Leonard Andrew Ruggiero

Leonard Andrew Ruggiero was born on February 13, 1951, in Brooklyn, NY. He passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2016, in California. He was very active in and around the Fresno and Clovis Communities. He was the owner and operator of Mother Mary's Italian Kitchen and past Fresno Rotary Club President. Len was a financial advisor with AXA/Equitable for 35 years, spending the last 28 of those years serving the Central Valley with his trusted administrator, Jane Otis.

Family was everything to Len and not just those he was related to. All that have known him can attest to his loving and gregarious nature, especially those that he worked with at Mother Mary's, many of whom counted him as a father figure in addition to coworker and friend. He loved his customers as well, and those that frequented the restaurant looked forward to seeing Dad and "basking in the presence of his Italian warmth".

Len touched the lives of so many people through his music. He loved to sing, play the drums, and you would regularly see him playing air guitar at any party. You may have seen Len singing with his band Geezer around Fresno sometime in the last 20 years.

He was a passionate sports fan, particularly the New York Jets and Mets. His baseball team, and many other players in the National Adult Baseball Association, will fondly remember Len as a player, fantastic manager and coach.

Mary and the family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lemon; Dr. Andreades; and all the wonderful nurses and staff at University of California San Francisco Parnassus for their tender and dedicated care of Len during his illness.

Len is survived by his wife Mary; his four children and spouses, Maria and Kenny Ferrell, Laura and Michael Volanti, J.R. Ruggiero, and Tara and Adam Noble; his two grandchildren, Frank and Anna; his brothers and spouses, Robert and Lorraine Ruggiero, and Thomas and Leslie Ruggiero; and his mother, Laura Ruggiero. He also leaves behind countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will feel his absence for many years to come.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, August 25, 2016, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Shrine of St. Therese Catholic Church on Friday, August 26, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made to BeTheMatch.org.