Michael Ruggiero

Michael Ruggiero passed away peacefully on January 7th, 2015. He was born March 8, 1925 in Fontanarosa, Italy. He earned his Civil Engineering degree at the University of Naples in Italy. He immigrated to Montreal, Canada in 1956 in search of a better life as a professional engineer. He was part of a team surveying the wilderness of Canada in order to build new infrastructure and roadways. In addition to his weekly pay, he also received free room and board and was amazed food was available to eat 24/7. Having lived through the depression in Italy, he could not believe how this was possible. After many cold winters and frozen eyelids he moved to Brooklyn, New York where his sister Connie lived. In 1965, he met his wife, Barbara, at a Latin dance club and their first date was at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and coincidentally had seats across from Jackie Kennedy. They were engaged that year and married March 5, 1966. He worked for a subsidiary of Turner Construction as a Civil Engineer, calculating the quantity of concrete needed to build high rise structures. One such notable project was the World Trade Center in New York among many other buildings within the New York Skyline. In 1977, he and Barbara along with their three young children moved to Texas. He worked and eventually retired from BFW Construction Co. in Temple, Texas. Some projects he worked on included many structures at Texas A & M, Huntsville prison, Scott & White Hospital, Kings Daughter’s Hospital and commercial buildings. He served as President of the Moody ISD board where his professional knowledge aided in the renovation of an existing elementary school and the building of a new Junior High School, all under budget. In 2010, he and Barbara moved to Lewisville to be near their family. He enjoyed seeing his grandchildren that live locally and being close to the Dallas Fort Worth airport which aided him in traveling to see their family in California and Italy. He leaves behind his wife Barbara, sons Michael Ruggiero and his wife Lisa of Cypress, California and Anthony Ruggiero and wife Gail of San Juan Capistrano, California, a daughter Emma Polman and her husband Chad Polman of Coppell, Texas and four grandchildren Nicholas, Gabriella, Carter and Frank along with many loving in-laws, nieces and nephews. In addition, sisters Connie Mayer of Ventura, California, Alba Ruggiero of Milan, Italy, and Ada Ciampa of Naples, Italy. He was preceded in death by his father Federico Ruggiero, mother Emanuela Bianco, his brother Nicola Ruggiero and sister Nina Viele, all from Italy. The family will receive friends Sunday, January 11, 2015 from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Restland-Coppell Funeral Home. A Catholic Mass will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Parish, 180 Samuel, in Coppell, Texas at 10:00 am Monday, January 12, 2015. He will be cremated and his ashes placed at his gravesite in the Little River Cemetery, Cameron, Texas at a later date. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in his name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc., Food Program.