Wife of Submerged Submarine Crew Member Linked to Titanic's Notorious Couple

The submarine that went missing while en route to the site of the Titanic disaster carried five passengers, one of whom, Stockton Rush, has a connection to two victims of the early 20th century Atlantic tragedy. This was reported by the New York Times.

The publication detailed that Rush’s wife, Wendy Rush, is the granddaughter of Isidor Strauss, a co-owner of the Macy's department store chain, and his wife, Ida, who both perished in the 1912 shipwreck. It is believed that the Strausses were among the wealthiest passengers aboard the Titanic.

In April 1912, Isidor Strauss and his wife decided to travel to the U.S. on the Titanic. After the ship collided with an iceberg, it began to sink. The couple was offered a spot on a lifeboat, but Strauss refused, stating that there were still women and children on the sinking vessel. He insisted that his wife leave on the lifeboat, but she chose to remain with him. Instead, the Strausses' maid was allowed to board the lifeboat.

Both Isidor and Ida Strauss lost their lives in the disaster. Their story was reflected in James Cameron’s Oscar-winning film Titanic released in 1997; however, the scene in which Strauss attempts to convince his wife to board the lifeboat was cut from the final version of the film.

According to Wendy Rush’s LinkedIn page, she has participated in three expeditions to the Titanic wreck over the past two years, organized by OceanGate, a company founded by her husband, Stockton Rush. It should be noted that earlier reports indicated the Titan submersible, investigating the Titanic, has gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean. As of today, June 22, oxygen aboard the Titan submersible will run out in a few hours, and the chances of survival for the five-member team are slim.