Memorable Manitobans: Richard Judson Rutherford (1935-2022)

Richard Judson Rutherford Click to enlarge

Ballet dancer.

Born at Augusta, Georgia on 28 March 1935, son of Carleton and Mabel Rutherford, he developed a love of dance at an early age. Immediately after graduating from high school, he enrolled at the School of American Ballet in New York City. In 1957, he joined the Royal Winnipeg Ballet where he spent 20 years, rising from corps de ballet to soloist to principal dancer. After retiring from performance in 1970, he was appointed Associate Artistic Director of the company. He moved to Ottawa, Ontario in 1977 to join the staff of the Canada Council for the Arts. There, he was in charge of grants to dancers. After retirement in 1995, he assisted in a campaign to create the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights monument in Ottawa. He was slain at his home at Ottawa on 15 April 2022.

Sources:

“Celebrated former RWB dancer slain in Ottawa,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 April 2002.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 April 2022.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 21 October 2023

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!