Richard “Dick” Ferguson Ruscoe, 76, died December 14 at the Masonicare at Newtown facility. He was the beloved husband of Dolores Trenka Ruscoe of Newtown. He was born in Bridgeport, September 9, 1938, and was the son of the late Pearl (DeForest) and Garnet Ruscoe.

He graduated Bullard-Havens Technical High School at age 17, whereupon he joined the United States Navy, with which he served for three years. During his service, he was stationed at the National Security Agency in Washington, DC. At age 42, Mr Ruscoe joined the United States Army National Guard, with which he served for several years.

During a career in electronics and plant engineering that spanned more than 50 years, he worked for Perkin-Elmer, Barnes Engineering, Sprague Meter, Accurate Electronics, Norden Systems, and the Greenwich and New Britain Housing Authorities. As an employee of Barnes Engineering, Mr Ruscoe was part of a team that delivered components to NASA for the Gemini and Apollo space programs.

Additionally, Mr Ruscoe was a distributor of Tupperware products through Cinderella Sales, which he co-founded with his first wife, the late Barbara Stockman. He also worked for Home Depot and Masonicare at Newtown before his retirement.

He was an avid camper, outdoorsman, and ham radio operator. As a scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 69 of Trumbull, he led a canoeing expedition of the Allagash River in northern Maine. Mr Ruscoe was also active in the Trumbull YMCA Indian Guides, and was an ardent fan of the New York Yankees and the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team.

In addition to his wife, children Jennifer Hanlon, and her husband Joseph, of Trumbull, Michael Ruscoe of Milford, JeriAnn Geller of Stratford, William Ruscoe, and his wife Jennifer, of Monroe, Jon Jenkins, and his wife Jeni Craig, of Naugatuck, and Beth West of Guanajuato, Mexico; and two sisters, Faye Zeiner of Milford and Dianne Severance of Bridgeport, survive Mr Ruscoe. He leaves behind seven cherished grandchildren, as well as a brother-in-law, Henry “Bud” Trenka, and several nieces and nephews. An older brother, Elmer, predeceased him.

The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the medical professionals and staff of Masonicare at Newtown for the extraordinary care and support they showed as Mr Ruscoe completed his life’s journey.

Friends may greet the family during calling hours at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 4 to 7 pm, Thursday, December 18. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 am, at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Friday, December 19.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Masonicare at Newtown Quality of Life Fund, PO Box 5505, Newtown CT 06470 or the Animal Center of Newtown at www.theanimalcenter.org.

To leave an online condolence visit www.honanfh.com.