Obituary of Walter F. Ruger

Walter F. Ruger, 88 of Bellmore on February 6. Beloved husband of Catherine of 66 years. Loving father of Cathleen Luby. Cherished grandfather of Sean and Meghan. Walter served 28 years in the New York Police Dept and retired as a sergeant from police headquarters. After retiring from the police dept, and completing his Masters degree from StonyBrook University he began his second career as a professor of Criminal Justice at Nassau Community College. He was affiliated with the college for approximately 18 years and loved teaching before retiring in 1999 due to heart issues. After recovering from heart surgery with a heart valve transplant he took time to kick back and enjoy retirement. He and Catherine were able to enjoy traveling throughout the US and to Europe. In his younger years he sailed around Long Island sound before starting a family. Through the years, Walter enjoyed reading, dabbled in golf but his true love was tennis. He was an avid tennis player into his late 70's and even enjoyed watching professional matches on television as well as attending the US Open Tennis Tournament in Forest Hills and later in Flushing, NY. Over the past 10 years, he was such a tennis buff that he'd watch major matches and grand slam tournaments from his favorite recliner. If you asked him, he'd be able to give you a summary of every match and the scores. His love of tennis was shared with Catherine his wife and his daughter. Cathy, his daughter remembers her dad as a strong, hardworking, athletic, and very mechanical person. When she was 7 years old he taught her how to ice skate at Roosevelt Field skating rink and when weather permitted at Roosevelt lake. The only problem was he taught her hockey style on figure skates. For those who knew him, he could be logical but sometimes a bit excitable, however he was always a good provider for his family. He lived a long life and will be missed.