Hi Uncle Ruben. This is your nephew, Ethan. I love you. You smiled, and you probably still do. I love you so much and so do your kids. Adi got into collage. Eke is so tall. Soren has glasses now. And Zoey is still awesome at gymnastics. We all love you.

PS. I love oranges, too.

Thinking of you and the children with love today, Brenna.
  Jon and Sherrie Miller

Shortly after we met Brenna & Ruben, Brenna was in the hospital for a night or so and Mark & I offered to watch Addie & Eki at our house so that Ruben could go and be with Brenna. We had the kids tucked into bed before he left and Eki wasn't very happy about his dad leaving but Ruben did something that I've thought about ever since I heard about his death. He kissed both of them, assured them that all was well, and then made the sign of the cross on both of their bodies. It was a simple gesture but to me it represented his absolute love for his kids and his strong faith in the protection of his God. May his memory be eternal. 

We were so privileged to worship with Rubén & Brenna, Addie, Eki, Soren & Zoe for several years. They brought such beautiful life to our parish as a family, and individually! We have so many precious memories of them, but one of the dearest is of how Rubén and Brenna so loved the youth, and so cared about their spiritual well-being. They held a meeting for the parents in their home, and from the concerns shared there, they, together, planned, organized and led the most amazing Youth Retreat! It blessed, encouraged and strengthened so many young people from our parish, and our sister parish - I truly believe with eternal benefits for each one. It also blessed and encouraged many adults, as well. We will always remember with amazement the high school aged youth crowded around Rubén and Brenna, hanging on their every word! Thank you, Rubén for loving so well with the Light and Love of Jesus Christ!

Dear Brenna and family, 

Erin, Adam, Jude, and I are so very sorry for your loss.  I only met Ruben a few times.  He was quiet but you could always sense his gentleness and kindness.  I remember him at Eki's and Adam's birthday party climbing up to help hang the decorations.  Please know we are thinking of you.

I only knew Ruben in the context of being a client of Arbor Experts.....but from the first time he came out, I was so impressed in all ways that from then on I'd ask for Ruben to be the one to do my tree shaping.  It wasn't simply that he did an amazing job, although he did.  I was impressed by his professionalism and his strong work ethic but also by how incredibly nice he was.  He was one of the most genuine people I'd ever met, and I felt like he truly cared about his work and about treating the people he dealt with, with authentic kindness.  

I only 'knew' Ruben very superficially, but I'm so terribly sorry for all the people who really knew him and love(d) him.....because if he was as kind and as decent a man to total strangers, how phenomenal a husband, father, friend and co-worker he must have been.

Rubencho gracias por tanto! Gracias por tantas risas, por compartir de tu familia, tus historias, testimonios, gracias por tu confianza y por dejar huellas en nuestros corazones.... Gracias por los libros y por el café pendiente ...🙏✨❤️ Dios bendiga tu hermosa familia y los llene de salud, fortaleza y sabiduría para seguir adelante.  

When we moved into our first home in 2014, we had an enormous ash tree in the front yard that had been a kind of "landmark" tree for the neighborhood because our house was on the end of the street. (When we counted the tree rings, it was at least 100 years old.)

Unfortunately, it was dying, a victim of the emerald ash borer. 

One day at work, I mentioned to my colleague, Brenna, that we needed to have this tree taken down and she mentioned that Ruben was an arborist and would be happy to give a second opinion. Sure enough, the tree was dying and couldn't be saved. Best to take it down before a major storm blew it over onto our roof. 

My husband, Doug, was home with our 2 1/2 year daughter on the day that they took it down in the spring of 2016. He was beyond impressed with Ruben's understanding of the tree. He could point out to Doug which branches were problematic and was able to explain what they would need to do to safely take down each part. ("And that dude is CUT!" Doug added. "He's got some serious muscles on him.")

Although we didn't have many interactions with Ruben, it was easy to tell that he was a man of excellent character, discipline, strength, courage, adaptability, and good humor. To move to a new country, learn the language, marry, start a family, and pursue your passion--all of it bears a strong testament to what kind of man he was. And it was clear to all those who knew him even for a short time.


