Edward G. Ruf

Edward G. Ruf, 65 passed away on October 31, 2024 following a very long and courageous battle with cancer.
His journey never stopped him from doing the things he loved and being independent. A beloved brother and uncle, he will be greatly missed by his sister Chris and family, Michael and Christian.
He grew up on Long Island, New York, in an area that let him find his love of the outdoors and motorcycles. His passion for vehicles with engines and speed began as a Cub Scout. He built his first go-cart that had a wood carving of Snoopy as its tail fin and entered into the Soap Box Derby. This passion for speed led to several dirt bike motorcycles which he road along trails deep in the woods. After graduating high school, he attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virgina and graduated with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. This is where he found the perfect place to attend school and live for a while. After graduating he took off for California and worked in the defense contracting aeronautics industry for a few years. This is where he found his next passion which was race cars. You would always see him watch one race or another and he even became a pit crew member. In the end, Virgina lured him back where he took it to the next level and worked with hypersonic vehicles. He lived in Seaford, Virgina, worked and retired from NASA at Langley Airforce Base where he found a family of coworkers and neighbors. His love of German Shepard dogs allowed him to venture out into the Revolutionary Battlefields in Virgina and take such outstanding photographs of wildlife, especially bald eagles. In retirement, he purchased a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina where he continued to shoot scenic and wildlife photographs. He would email family and friends his pictures to brighten their day. I’m sure everyone will greatly miss these emails. We lost a good man, who was quiet in nature but with a heart full of love.
In memory of Edward G. Ruf please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society or your local animal shelter.