William Emil "Cappy" Rutsch Jr., 73, of Chevy Chase and Eastport, a champion yachtsman and former Marine flier, died of kidney failure Jan. 27 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda after a five month illness.

Mr.. Rutsch was born Nov. 8, 1932, in Teaneck, N.J., and graduated in 1955 from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. He won his Navy wings at Pensacola, Fla., and was stationed in Cherry Point, N.C. He left the Marine Corps as a captain after serving from 1955 to 1960. He was a member of the Marine Reserve from 1961 to 1968.

He was the founder in 1961 and later chairman of Creditor Claims of America. He also was president and a founding partner since 1976 of Physicians Systems and Services.

The winner of five J/30 North American Championships from 1985 to 1990, he was the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association J/30 High Point winner in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and served as the J/30 fleet captain. He also was on the Annapolis Yacht Club Race Committee. His sailboat was called BeBop.

Surviving are his wife, Janet "Jody" Burns Rutsch, whom he married Dec. 20, 1955; two sons, William Edward Rutsch of Silver Spring and Robert A. Rutsch of Chevy Chase; two daughters, Carolyn A. Rutsch of Chevy Chase and Nancy Rutsch Costello of Great Falls, Va.; one brother, Donald H. Rutsch of Sparta, N.J.; and nine grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Historic St. John's Catholic Church, 9700 Rosensteel Ave., Silver Spring. Inurnment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fisher Foundation, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852, to assist seriously injured sailors and soldiers and their families with housing and other rehabilitative efforts.

Published January 31, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

I've put a few photos up at
http://cappyrutsch.shutterfly.com

Password is: Bebop

Feel free to add yours!