'Bud' Rue's convictions were apparent
in his work

By KELLY M. O'NEILL

Clyde B. 'Bud' Rue, who was instrumental in establishing the Wayne County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Upper Delaware Chapter of Amnesty International and the non-profit Innisfree Corporation, died on Sunday, Oct. 24, following a "Walk for Justice" that benefited four organizations whose objectives were very similar to his own values and concern for social justice.

Mr. Rue, 59, of Milanville, was married to the former Bernetee Ann Woldin since 1956.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Arthur H. and Opal Brooks Rue, and was raised in Livonia, Michigan. Throughout his youth, hewas interested in the environment and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts.

He served on the U.S.S. Trout and Supmarine Corps in the Navy, and then completed his studies for a bachelor's degree in educaiton from Michigan State University. In 1963, he earned a master's in educaitonal adminstration from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey.

In the same year, he began his career as a mathematics teacher that took him to various New Jersey school districts. He also taught physical educaiton for one year at the Damascus School. He was alifetime member of the National Education Association and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Mr. and Mrs. Rue purchased property along the Delaware River in Mialnville, where they established the Innisfree Corporation, with Mr. Rue as its president. During the summers of 1970 and 1971, about 60 teenagers and adults participated in a "non-traditional educational community" at Innisfree that emphasized personal growth and self-government, based on his idealist philosophy, according to Thomas Rue, his son and one of the participants.

He retired from teaching and moved permanently to Innisfree in 1988.

Rev. Raymond J. Pontier, a close friend and pastor of the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, said Mr. Rue was a very religious man, but was more concerned about assisting other people than the fine points of theology.

Mr. and Mrs. Rue were "very involved in every aspect of the fellowship" since it was established six years ago and they also provided a place at Innisfree for the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship to meet, according to Rev. Pontier.

In his role as a member of the board of trustees, Mr. Rue "kept motivating us and pushing us as a fellowship to become involved with the needs of people," he added.

He was also instrumental in organizing the River School, a Montessori School that the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship sponsored, and then continued serving as a baord member.

Mr. Rue "almost single-handedly began the Wayne County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity" and then served as the organization's president for the first year and a half, commented Dale Rosenberg, the current president.

He was responsible for a large portion of the "tedious committee work" of incorporating the organization, writing by-laws, raising funds, becoming affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Internation, and selecting sites and families to live in the homes, according to Mr. Rosenberg.

His concern for social justice throughout the world led Mr. Rue to establish the Upper Delaware Chapter of Amnest International to raise awareness of political prisoners and torture, by writing letters to government officials in other countries, circulating literature and marching in parades.

"I never heard him say no to anybody and I never heard him refer to anybody in a disparaging tone. He was a friend to everybody and he wanted everybody to be his friend; he came as close as anybody I know to succeeding," said Mr. Rosenberg.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Rue is survived by: four children and their spouses -- Thomas and Carmen Rue, of Monticello, N.Y., David and Kathleen Rue of Newtown, John Rue, of New York City, Ella Rue-Eyet and Robert Eyet of Rockland, Mass; three brothers -- William A. Rue of Chateuguay, Quebec, Canada, Robert N., of Niantic, Conn, and James A., of Laguna Beach, California; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. in the Milanville United Methodist Church, with Rev. Pontier officiating. Cremation was at Twin Tiers Crematory, Endicott, N.Y. Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship - Social Justice Fund, P.O. Box 123, Milanville, PA 18443.