Linda Rose Julian

Linda Julian (b. May 4, 1951 in Mt. Vernon New York, d. April 28, 2026 in Raleigh) was a brilliant professional clarinetist who had a career as principal clarinetist in various army bands in the USA and Europe together with her husband, Jonathan Julian, a bassoonist, clarinetist, and photographer.

Linda also taught at the Naval School of Music and privately. After their retirement from the army, she and Jonathan performed with the Piedmont Wind Symphony, the Winston-Salem Symphony and the chamber trio Mélange with her brother, John Ruggero, a pianist.

She and her husband were students of famed clarinetist Robert Listokin at the NC School of the Performing Arts, where the couple met. The two were deeply in love and strongly united in their Christian faith. They were inseparable in all their activities, musical and otherwise.

Linda was the daughter of Robert Ruggero, a professional musician, and Henrietta Ruggero, a poet and writer. She grew up in Raleigh after the family moved from New York in 1954. Linda was born with unusually severe infantile esotropia, which was successfully corrected at the McPherson Hospital in Durham. As a child, she loved playing card and board games of all kinds, particularly chess. She was also an excellent marksman and later earned a service medal for her marksmanship.

After her husband’s death, Linda led a simple life working in her extensive garden in Winston-Salem, making improvements to her home, and organizing Jon Julian’s large photographic output. Linda was a sincere person of great mental strength and was unshakeable in her beliefs. She eagerly anticipated rejoining her beloved husband in heaven.

Linda is survived by her brothers John and Richard Ruggero, the owner of Ruggero Piano Service, and Richard’s three sons and their families, John, Joseph and Christopher, all of whom work in the field of piano technology.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Linda, or a message of condolence for her family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.