Anthony Joseph Ruggiero

Tony has several beloved family members, including his brothers Joe, Jerry, and Arthur. In addition, he has five children, Terry, Joe, Rob, Kim, and Ross. His six grandchildren in descending order of age

include Joseph, Renee, Max, Devin, Jesse, and Sammy. His son and daughters-in-law include Brett, Sandi, and Chili. Karen is his wife, best friend, and partner of “only” 45 years.

Tony Ruggiero lived a full and meaningful life that touched the lives of many, near and far. Born shortly after the Great Depression, October 5, 1936 to Joseph Ruggiero and Theresa Alto in Brooklyn, New

York, Tony grew up in Sunset Park during “The War," as he often referred to it. A bright and promising young man who excelled in school, Tony entered the City College of New York at just 16 years old. Tony took a hiatus from his studies to honorably serve his country by enlisting in the Army. After being stationed in Niagara Falls, New York, Tony returned to the City College of New York to earn his Bachelors in Physics, which he would later apply throughout his career. Tony would soon after apply the GI Bill to take art classes at the Pratt Institute. He commented that that this was a great opportunity to develop his love for and newly-found ability in drawing and design, which we later appreciated through his inventions.

Tony held his first job as an apprentice at the New York Naval Shipyard of Brooklyn. He fondly told the story of how on his first day of work, a more senior co-worker told him to look out for the supervisor and bang on the steel frame if the boss was near, to wake him up from his nap. “Don’t worry”, said the co-worker, “you’ll get your chance to nap later”. After the shipyard closed in 1974, Tony moved to Warrington, Pennsylvania, to work at the Department of Defense Naval Air Development Center, where he was employed as an electrical engineer until 1993. During his retirement, Tony enjoyed investing in

real estate, an endeavor not without its challenges. Fortunately he was handy and determined, and could fix anything in the house: a running toilet, a wall needing plaster, a paint job, and way beyond.

Tony would prove himself to be a bit of a renaissance man. A creative inventor at heart, Tony wouldn’t just solve a problem; he would invent a solution. For example, when shower water got on his bathroom floor, he decided to solve it for the nation! He accordingly imagined the concept, drew the designs--thanks to his Pratt training--and eventually patented “The Showermaster."

A movie buff at heart, Tony could out-trivia anyone under the table about any movie. He would love to read through Rotten Tomatoes, finding some of the official worst movies of all time, such as Terror

of Tiny Town, and then entertaining unsuspecting house guests with them. As a more serious reflection of his cinephile side, Tony poured his love of film into researching and writing a historically accurate

sequel to Titanic.

Tony perhaps most enjoyed his summers with his family and friends at Ocean City, New Jersey. A class A beach bum, Tony loved swimming, riding the wave runner, and sharing his home with family and friends.

Tony will best be remembered for his sincere soul, and outstanding character. With a perennial smile on his face and a gentle demeanor, Tony would crack jokes and rattle off puns, and was known for his own

rollicking laugh. Tony would put on puppet shows for children he knew and did not know; perhaps he got along best with children because he always truly remained a child at heart. His generosity was vast and

extended to strangers. Once when a tenant described the number of public buses and trains he took to arrive to work, he responded, “You see that car across the street? It's mine. Why don't you take it to

work today?" And borrow the car he did. In fact, Tony gave him the car to keep.

Tony was an extraordinary man whose impact was felt by all who were in his presence. His unparalleled kindness to strangers, friends, family, his exceptional entrepreneurship, his talent for creativity, writing,

and invention, his ability to love others and make them feel loved, and simple modesty make him a distinguished individual to be remembered, loved, and honored. Although he is no longer with us in

the physical, he will always remain with us in the spiritual.

Please feel free to attend the online celebration of Tony’s life by clicking the "Join Livestream" link under the Service Heading or at this link https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Funeral-Service---Cemetery/Lamb-Funeral-Home-Inc-162630370428726/

Scheduled for 2:00 Wednesday March 10. We appreciate everyone may wish to attend; however, due to COVID, we must limit the number of in-person attendees.

In the memory and love for Tony’s life, our family asks that any donations be made to the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia at this link https://www.foxchase.org/giving/how-to-give. May his life be a blessing.

Please feel free to sign the condolence book here.