DE RUGGIERO, ROBERT

Funeral services are scheduled for July 2 for local realtor Robert De Ruggiero, 69. He passed away June 28.
He was born in Hoboken and grew up in Union City. He was the president and owner of Robert De Ruggiero, Inc. Realtors, and founded the boutique company in Hoboken in 1969 to cater to the real estate needs of Hudson County. With involvement in over ten thousand real estate transactions, he handled residential, industrial/commercial, land, office, retail and investment properties.
He was a three-time Hudson County ‘Realtor of the Year’ award recipient and past president of both the Hudson County MLS and the Liberty Board of Realtors. In 2004 he was honored with the new ‘Legend’ award, recognizing him for his outstanding real estate career.
Ruggiero was instrumental in merging the various Boards of Realtors in Hudson County into one of the most proactive and strongest Realtor Boards in the state of New Jersey. For over two decades, he spearheaded the Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving charity drive for the Liberty Board, raising funds for food, and he also fostered the Board’s Education Committee.
His memberships included the National Association of Realtors, NJ Association of Realtors, Liberty Board of Realtors, NJMLS, Garden State MLS, First Global Relocation, Realty Multiple Listing Service and I.O.R.E.B.A.
Married to Norma for thirty years, they are long time residents of Hoboken. He was the father of Alec, Jason, Felice, Erin and step-son Jonathan and brother to Ann Ivory. These children and their spouses gave him the joy of his life: five beautiful grandchildren.
From the time he received his first camera at age 14, he was fascinated by the timeless art of photography. While he had taken over 100,000 images through the years, he was still in constant pursuit of his all-time “greatest shot.” Ruggiero would have turned 70 on July 16.
Visitation will be held at Leber Funeral Home, 2000 Kennedy Blvd. (20th St.), Union City on Saturday, June 30, from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday, July 1 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service at Leber is scheduled for Monday, July 2 at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Hillside Cemetery in Lyndhurst.