Mario was born on December 31, 1968 in Sinton, Texas, the second of Julian & Martha Ruiz’s three children. He grew up in Live Oak, Texas - first, on the old Friesenhahn Hill, and then later, the family home on a flat stretch atop Whispering Oaks Street which became a favorite place for neighborhood friends to play street football, basketball, and wiffle-ball. Mario attended Judson ISD schools beginning with the now-named Ed Franz Elementary, through Kitty Hawk Junior High before graduating a mighty Judson Rocket. A member of Pack and then Troop 805, he attained Boy Scouts’ highest rank of Eagle Scout and was an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow. Mario then moved to Austin to be a Longhorn at The University of Texas at Austin where he competed in intramural badminton as he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. After starting his teaching career working for Austin ISD, he returned to our family home to help our mother care for our then-ailing father.
Preceded in death by his parents, Julian & Martha Ruiz, Mario is survived by his brother, Miguel J. Ruiz (Cheryl); his sister, Celina E. Ruiz-Snowden (Michael); and his nieces and nephews: Keith Carpenter, Emily Carpenter, Adam Ruiz, Emma Snowden and Jazmin Snowden; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, teammates and friends.
Mario followed the example of his parents to serve his community and worked as a special education teacher at Candlewood Elementary in Judson ISD; and volunteered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Community in Selma, Texas as an usher, a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and as an active member of the Guadalupana Society. A generous man, Mario was always shopping for his students, fellow teachers or friends. He loved to play bingo and could be seen at the local Flamingo Bingo with his lucky trolls. Besides being a “Trekkie” at heart, Mario loved to watch CSI, comedies, and to cheer on the Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs and his beloved Judson Rockets where he had been a football manager under their legendary coach, D.W. Rutledge. Mario was a genuine individual with a heart as big as Texas - always helping his fellow man and embodying a duty to God and Country, Family and Friends.
A viewing and visitation for Mario will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8th, with Rosary at 7 p.m.; a Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 9th, with interment and bereavement to follow - all services will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 N. Evans Road, Selma, Texas 78154.
Thank you to all the family and friends who were there to support our brother throughout his life – especially in the four years since the passing of our Mother.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Neighborhood Longhorns Program Scholarship Fund in memory of Mario Ruiz at bit.ly/NLPMarioRuiz .
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the RUIZ family.
