With the passing of Rusty Hevelin, science fiction fandom has lost one of its favorite old-timers.  Rusty was a genuine enthusiast, who enjoyed reading, collecting, publishing, and making books and magazines available to generations of people who knew him as a friend.  Throughout his life he could be easily found on the weekends in a huckster room or sitting on panel discussions at conventions around the world. 

He discovered science fiction when he was a teen-ager.  In 1941, while living in California, Rusty attended a meeting of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society.  Shortly after that, he traveled to the Third Worldcon (Denvention One).  During World War Two, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific.  After completing his service, Rusty moved to Philadelphia, where he soon became president of the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. 

Rusty enjoyed writing and was involved with several well-known fanzines, including Nebula, StefNews, Aliquot, H-1661, Badly, and others.  He also served as a director of the National Fantasy Fan Federation.  For decades, Rusty was a popular toastmaster and guest of honor at many conventions.  After the first Pulpcon was held in 1971, Rusty became one of the pillars that kept the convention going for decades.  He was the first DUFF Delegate, attending the 1975 Worldcon in Australia.  He was Fan Guest of Honor at the 1981 Worldcon (Denvention Two).  Rusty was the recipient of the E.E. Evans Big Heart Award in 1986, and First Fandom’s Sam Moskowitz Archive Award in 2003.  Pulpfest has renamed their annual award from the Munsey to the Rusty Hevelin Service Award.