Juan Carlos Ruffier MD

Dr. Juan Carlos Ruffier, M.D., aged 82, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in El Paso, Texas. He was born on July 11, 1940, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before coming to El Paso he worked in New York, Baltimore, and Birmingham as a resident and a practicing physician. He came to El Paso, Texas and opened his practice in cardiology and raised his family with his wife, Liria. During his over forty-year career, he served innumerous patients and worked tirelessly for his community.

Juan Carlos had many stories and could talk about any subject, anything from mathematics to culture to theology. To converse with him was to be engrossed in a lesson in history or geometry. His wit was sharp and he always had a pun or joke at the ready. His children loved to hear stories of his work, and he would often take them on his rounds so they could learn first-hand then quiz them about what they learned. Juan Carlos Ruffier worked hard to provide for his children and demonstrate the value of education.

But in his role as son, husband, doctor, and father, his greatest role was grandfather. Abuelo beamed at his grandchildren and all their accomplishments. The strong, disciplinarian father turned into a softhearted, indulging Abuelo with the birth of his first grandchild, and from then on he was never the same. He spoiled his grandchildren with as much desserts, sweets, and laughter as he could and praised every accomplishment. He showered them with an unconditional love that could never be matched.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Liria Cristina Ruffier, his six children, Juan Carlos Ruffier II, Liria Ruffier Acuña (Ulisses Acuña), John David Ruffier (Veronica Teresa Lerma), Deborah Ruffier, Patricia Ruffier, Jeannette Ruffier (Jean Rodriguez). His legacy lives on in his fourteen grandchildren, John David II (Johnny), Jonathan, Alicia, Juan Carlos Ruffier III (Juancho), Charlotte, Giovanni, Annabella, Andrew, Isabella, Abigail, Francisco (Danger), Faith, Levi Caleb, and Vittoria. He will also be remembered fondly by his brother, Dr. Jose Maria Ruffier, his sister in law, Cynthia Ruffier, and their daughters Diana, Veronica and Mary-Jo. He is preceded in death by his parents David and Leonor Ruffier.

Juan Carlos Ruffier was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather. You will live in our hearts always, until we meet again.

A visitation for Juan Carlos Ruffier will be held Friday, March 24, 2023, at 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home East, 1460 George Dieter Drive, El Paso, TX, 79936.