William R. Ruffner 1944-2026
MOUNT LEBANON, Pa. — William Robert Ruffner, 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, July 5, 2026, after a long illness with Parkinson’s disease.
Born Feb. 26, 1944, to Robert and Dorthy Ruffner of Poland, Bill — known to close friends as “Ruff”– graduated from Poland High School, where he played football and participated in choir and marching band. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration from Youngstown State University.
Bill began his career in the ferrous scrap industry with Youngstown Sheet and Tube before moving to Pittsburgh to join the David J. Joseph Company. He later became a partner at Scrap Management International and continued his long career with Tube City, Severstal, Sharon Steel and Caparo. He also taught night classes at Youngstown State University and community colleges in Maryland and Illinois.
Bill had an exceptional ear for music, a gift he inherited from his parents, and could play nearly any instrument he picked up, including guitar, banjo, trombone and clarinet. He especially loved the beach — particularly Emerald Isle, North Carolina — as well as sailing, tennis and learning to ski with his daughter later in life. Bill loved every dog he met, even if the feeling was not always shared. He inspired his daughters’ love of German shepherds, a love they continue to carry on.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a baby sister and a son-in-law, Dale Lehman.
He is survived by his daughters, Laura Flaherty and Tracey Lehman (Thomas Kupiec); his first wife, lifelong friend and caregiver, Susanne Ruffner; his grandchildren, Jessica Peace (Nick Kulesza), Allison (Jeff) Wilk, Megan (Marcus Lewis) Peace, Ryan Flaherty, Kayleigh (Thomas) Bernthaler, Lindsay Janda and Emily Janda (Cole Weston); and his great-grandchildren, Braydon, Noah and Alayna Kulesza, Maya Hanns, Eli Wilk and soon-to-arrive Baby Bernthaler.
Friends and family will gather at 3 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2026, until the time of the service at 5 p.m. at Pittsburgh Cremation & Funeral Care, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
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