Richard Ruck

Richard Allen Ruck, age 82, of Wayne, NJ, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born in Passaic, NJ and grew up in Garfield, NJ. He was a graduate of Garfield High School, Class of 1960. Following high school, he began working for Western Electric while attending William Paterson College, where he graduated with a business degree in 1972. He continued his professional career with AT&T until retirement.

Rich met his beloved wife, Joyce Pekaar, in an unexpected way. Though they were acquaintances in high school, it wasn’t until after graduation that they truly got to know each other. Following surgery, Rich was advised by his doctors to take regular walks to regain his strength. His usual route took him past Joyce’s parents’ house, where her family often sat on the front porch, enjoying a cup of tea. At first, they exchanged simple greetings, but those brief moments soon turned into longer conversations. Around that time, Joyce had recently ended a relationship and needed a date for her college prom. She asked Rich, and he happily agreed. However, when his boss threatened to fire him if he took the night off for the prom, Rich chose love over his job. True to his word, he accompanied Joyce to the prom, lost his job, but gained a lifelong partner. In time, he proposed to her at Garrett Mountain and on May 14, 1966, they exchanged wedding vows before God, family, and friends at St. Mary’s Church in Passaic. Their marriage began with a honeymoon in Jamaica, where they stayed at the Half Moon Resort.

Rich and Joyce were blessed with three wonderful children and cherished family life together. They created lasting memories on numerous family cruises and at their summer home in Wildwood Crest, where dining at The Lobster House and feeding the seagulls became a family tradition. Their retirement years were filled with adventure, traveling extensively throughout the Caribbean, across most of the United States, and through numerous European countries, including their ancestral homelands of the Netherlands and Hungary.

At home, Rich was a man of many talents, hobbies, and philanthropic pursuits. A gifted craftsman, he could build or repair just about anything. He constructed the addition to their home, built a deck, and finished the basement himself, mastering everything from framing and plumbing to electrical work, siding, drywall, and painting. He also had a passion for restoring antique furniture and driving classic British cars, particularly his Austin Healey and MG.

Rich had a generous heart and a deep love for animals. Throughout the years he was never without a dog at his side. He was a devoted husband, father, and friend—a man whose kindness, skill, and love left a lasting imprint on all who knew him.

Rich was the beloved husband of Joyce (Pekaar) Ruck, blessed in marriage for 58 wonderful years. He was the devoted father of Rick and his wife Margie of Pittsburgh, PA, Lori Varty and her husband Geoff of Annandale, NJ, and Michael and his wife Lilia of Murrieta, CA; proud grandfather of: Hunter Ruck and wife Carlisle Turner, Faith Ruck, Caleb Ruck, Kendall Varty and Abigail Varty. Rich is survived by his brother Kenneth and his wife Rosann of Brooksville FL and his sister-in-law Diane of West Milford NJ as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Rich was predeceased by his loving parents, William and Ethel (Schweighardt) Ruck, and his two brothers, William and Roger.

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In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy for Rich are asked to consider one of the following charitable organizations:

Amyloidosis Research Consortium

320 Nevada Street

Suite 210

Newton, MA 02460

Seeing Eye Dogs

1 Seeing Eye Way

Morristown, NJ 07960

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Richard Ruck.