Gardner W Ruggles, 1932-2008

Gardner W Ruggles Sr, of Vernon, departed this life peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 with his family at his side. He was born in Portsmouth, RI and grew up in Rockville eventually leaving to serve in the Air Force in 1950. A few years after leaving the Air Force he began his own restaurant - the Igloo Drive-In in Vernon in 1963. The restaurant was a success. He expanded into catering, forming Mr. G's Catering a few years later. In 1979 he sold the businesses and moved with his family to Deland, Florida where he embarked on a new career in real estate. He worked for Watson Realty first as a sales associate and finally as a vice president. He managed Watson's Deland office until he retired in 1999. His first wife, Shirley (nee Schaefer), died in 1998. He married a second time to Irene Suchecki of Vernon and came back to Vernon in 2000.

He is predeceased by Shirley and is survived by his wife, Irene.

He is also survived by his four children, Gardner Jr of New Hartford, Elizabeth Woods of Savannah, GA, Gregory, also of Savannah, and Russell of East Longmeadow, MA, son-in-law Timothy Woods of Savannah, daughter-in-law Robyn Ruggles of East Longmeadow, grandsons William Woods of Tulsa, OK, and Walter Woods of Savannah and granddaughters, Stephanie, Sarah and Emily Ruggles of East Longmeadow.

He is also survived by a stepdaughter Laurie Mecca of Avon, her husband Len, their four children, Lauren, Allyson, Brian and Kim, stepson Steve Suchecki of Tolland, his wife, Holly, their three sons, Alex, Evan and Cole and stepson Michael Suchecki of Coventry, his wife Darlene and their three children, Daniel, Laura and Aubrey.

He is also survived by two brothers, Clarence Ruggles of New Britain and Michael Ruggles of Vernon, a sister, Barbara Bossidy of Manchester and a brother-in-law Russell Schaefer of Rochester, NY and his wife, Joan. And finally, by his rescue dog, Babe.

Update: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 11 at 9 a.m. in St. Bernard's Church, Rockville, followed by Military Honors after the mass. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held Friday Oct. 10, from 6-8 p.m. at the Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Assoc.