Jacques Ruch was
a member and past President of the
Fluvanna Ruritan Club
Obituary from the Daily Progress website:
Jacques Ruch, 85, of Lake Monticello, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014, at his home. He leaves his loving wife of 43 years, Judith Shores Ruch; his son, Georges and daughter-in law, Olga; his granddaughters, Rachel and Jacqueline; and cousins in Switzerland and France. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacques Ruch of Switzerland, and Cecelia de la Guardia Ruch of Costa Rica; and his sister, Jacqueline Ruch Harle of England.
Born in New York City, Jacques and his family moved to France and Switzerland, when he was six years old. He was educated at a Jesuit academy in Geneva, and when he was 17 the family moved back to New York City, just at the end of World War II. Uncle Sam was so happy to see him that, as an Ameerican citizen, he was immediately drafted into the ArmyAir Corps and stationed in Paris as an MP.
His professional career was with JP Morgan for 36 years from which he retired as an officer in 1984. He and Judi lived in New York City, and had a little house in Sherman, Connecticut, so the family could escape the city on weekends and vacations. In 1980, they bought a farm in Palmyra, and when they retired they moved down, raising beef cattle for 20 years, loving every minute and the people of Fluvanna.
In 2004, they really retired and moved to Lake Monticello. With a love of travel, he and Judi explored the far corners of the earth. Described as a “voice of reason” by friends, Jacques was actively involved in numerous county affairs, with tentacles across political lines and a wonderful sense of humor.
In addition, he was president of the Ruritan Club, president and currently treasurer of the Historical Society and also of the Heritage Trail Foundation; he was on the Steering Committee of the Fluvanna Taxpayers Association, and a former member of the Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.
In Sherman, he was president of the Timber Trails Club. He grew up playing tennis and sailing on Lake Geneva, and had a life-long love of skiing. Had it not been for WWII, as Swiss National Swimming Champion, he would have represented Switzerland in the Olympics. He continued playing tennis in New York City, and Sherman, and later at Lake Monticello, as well as playing golf here for many years and skiing whenever the chance arose.
Burial in Monticello Memory Gardens will be private. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 23, 2014, at Bethel Baptist Church in Palmyra, Virginia.
The family requests that any donations be made to the Fluvanna County Historical Society, or to the Heritage Trail Foundation or Hospice of the Piedmont. Sheridan Funeral Home in Kents Store, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements.