By Rhiannon Gurley
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Rusk, who served as executive director of the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin (ADAW) from 1998 to 2018.

The ADAW and Wisconsin residents with dementia and their caregivers will forever be grateful for his passion and commitment to service. Paul guided the ADAW from infancy to maturity. He believed that funds raised locally should be spent locally to maximize the help it provided to families.

Paul worked with staff, governmental and community partners to create needed programing and lasting policy change in the state of Wisconsin. His vision led to the development of Memory Cafés, support groups and caregiver education and counseling, which expanded from Dane County to 14 additional counties throughout south-central Wisconsin. The programs and positive impact continue today in virtual settings as we innovate to meet the needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To put it simply, Paul personified the ADAW mission he helped create: “to improve the lives of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their families.”

The ADAW extends our condolences to Paul’s family, friends and all who benefited from his service.