David L. Ruggles

After many years of debilitating illness, David Leroy Ruggles passed peacefully in his sleep into the presence of the Lord the morning of Tuesday, September 24, 2024, weeks before his 81st birthday. David was born in Harrisburg. PA, to Mary and Leroy Ruggles, living in Altoona, PA, until age 20. After high school he worked in printing, but felt the Lord's call to the missionary priesthood. Impressed by a Columban missionary from his parish, David entered the Columban Fathers' College and Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, also in Bristol, RI, and Milton, MA, leaving in 1970, age 27.

Over the next 35 years, David taught in Roxbury, West Roxbury, Randolph, and 26 years in Avon, MA, where he grew the subject of Latin into a full-time program because of his immense popularity. He was famous in Avon for his field trips, favorites being to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and MFA. With some reluctance, he retired in 2005.

In 1971, living in an apartment building in Mattapan, David met and married his upstairs neighbor, Ellen, a modern-language teacher. Blessed with 52 married years, David often exulted in a truly special relationship with Ellen's parents, Margaret and Murray Engelson, who looked upon him as their own son. David and Ellen enjoyed a life of fulfilling teaching careers, reading, music, and travel. When well, David attended the South Weymouth Church of the Nazarene, where Ellen was organist. They were also blessed with friendship, reunions, and social gatherings of those often called "the Columban Family." 

Frequent visits to Spain were also David's special joy. Through Ellen and her parents, he acquired wonderful Spanish friends. A deep regret of his illness was he could not travel, but one incredible friend came multiple times from Spain to visit him, even recently when he was totally homebound. 

Before the end of his teaching career, David and Ellen finally visited Rome. Ellen always joked about their running ruin-to-ruin, visiting places about which David had taught. His mother's family was from Italy, making the trip a double high point in his life. 

David was special in many ways. In one of his teaching evaluations, a principal deemed him "a scholar and a gentleman." A colleague recently described him as "a kind and gentle person, a much respected teacher." Another friend remembered David for his wonderful sense of humor and great story-telling ability. Yet another said there was something almost "angelic" about him.

David is survived by his wife Ellen. He will be enormously missed. Ellen wishes to express love and profound thanks to the South Weymouth Church of the Nazarene, to those who unselfishly visited David when visits were difficult, and to the bevy of faithful, believing caregivers who became friends, often making it possible for David to remain at home. Our special thanks to the Cooks, Restricks, and Gene Naughton, the Lord providing through them "more than we [could] ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20) In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the South Weymouth Church of the Nazarene, or to the missionary work of the Columban Fathers in St. Columbans, Nebraska.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation for David on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 10-11am at the South Weymouth Church of the Nazarene located at 385 Ralph Talbot St. S. Weymouth, MA. A funeral service will take place in the church at 11am. Burial will be private and at a later date in Hillside Cemetery in Cortlandt Manor, NY.