WPCNR MILESTONES. By Peter Katz. January 18, 2010: Family, friends, associates and acquaintances filled North Broadway’s White Plains Presbyterian Church on Saturday to remember and celebrate the life of Robert F. Ruger, who was fondly known as “Mr. White Plains.” He died January 7th at age 97.
Mayor Adam Bradley designated January 16 as Robert F. Ruger Day in White Plains, and presented a proclamation to the Ruger family, shown being accepted by Bob Ruger's grand niece Kasey Glass. Photos, Courtesy, Peter Katz
As people entered the church, in addition to receiving a printed program, they were given and invited to wear a yellow wrist band bearing the phrase, “Where Virtue Goes, Fortune Follows.” That is the translation of a Latin phrase which was inscribed on a gold ring given to Mr. Ruger by his mother when he was 21-years-old. Mr. Ruger continuously wore the ring, and often expressed his belief in the truth of that phrase, noting that his fortune has not been monetary, but rather in family and friends.
Officiating at the event was The Reverend C. Carter Via of the Presbyterian Church, who praised Mr. Ruger as having been “…the most considerate person in the world. Bobby was a man who was intrinsically ethical,” he said.
Reverend Via urged those attending the memorial, “Don’t just say that Bobby was a great guy – honor him with the way you live your life.” Michael Doehring, a church elder, noted that not only had Mr. Ruger lived his entire life as a White Plains resident, but also had been a member of the White Plains Presbyterian Church for almost a full century, one-third of its 300 years in existence.
Mr. Ruger’s grand niece, 22-year-old Kasey Glass, told the assemblage that she first met “Uncle Bobby” when she was adopted and brought to the U.S. from her native Peru. She was only a few weeks old at the time, but he ultimately became and will always remain her “best pal.”
White Plains’ Mayor Adam Bradley detailed Mr. Ruger’s contributions to city government through his service on the Common Council and on a variety of boards and commissions.
“In every government position he held, he used his analytical skills,“ Mayor Bradley said, while noting that even more significant was the manner in which Mr. Ruger applied compassion to his dealings with people. Mayor Bradley announced that he had issued a proclamation naming Saturday January 16, 2010, as Robert F. Ruger Day in White Plains. However, he also expressed the belief that Mr. Ruger’s legacy of contributions will last far beyond a single Saturday and have forever made White Plains a better place.
Susan Katz, Executive Director of the White Plains-based theater company Westco Productions, told about Mr. Ruger’s love for the theater, his performances in summer stock in Vermont and Maine, and his being president of Westco’s Board of Directors from 1992 to 2005.
On a personal note, she reminisced about how Mr. Ruger loved giving people hugs, and was so well known and respected. She told about taking Mr. Ruger to see his favorite musical, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Carousel,” a few years ago at the Candlewood Playhouse in Connecticut. “We had dinner first at a little restaurant near the theater and, don’t you know, Bob ran into someone from White Plains who knew him.”
Brian Wallach, a White Plains resident and friend of Mr. Ruger for more than 50 years, recalled his work with the White Plains Beautification Foundation and his constant efforts to make the city visually appealing.
Andrew Morzello, a close friend and past president of the White Plains Rotary Club and past District Governor of the Greater New York District of Rotary, recalled that Rotary was but one of the many civic organizations in which Mr. Ruger was active.
In addition to being a founder of The Thomas H. Slater Center in White Plains, Morzello noted that Mr. Ruger was instrumental in raising funds to start the Slater Center’s drum corps. He spoke of Mr. Ruger’s involvement in The Salvation Army, and the awarding to Mr. Ruger of The Salvation Army’s Glass Shield Award. Morzello told of how, at age 88, after the events of September 11, 2001, Mr. Ruger manned a Salvation Army truck providing food and beverages to rescue and recovery crews at “ground zero.”
The Reverend Dr. Lester Cousin of the Calvary Baptist Church in Which Plains provided an emotional rendition of the inspirational song, “If I Can Help Somebody,” which he said reflected Mr. Ruger’s approach to life and his dealings with people.
The church choir with soloist Phyllis Worthington are pictured performing "Amazing Grace." Other selections were "Joy to the World" and "Ave Maria."
A luncheon/reception followed where friends and family mingled and shared their favorite “Bob Ruger” stories.
Bob Ruger
1912 -2010
