Edward Carr Ruff went peacefully home to his heavenly Father on Monday, August 12, 2024, at the age of 84 years.
Ed was born and raised by his parents Gerald and Ruth Ruff in Northern California. He graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in accounting in 1962 and began his career in New York City as an auditor, before moving into management consulting at Coopers & Lybrand.
Shortly thereafter, Ed joined the Army Reserve and was sent to training near Louisville, Kentucky, where he met his beloved wife, Joanne. After a long-distance courtship, they were married in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1964. They settled in Edison, New Jersey and started a family as Ed continued his consulting career, making Partner in 1973.
In 1976, the family moved to Charlotte, NC when Ed joined Interstate/Johnson Lane (“IJL”) as Chief Financial Officer. Significant milestones over his 24-year career at IJL included taking the firm public in 1985, completing a major merger, and transitioning the firm to Wachovia Securities when it acquired IJL in 1999. In March 2000, Ed retired as Chief Operating Officer of IJL Wachovia.
Throughout his career Ed was devoted to his wife and raising his four children. He took tremendous pride in watching his children’s activities and sports competitions and provided them with strong academic mentorship. When all four children attended the University of Notre Dame, Ed and Joanne embraced blue and gold sports and the Domer community in Charlotte. Along with ND football games, Ed enjoyed Panther football games and tailgating with his IJL friends for many years.
Ed also cherished his and Joanne’s 42 years spent at Lake Norman, first pulling his kids skiing and then his grandkids. He and Joanne loved to host friends and extended family – and watch their kids grow to do the same – on the lake, making lasting memories for all.
Ed’s Catholic faith was integral to his life, motivating his many hours of service both while working and in retirement. He was a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta with whom he served the sick over several pilgrimages to Lourdes, France. Ed was a member of the Charlotte Diocesan Finance Council, and on the Board of Trustees for Belmont Abbey College where he chaired the Finance Committee. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2009 from Belmont Abbey as recognition of his years of dedicated service.
Ed was also an emeritus member of the Salvation Army National Advisory Board where he served a term as Treasurer and on several Board Committees.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Joanne and is survived by his children, Michael (Jenifer), Karen Snell (Jeff), Carol, and Laura; seven grandsons, Evan Ruff, Jack, Connor, and Matthew Ruff, Thomas, Jacob, and Ryan Snell; sister-in-law, Patty Day and numerous nieces and nephews whom he cherished dearly.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte NC. The Rite of Christian burial will be private at Belmont Abbey Cemetery in Belmont, NC. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://stgabrielchurch.org/livefunerals for those unable to attend in person.
On Monday, August 26 a Rosary for Ed will be held from 5:30-6 p.m. followed by visitation until 7:30 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Ed to Holy Angels at https://www.holyangelsnc.org/our-mission-overview or to MiraVia at https://miravia.org/.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.
Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
