Longtime EB spokesman's submarine portrait to be given to Michelle Obama
East Lyme — While working at Electric Boat, Neil Ruenzel used to say that when he retired he'd grow a ponytail and become an artist.
While the Niantic resident hasn't grown out the ponytail yet, he has seriously pursued art. And soon, a piece of his artwork will be in the hands of first lady Michelle Obama.
The first lady will be in Groton Saturday for the christening of the Illinois (SSN 786), the Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear attack submarine.
EB traditionally presents a painting of a submarine to the ship's sponsor, in this case Michelle Obama, after each christening.
The ceremony comes between the keel laying — the ceremonial start of construction — and the commissioning, when a submarine is delivered to the fleet.
"I knew it was going to be a challenge because it's something that's meant to be a lasting memento. So I certainly wanted to give it my best," said Ruenzel, 74, who was EB's director of communications from the late 1980s until 2005.
The oil painting shows a submarine underway in what looks to be churning seas under a cloudy sky. Hues of pink and yellow peek through, giving the whole image a dramatic feel.
"It was a remarkable image that I worked from," Ruenzel said, referring to an archival picture of a submarine provided to him by EB.
The sea and the sky were particularly challenging to paint, he said, and, of course, he had to get the submarine just right.
"With submarines, it's a smooth hull and sail. There's not a lot separating one from the other," he said.
Ruenzel will be present at Saturday's christening but he's not sure he'll be the one to hand the painting to Obama. But he hopes she'll be pleased.
It's not entirely clear how Ruenzel got selected to do the painting, but his former colleagues at EB knew of his artistic ability and over the years several of his submissions for the company's annual holiday card were selected.
Ruenzel usually works on several art pieces at once, devoting time to one before setting it aside to go to something else.
Since retiring from EB, he's taken classes at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and has joined Lyme Art Association.
His work has been on display in various places. Currently he has art on display at Lillian's Cafe in Niantic.
Ruenzel served three years as a Marine and spent 22 years in the Coast Guard. His last military assignment was at the Coast Guard Academy as the public affairs officer.
The proceeds from Ruenzel's work go to the Semper Fi Foundation to provide support to wounded servicemen and women. He said he has donated more than $2,000 to the foundation just this year.
"As a retired military person, that organization means a lot to me personally," he said. "It's just an opportunity to do something worthwhile with the proceeds."
j.bergman@theday.com
Twitter:@JuliaSBergman
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