This blog is in memory of Hank Rybus. Hank is my husband's father. He died a week ago at age 89. We are all very sad. He was a special soul and passed many wonderful qualities on to my husband Tom. He was a good listener, a great support for all we did and a good democrat. He read good books, loved sports and was a great conversationalist. He visited us in Holland while we were living there and we traveled to Spain, France and Germany with him. He traveled on his own to Eastern Europe seeking his family roots.
OBITUARY
For Henry Eugene Rybus
Long-time Washington educator HENRY (Hank) E. RYBUS died peacefully of natural causes on May 24th in Renton, Washington.
Mr. Rybus was born November 4th, 1917 near Lidgerwood, North Dakota to Agnes and Leo Rybus. He was the first of seven children. He attended school in Lidgerwood where he was a student leader and athlete. He earned a degree from Valley City State Teachers College in North Dakota where he played football and basketball. Nearly fifty years after graduation, Valley City State honored Hank with it’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Following graduation, Hank taught and coached high school before joining the Navy during World War II. Mr. Rybus served as an officer aboard transport vessels which moved troops and war materials throughout the Pacific. Before leaving the Navy, he assisted during the first months of Japan’s occupation.
Mr. Rybus then attended and earned a master’s degree at the University of Montana in Missoula. There, he met and married Jane Jeffers of Ennis, Montana. To them were born three children: Tom (Boise), Mary Lemaster (North Bend) and Jim (Federal Way.) Following the birth of his children, he completed coursework for a doctorate at the University of Washington.
Henry Rybus was most proud of his successful career as a Washington educator. He taught and coached in Cathlamet, WA before moving to Longview, Wa, where he served first as assistant principal at RA Long High School. He then planned and later became the first principal of Mark Morris High School in Longview. He maintained a close relationship with the staff and students in Mark Morris’ first graduating classes.
In 1960, after a national search, Mr. Rybus was one of six school administrators chosen to be principals at the rapidly growing school district in San Jose, California.
For the final twenty-four years of his career, Hank Rybus was assistant executive secretary and executive secretary of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. The WIAA oversees high school sports, debate, and music programs in Washington. During his tenure, he was proud to have been instrumental in inaugurating girls school sports programs as well as new sports such as soccer. In 2005 he was inducted into the WIAA Hall of Fame.
Henry Rybus is survived by his three children, one brother, three sisters, three granddaughters, and seven great grandchildren.
Through his work as a teacher, coach, and administrator and his roles as a father, brother, and friend, Hank Rybus had a positive impact on the lives of many. A small, private memorial service is planned.
December 2007
