Businessman celebrates 100th birthday

By Pam Schiff
Posted 11/25/15

By PAM SCHIFF

In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run. Women were not allowed to vote, and there were still living Civil War veterans.

A lot has changed since then, but turning 100 is …

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Businessman celebrates 100th birthday

Posted

By PAM SCHIFF

In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run. Women were not allowed to vote, and there were still living Civil War veterans.

A lot has changed since then, but turning 100 is still a big deal when it comes to birthdays.

Local businessman Querino Ruggieri – known as Edward, Ed, or Eddy – just had 129 family and friends gather at the Santa Maria DiPrata Hall to wish him happy birthday.

“We surprised him with a 90th party and he cried all day. So, I promised him right there and then that we would not surprise him for his 100th,” said his daughter, Janet Ricci.

Ruggieri was born in the Knightsville section of Cranston to Pasquale and Maria (DiMoscolo) Ruggieri. His other six siblings include Lucy, Angelina, Phillip (Spain), John (Brains), Antonio (Sharkey) and Rizzieri (Jerry). The Ruggieri boys, brothers and cousins alike, were notorious for nicknames.

As part of his upbringing, he worked on the family farm.

“Dad had his before-school chores of milking the cows, bringing them to pasture two miles away, then getting himself to school. Ruggieri attended the former Green Street School, also in Knightsville. Then he reversed this after school, bringing the cows in from the field to the barn and milking them. He rode his horse, Jack, to do all this work, and all his dogs – he had quite a few growing up – were named Jim,” Ricci said.

Ruggieri sold the milk and cream to help his family.

“That has been dad’s mantra all these years, to help his family,” Ricci said.

When he was 25 years old, Ruggieri married for the first time. He and Milly Iannucelli were married in 1940. They had one son, Ralph.

“She passed away in October 1942 when Ralph was 14 months old. Dad gave Ralph over to his maternal grandmother to raise, taking care to visit his young son as often as possible,” Ricci said.

Like so many members of the “Greatest Generation,” Ruggieri sacrificed an education to join the service. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45 as a gunner’s mate and helmsman. He was assigned to the U.S.S. William T. Powell, a destroyer escort. They escorted troop and supply ships to the army fighting in Europe, also going to Northern Ireland and off the coast of Sicily. He was heading toward Panama and the Pacific when the war ended.

Upon his return to Cranston, Ruggieri married Eva Carbone of Providence in 1947. Together, they had Paul and Janet. After Paul was born, Ralph rejoined the family, but wanting to keep him close to his maternal grandmother, Eddie had a house built just across the street from her. Eva passed away in January of 1981.

After the war, Ruggieri worked for the Providence Gas Co., digging ditches. He went on to work installing floor covering and linoleum counter tops for the Ben Halloway Company.

He, along with his brother Antonio (Sharkey), started Ruggieri Brothers Floor Covering in 1949. A year later, their brother John joined them.

Ruggieri retired from the business in 2009 at the age of 93. This local business is still thriving, while being run by second- and third-generation family members.

In January 1952, Ruggieri moved with his family just two miles away to the Rockland Heights area. It will be 64 years there this upcoming January.

“Dad’s heart always belonged to Knightsville. He celebrates St Mary’s feast every year. I remembered as a kid, the store was always closed on July 21, St Mary’s Feast Day. I thought everybody took it as a holiday,” Ricci said.

Ruggieri went on to marry Bellardina DeCiccio-Salvatore. To date, they have spent 34 years together, traveling, playing cards, socializing with family and friends and living a good life.

Ruggieri’s family has extended to six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, as well as six stepchildren (four of whom are living), 12 step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren.

Up until this past summer, Ruggieri was an avid gardener. “Dad always loved gardening he has grown his tomatoes, asparagus, beans, corn, beets, peas, etc.,” Ricci said. “He also has a rather large orchard of fruit trees – of course, the mandatory fig, along with peach, apple, pear, plums and cherry.”

A man of few words, Ruggieri thanked everyone who came to his party. He has lived a long, hard-working life, and has made a lot of friends along the way.

“It was a fabulous party. A great time was had by all,” Ricci said. “Guest from the party said over and over that they wouldn’t have missed it for the world. They were all so happy and honored to be invited. Relatives and friends came in from New York City, Virginia, Maine and Massachusetts.”

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