Rallying round Rupert

As those who loved Rupert the black swan prepare to remember him in a ceremony on the bay, a Newport Beach businessman has offered to buy the city new swans.

Rupert, who lived around Newport Harbor and the Balboa Peninsula for about 15 years, died Wednesday after he was struck by a harbor patrol boat hurrying to an emergency call.

The swan is being cremated, and a memorial will be held later, but no date has been set. The Newport-based Imua Outrigger Canoe Club has offered to lead a paddle-out ceremony with a traditional Hawaiian blessing to scatter his ashes.

Many people in Newport have fond memories of Rupert, although he did occasionally annoy the junior lifeguards and a swimmer here and there.

“I was a big fan of Rupert,” harbor commissioner John Corrough said. “Our cat was a good friend of Rupert.”

Stephanie Snead, an Imua canoe club member, said when canoers were on the water, they’d call to the swan and he’d come up and coo back at them.

“Next to the Duke, Rupert is Newport Beach harbor,” she said.

Gay Wassall-Kelly, who fed and looked after Rupert for more than 10 years, said Thursday that people left flowers at her house, and someone even made a black swan flag for her.

Although there’s no replacing Rupert, real estate developer Paul Fruchbom offered to buy one or two pair of swans to maintain Rupert’s legacy as unofficial mascot around town.

“I’m just a local guy who would like to see swans in the harbor,” he said. “People, they liked having the swan around.”

Fruchbom wasn’t sure how much the birds cost but said he’d spend as much as $2,000. One website offers yearling swans for about $800 a pair.

If city officials favor the plan, he’ll bring them more information, he said.

Two City Council members said more swans could be a good thing.

Coming into the harbor and seeing Rupert, Councilman Tod Ridgeway said, really let you know you were in Newport Beach.

“There’s no downside to having a swan,” he said.

Councilman Ed Selich said having a resident swan adds to the city’s character, though he wondered whether swans prefer fresh water to salty Newport bay.

Wassall-Kelly said she had to acclimate Pearl — Rupert’s mate who died a few years ago — to the seawater by keeping her penned near the shore.

Of anyone in town, Wassall-Kelly was perhaps closest to Rupert and most upset by his demise. She said she’d be happy to see new swans gliding in Newport’s harbor, but she wants to be sure it’s safe.

“The harbor is so much busier than when Rupert was first introduced some 15 years ago,” she said, adding, “I would love it and so would everyone else.”