A Tribute to my Friend

01 Mar 2010 8 Comments

by leofigini in Special Interests

Webster’s dictionary defines a friend as “A person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard”, “A person who gives assistance”, “A person who is on good terms with another”.  My friend, Jim Ruch, just recently passed away on February 25th, 2010 after a short illness.  Jim has been my friend for the past twenty-five years and fits these descriptions and so much more. 

Through the years, Jim and I ushered together every Sunday morning.  I called our usher team the “A” team because I  felt that we were the best of all the teams, thanks to our head usher at that time, Russ Thomas who was the best in the business.  Russ always made sure we did everything correctly.  Beyond ushering, we always attended various functions together with our wives -  choir parties at Ruth Kovach’s cottage on Lake Ontario, choir Christmas parties at church and a host of other activities, part of which makes our church so great.  Kathy and I joined a newly formed life group some years ago that was to be led by Karen Ruch.  I was hesitant to join at first but because Jim was going to join, I gave it a chance.  Our group meets at various homes and as time went on, we became closer in our friendship and our faith. Up until just recently, Jim and I were the only men in the group among twelve women.  We always had fun at those meetings trying to get  the girls to behave themselves.    On several occasions, Kathy and I began to attend some of Jim and Karen’s family functions at their cottage as well as their home.  As time passed, Kathy and I were becoming more and more welcome into the Ruch family.  We are very fortunate to have this  new extended family in our lives.   

Through the years, I had always played cards in a poker club that I started years ago with some family members and some very good friends.  As family members either passed away or lost interest, an opening became available and my first thought was to ask Jim.  I knew he played cards and I knew the other guys would agree to have him join us.  None of the other guys knew him at that time, but once I explained who Jim was and how it would be like having another family member join, they all agreed it was a terrific idea, and the rest is history.  He fit like a glove, in our little club.  The other guys just loved him and we all then became great friends.  Every five or six months, we would all go out for dinner with the wives and had the very best time with each other.  It was a very special time with very special people.

Jim, as you may know was married to Karen for fifty-six years.  They have four adult children and a whole host of grandkids.  At age 75, Jim acted like 50.  He always found humor in so many things.  He loved his family beyond expression.  He loved his wife more than words can describe.  Kathy has  mentioned several times that some people just belong together and when you think of one, you automatically think of the other. That’s the way it was with Jim and Karen.  Jim, along with his lovely bride, best friend and life long companion, were true to each other, their faith and their church family at First Trinity.  Every day they would sit down together for a devotion and read scripture from the Bible. Because of this, Jim’s faith and Bible knowledge grew greatly.

I always refer to Jim as a very, very good friend, but I have come to realize that he really was more like a big brother to me.  Growing up with just my older sister, I always wondered what it would be like to have had a brother too.  Before I was born, my mother gave birth to a baby boy who died after four days.  That memory has always stayed with me through the years and as I was growing up, I frequently would imagine how different my life would have been if my brother had lived.  Looking back on my life, and reflecting on the past twenty five years at First Trinity and my friendship with Jim, I now realize I had a brother all this time and just never realized it.

I think Mr. Webster needs to put a note in his dictionary that says “when looking up the word friend, forget the other definitions listed,  just look up Jim Ruch”.

In this time of sadness, we can find some happiness in the loss of our friend.  We can feel relief knowing that God took Jim quickly and that he did not suffer very long. We will  always remember Jim in our hearts and minds.  We can feel great satisfaction and joy knowing that Jim has been called to his heavenly home with God our Father who has welcomed him with open arms, saying “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”.