up bad some time in 86 or 87 at a drunken pre wedding stag for one of these friends (whose name was also John). Can you believe they were doing piggy back fights while drunk. I guess this says a little about the boy inside the man that he was. This injury ended his aspirations in bodybuilding which he didn’t know at the time.

He was starting to get a decent physique on a medium frame. This was a hardcore gym so we were all serious about training and little else. When we were first introduced he was more amazed that my dad’s name was Gene Krupa like the drummer (perhaps I should research my family tree).

A few months before his death, he came to mind and I posted a comment similar to this on You Tube for Working Man (posted by Axeman). He just came to mind for no reason as if a premonition.

The last time I saw him was at a gym he was managing in the Yonge Davisville area in Toronto. He introduced me to his girlfriend and this was back in 88 or 89 and he appeared happy despite having a noticeable limp.

I hope he remained happy those final 20 years because he was a truly kind gentle soul. I was sad reading his obituary because there was no mention of wife or kids. He truly would have been a great dad and hopefully the WOULD’VE, COULD’VE AND SHOULD’VE syndrome didn’t keep him from finding happiness.

R.I.P. John !

Yours Truly,

Richard