Obituary for Donald Charles Ruddy
Donald Charles (Don) Ruddy passed away peacefully on October 19, 2022 surrounded by his loving family at age 89. Don was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended Olney High school before attending University of Pennsylvania graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering. His first job was at Rohm and Haas in batch processing, scaling lab products into commercial production. His greatest accomplishment during this job was meeting and proposing to his wife of 64 years, Eleanor (Lee) Oleksiak, a co-worker. Don then worked for Singer, American Meter Division in R+D designing gas meters, where over the years he secured various patents for his designs and provided expert testimony during industry trials.
In the late 70’s, Don’s quest for challenge and independence led him to create a business in real estate, specializing in the upcycling of properties. Finding distressed properties and resolving their physical or legal issues, Don became proficient in construction and sitework along with an impressive knowledge and aptitude in real estate law, often representing himself successfully in litigation.
This sense of adventure and tenacity was also evident in his hobbies and leisure, whether cultivating orchids from seed, then building and maintaining a greenhouse, sailing and camping along the eastern seaboard, or his favorite pastime, traveling with his wife and family in the US and abroad - with an emphasis on adventure off the beaten path. Don will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his interest in history, respect for the innate value of things, and the legacy of his loving relationship with his wife Lee. Don’s accomplishments are particularly compelling considering he lived with type 1 diabetes for over 75 years of his life.
Don is survived by his wife Lee, his daughters Audrey Ruddy, Linda (John) Weinrich and son Ken (Jen) Ruddy, along with 4 grandchildren - John Weinrich Jr, Alex (fiancée Christianne) Weinrich, Beth Weinrich and Tess Ruddy. Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service Saturday November 5, 2022, 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 120 N. Easton Rd. Glenside, where the family will receive guests from 10 am until service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 3401 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104.
In the late 70’s, Don’s quest for challenge and independence led him to create a business in real estate, specializing in the upcycling of properties. Finding distressed properties and resolving their physical or legal issues, Don became proficient in construction and sitework along with an impressive knowledge and aptitude in real estate law, often representing himself successfully in litigation.
This sense of adventure and tenacity was also evident in his hobbies and leisure, whether cultivating orchids from seed, then building and maintaining a greenhouse, sailing and camping along the eastern seaboard, or his favorite pastime, traveling with his wife and family in the US and abroad - with an emphasis on adventure off the beaten path. Don will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his interest in history, respect for the innate value of things, and the legacy of his loving relationship with his wife Lee. Don’s accomplishments are particularly compelling considering he lived with type 1 diabetes for over 75 years of his life.
Don is survived by his wife Lee, his daughters Audrey Ruddy, Linda (John) Weinrich and son Ken (Jen) Ruddy, along with 4 grandchildren - John Weinrich Jr, Alex (fiancée Christianne) Weinrich, Beth Weinrich and Tess Ruddy. Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Service Saturday November 5, 2022, 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 120 N. Easton Rd. Glenside, where the family will receive guests from 10 am until service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 3401 Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104.