Eugene Rust, 96, of Hingham died on Oct. 16 at his home. Known as Gene to family and friends, Mr. Rust was born on July 13, 1914 in Boston, the son of the late Donald E. Rust and Helen Dugal Rust.

He spent his childhood in Newton, and graduated from the Country Day School (now the Rivers School) in Boston, before earning a bachelor’s degree at Yale University in 1937, where he majored in Spanish.

Mr. Rust married Jane Westbrook Mayhew of West Tisbury in 1949. Over the years, they established a second home on Martha’s Vineyard, where they spent the summer months at their small cottage near the ocean in Chilmark. Mr. Rust was an avid fisherman. He got much pleasure from both surf casting for blues and trolling for stripers from his small boat.

During World War II Mr. Rust was a civilian instructor in airplane maintenance for enlisted pilots and crew. He later established a career in the emerging field of personnel management. For a brief period, he worked at his family’s business, the Rust Craft Greeting Card Company in Boston, and then decided to teach high school-level Spanish. To fully immerse himself in Spanish culture, he traveled with his wife and two young daughters throughout Spain for 10 months during 1962 and 1963. Shortly thereafter, he received his teaching certification and a master’s degree in education from Boston University. Mr. Rust was a natural teacher in a profession that combined his love of performance and humor. Every June, he invited students in his advanced Spanish classes to his home to enjoy traditional Spanish cuisine, expertly prepared by Mrs. Rust.

Throughout his life Mr. Rust loved trying new activities and hobbies. In college he taught himself a full repertoire of magic tricks and enjoyed performing impromptu magic shows for family and friends. In Spain he began taking classical guitar lessons. He took up fly-fishing in his 70s. In the winter months he loved downhill skiing, which he enjoyed with Mrs. Rust, into his 80s. He took up cross-country skiing when he was 90 because, as he told his instructor, “I’m too old for downhill.” He was fascinated by personal computers and loved learning about new technologies. He was a voracious reader who loved a good mystery.

For more than 12 years, he was the devoted primary caregiver for Mrs. Rust after she suffered a major stroke and could no longer perform housekeeping tasks. He proudly referred to himself as a “house husband.” When, at age 95, he felt he could no longer function in this role, Mr. Rust and his wife moved into Allerton House, an assisted living facility in Hingham.

Mr. Rust is survived by his wife, Jane, of Hingham; his daughters, Lee Rust Dixon and her husband, John Robert Dixon, both of Hingham, and Susan Mayhew Rust of Weymouth; and his granddaughters Caitlin Dixon of Hingham, and Margaret Dixon of Pittsfield. His brother, Donald E. Rust Jr., predeceased him.

The family will have a celebration of Eugene Rust’s life for family and friends in Hingham at a later date. A similar private gathering will be held in Chilmark during the summer of 2011. Donations may be made to the Hospice of the South Shore, P.O. Box 859060, Braintree, MA 02185-9060.

Those who wish to send condolences to the family may use the Bartlett-Santos Funeral Home Web site at bartlettsantos.com.