HOWELL – A former resident was remembered and honored for his years of devoted service to Howell during a recent municipal meeting.
Mayor Theresa Berger, speaking on behalf of the Township Council, paid tribute to John Ruggeri during the council’s Dec. 19 meeting.
Ruggeri died at the age of 69 on Oct. 12. He was born in Bergamo, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1955. Ruggeri lived in Union City, Fairview, Union and Howell before settling in Freehold Township in 2004.
Berger said Ruggeri “was the chairman of the Economic Development Committee for 10 years and was instrumental in the development of the Route 9 commercial corridor in Howell, including the expansion of water and sewer lines that proved critical to Howell’s growth.”
Ruggeri was an executive board director for the Howell Chamber of Commerce and was a recipient of the Howell Citizen of the Year Award.
Professionally, Ruggeri worked for Coldwell Banker for 25 years in commercial and residential real estate. During his community service, he served on the board of Sun National Bank and the board of the Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors.
Gene Young, a former president of the Howell Chamber of Commerce, said Ruggeri “was instrumental in the development of this town, bringing the infrastructure into the 21st century.
“We all owe a debt of gratitude to John and all the others who give so much with no fanfare and no acknowledgment. I thank the council and the mayor for giving this acknowledgment for a man who is deserving and (was) a great citizen to this town,” Young said.
Ruggeri’s family members accepted the honor on his behalf from the members of the governing body.
