Henrietta Levy Ruggero

She and her husband Bob and children moved to North Carolina in 1954 where they owned and operated Ruggero Piano Service. She was a dedicated mother to her three children and a remarkable writer and poet. Her memoir, her collections of poetry and short stories, and a novel brought much joy to her family. She reviewed the latest books in The News and Observer, which also published many of her poems, edited for the Southern Poetry Review, and was published in the The New Yorker. She regularly volunteered at Dorothea Dix Hospital bringing formal tea parties to the residents. She loved her home on Bedford Ave near Meredith College where she lived since 1965 and was an amazing cook with some award-winning recipes. Many college students made their home in the upstairs apartments where she helped them get settled into college life in Raleigh.

She and her three brothers, Jerome, Lewis and Albert were born in Queens, New York to John and Fanny Levy. Her life prior to North Carolina included singing and playing the bass in a band and involvement in the family business, The Ruggero School of Music.

She is survived by her three children and their spouses, John and Sally Ruggero, Linda Julian, Richard and Deborah Ruggero; her grandchildren and their spouses, John and Judy Ruggero, Joseph Ruggero and Chelsea Temkin, Chris and Andrea Ruggero, Brian and Susan Banks; as well as her great grandchildren Miles, Camilla, and Mara Ellis Ruggero, and Roxanne and Isabelle Banks.

The celebration of life for Henrietta Levy Ruggero will take place on Saturday, November 20th, 2021. We will gather at 12:00 noon for an inurnment service at the Raleigh Memorial Park Mausoleum. The address is 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Hospice/Transitions Life Care. Their online contact information is https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/ Please scroll down to fill out the donation form.

Thank you from the Ruggero family.