Embry C. Rucker, Sr.

The Reverend Embry Cobb Rucker, Sr. (October 1, 1914 – August 1, 1994) was a serial entrepreneur, Episcopalian priest and community activist in Reston.

Early life and education

Rucker was born in New York City and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1932, he graduated from high school in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[2] Rucker graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1936 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. His nickname at VMI was "Tooty".

Career

Rucker began his career working for Atlantic Steel Castings in Pennsylvania in 1936.[2]

In 1943, Rucker moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he engaged in businesses, including starting the Rucker Corporation.[2]

Following the bankruptcy of the Rucker Corporation, Rucker started Champion Wood Products, a furniture manufacturer, in 1950.[3]

In 1954, the 40-year-old Rucker began studying for the ministry, and was ordained as a deacon of the Episcopal church in 1960.[2] Rucker became the assistant rector of Saint Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Louisville.[4]

Rucker became a pastor at Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church in the Fort Hunt area of Alexandria in 1963.[2]

In 1969, Rucker was assigned to the breakway interfaith Contemporary Christian Communion formed by eight local Reston residents and also known as the Episcopal Congregation of the Church at Reston, holding his first service in a storefront at Lake Anne Village Center on February 23.[5][6][7] Rucker resigned his position as rector of St. Aidan's in June of that year to become the vicar of the new congregation.[4]

The following year, Rucker also opened the Common Ground coffee shop and cafe Lake Anne Village Center, which also did duty as Rucker's office and the meeting place for his congregation.[8]

A social liberal, Rucker became extremely active in social issues in Reston. Although a plot of land had been purchased by the Episcopalian church, Rucker chose to use money donated to address the needs of various people in the local community and wider world rather than construct a church building on the land.[9]

A heart attack followed by coronary bypass surgery in 1974 prompted Rucker's retirement from the ministry in 1976.[2][6][10]

Personal life

Rucker met Marianne "Nonny" von Bitter while she was a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1937, and the two married in Berlin, Germany in 1939.[2][3] The couple would go on to have two sons, photographer Embry, Jr. in 1941 and mathematician, computer scientist and science fiction author Rudy in 1946.[2]

in 1978, Rucker left Nonny and shacked up with Pricilla Ames, who would remain his companion for the rest of his life.[2]

Rucker had a mild stroke in 1992.[2] A more severe stroke in 1993 forced Rucker to move to the Cameron Glen Care Center nursing home, where he died of a heart attack in 1994.[1][2]

Rucker is buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon.

Notable quotes

"The church's real business should be people. We should get away from the bullshit of constructing buildings." - 1976[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Barnes, Bart. "OBITUARIES: E.C. Rucker, Episcopal Priest, Dies." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. Aug 02 1994. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Rucker, Rudy, Sr. "Rudy Rucker, Notes for Nested Scrolls." Rudyrucker.com. Rudy Rucker, 26 Apr. 2011. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rucker, Rudy. "Autobigraphy." Contemporary Authors n.d.: 329-54. Rudyrucker.com. Rudy Rucker, 3 Mar. 2006. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Mt. Vernon Pl. Church to Get New Minister." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Jun 07 1969. ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2014 .
  5. ↑ Stout, Jared. "'Reston 8' Triggers Debate on Church's Role." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Feb 22 1969. ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Meyers, Robert. "The Rev. Embry Rucker of Reston: The Last Word in Ministering to the Needs of a Community." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 2. Jun 03 1976. ProQuest. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
  7. ↑ "A Short History of St. Anne’s." St. Anne's Episcopal Church. St. Anne's Episcopal Church, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Vicar is a Reston Character." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 40. Sep 19 1971. ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2014 .
  9. ↑ Terrell, Pam. "This Priest Doesn't Believe in Buildings." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 2. May 02 1992. ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
  10. ↑ Meyers, Robert. "A Time to Rest." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. Jun 10 1976. ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2014 .