Rubén:
Gracias por darme la oportunidad de crecer contigo, aprender de ti, por compartir un poco de tu sabiduría y de siempre haber estado aquí. 
Gracias por guiarme, por tu apoyo incondicional, regaños y correcciones. Por darme fortaleza cuando la necesitaba... será duro sin ti. 
Soy feliz de haber tenido el privilegio de ser tu amiga, te quiero y te querré a montones. Eras una gran persona; lo sé,  no solo por como fuiste conmigo, sino por como fuiste con todos y con todo. Simplemente tus palabras, tus acciones, tus hijos, tu esposa, tu vida... tu entorno hablaban, te delataban... Y mi corazón te leyó.
Gracias Pasito Bello,  los árboles y yo, lloramos por ti.
Bendiciones para tu bella esposa e hijos.

Gracias a Dios, conocí este hombre excepcional, la vida de fe profesó, nos llevó tantas veces a la misión evangelizadora, un de tantos días, mientras participamos de la Eucaristía, representamos el evangelio, del públicano y el fariseo, el problema fue que tomamos nombres de miembros de la comunidad, sin saberlo mientras lo representamos.
Lo que siempre me llevó a pensar que el Evangelio se escribe a diario en nuestra vida, para uno y los demás.
Ahora sé, que escribiste bien tu página de Evangelio. Descansa en Dios Ruben Dario. 

Cómo es posible no conocer a alguien y sentir dolor?

Cómo es posible transmitir tu dulzura y paz a través de una llamada telefónica?

Cómo es posible saber lo buen padre que fuiste, solo con ver tus fotos con tus hijos?

Cómo es posible saber que fuiste excelente esposo a través de la sonrisa de tu esposa?

Cómo es posible ver todo el amor que diste a través de los mensajes de tus familiares ?

Solo Dios sabe, sin conocerte te extrañare... cómo es posible? Solo Dios sabe. 

Grande Rubén, Grande Mencho, con tu partida se perdió la esperanza de abrazarte y con este abrazo demostrate los mucho que te amo mi hermano. Tu bello y hermoso recuerdo estarán en mi vida por siempre por todas mis generaciones se que fuiste intensamente feliz !!!! Me hiciste tanta falta Rubéncho!!! 

Dan and I cannot begin to express how sorry we are for your loss. We'll always remember Ruben's obvious love for his children. I never could understood how he could tread water for so long in the deep-end of the pool at the Polo Club, playing with his children in the water and encouraging them to try new flips and jumps. They are a joyous and beautiful family. There is no better guardian angel to watch over his four children and wonderful wife. We'll miss seeing his love and devotion. We are praying that you'll find peace. 

I am completely at a loss for words! I have been Brenna and Ruben's long term nanny for nearly six years. Such a wonderful, devoted, intelligent, hardworking, down-to-earth "papà" he was! I got to witness a lot of his love towards his wife and children always.  So many sweet, and funny memories come to my mind. Your children are such shining examples of the great job that both of you did in raising them. They will always be a constant reminder of his love and influence on them. The devotion he had for his family and the work that he did was so obvious. I pray that God gives you all comfort during this time! 

I love you all so, so much.

Words cannot express the grief that my family and I feel for the loss of this beautiful husband, father, friend, and soul. I've only had the pleasure to know Ruben for a few years, but his love for his wife and kids were so abundantly obvious. 

We know Ruben and Brenna (and their gorgeous kiddos) through our membership at the Polo Club.  One of my first enduring memories of Ruben was at the pool. I was swimming the length of the pool under water. When I popped up on the other side by the deep end, the first vision I had was seeing the bottom of Ruben's feet as he lounged in the sun, intently reading a book called, "Meetings with Remarkable Trees". I didn't know at the time that this was what Ruben did for a living, so I quipped, "Looks like a page turner, Ruben." He then dropped the book from his face, looked at me with this enormous grin, and then pulled the book right back up and kept reading. He clearly showed me that I was the one missing out, and that he enjoyed my snarky naiveté. 

His kids literally spent nearly every single day at the pool, and when possible, Ruben would show up and play hard with them. Throwing the kids around, splashing and trying to get up on flotation devices that would ultimately flip, with legs flying up in the air. It was difficult at times trying to figure out who was the kid and who was the adult. 

He loved watching soccer with the boys at the club, and was a fierce ping pong player (but not as good as David ;-)

We already miss you dearly, Ruben.  It's time to frolic in the trees, amigo! I'll see you soon enough.

Lots of love to Brenna and their beautiful children.

~ Tait


Ruben was a great co-worker and a friend to many. He always told us to listen with our heart, today our hearts are broken because he is no longer with us. He worked so hard to get his citizenship to American, and now he is a citizen of heaven. May your memory be eternal Rueben. 

OBITUARY

Ruben D Ruiz

September 4, 1978 – February 18, 2019

Tobias Funeral Home - Belmont Chapel

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