Joyce Ruddock Obituary

Ruddock, Joyce
Joyce Marie Ruddock, 58, of Newtown CT, passed away at home in the arms of her husband surrounded by family, on Monday October 8, 2012. Joyce fought a courageous six-year battle with breast cancer. Joyce was the beloved wife of Charles A. Foster Ph.D. and loving stepmother to Katherine Wilson, grandmother to Emery Claire Wilson, and her adored dog Zeph. Joyce was born on September 11, 1954 in Syracuse NY to the late Edward Francis Ruddock and Elizabeth Agnes Ruddock. Joyce was a loving and devoted sister to her four siblings: Lynne Goodfellow of Sarasota FL, James Ruddock of Baldwinsville NY, Betsy Szel of Westport MA, and Edward T. Ruddock of Southbury CT. Joyce was the beloved aunt of David Goodfellow and Melissa Coleman; Beth and Michael Ruddock; Hilary and Vanessa Borba; and Erin, Jenna, and Blake Ruddock. Joyce was an adventurous lover of the outdoors whose hobbies included hiking, scuba diving, kayaking, and collecting seashells. Joyce graduated from West Genesee High School in 1972, State University of New York at Cortland in 1976 with a BS, and Syracuse University with an M.Ed. and MPA. Joyce, a nationally recognized leader in the Medicare and long-term care insurance fields, was recently the President and Chief Operating Officer of LifePlans Inc. A memorial service will be held on October 27, 2012 at the Gelston House, 8 Main Street, East Haddam, CT at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Joyce asked that you make a donation to either: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 (866) 408-3324 www.dana-farber.org (direct your donation to breast cancer), or Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut, 405 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810 (203) 702-7400, or a cancer charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Danbury News Times & Connecticut Post on Oct. 14, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Joyce Ruddock

Sponsored by Her friend Marilyn "Mae" Morais.

7 Entries

Mae (Marilyn)

September 11, 2022

Thinking of you with love, Joyce, and for your family on this your birth day. You gave me and every single person you touched such Joy. Love always, Marilyn, "Mae" Topsham, Maine

Kathy Totman

July 11, 2013

I also had the pleasure of working with Joyce when she was at Travelers, prior to the Met Life merger of their Long Term Care businesses. I went out to Hartford, Ct. to attend LTC training as I was a brokerage manager at the time, and met Joyce and her team. Everyone was so supportive of providing solutions to this challenge, and the following year and went out as a guest speaker to the next class of agents coming to learn more about LTC Insurance.
I also had the opportunity of joining Joyce and the Travelers group on a business trip, where we got to relax and have some laughs together.
I will remember her that way.
My condolences to her family and many friends.

Claude Thau

October 26, 2012

Joyce Ruddock was a giant, not only in the LTCi industry, but as a person. I held Joyce in extremely high regard, partly due to the following outstanding characteristics:

1. Joyce was always respectful of people and energetic and enthusiastic about attacking issues.

2. I have shared with many dozen people (including Joyce) my observation that Joyce took a different view of the LTCi opportunity than did many insurance company staff. Many insurers have looked at LTC as follows:
• We are facing a huge LTC problem in our country.
• We are an insurer. We should be able to make money addressing that issue!
• Ancillary idea, not always expressed: If we do it well, we can help solve the problem.

Judging by her behavior in her work, industry efforts, legislative efforts and pro bono efforts, Joyce had the following view:
• We are facing a huge LTC problem in our country!
• We are an insurer. We should be able to help solve the problem!
• If we do it well, we should be able to make money.

I believe Joyce had the proper perspective.

3. Two of Joyce's direct reports were ladies named Celeste and Jodi. I often called Celeste when I should have called Jodi and vice versa. I felt incompetent until I realized that my errors occurred because Joyce shifted responsibilities between Jodi and Celeste to cross-train her staff for their benefit and the benefit of MetLife and MetLife's constituencies.

4. Joyce's ability to select and develop staff and her confidence in her staff were also evident when MetLife's team presented (in a meeting with Federal government staff) its case to insure the Federal LTCi program. MetLife's presentation was much more balanced among team members than were other presentations I attended. (I was a consultant for the government.)

I have often told my wife, and others, that if I were ever to return to corporate America as an employee, Joyce Ruddock is one of fewer than a handful of people I could think of to whom I'd be delighted to report.

Contemplating an opportunity to work with Joyce in any capacity was always exciting. I am sad that I can no longer dream of such opportunities.

Because of Joyce's grit and determination, I had expected that she would beat her cancer. Losing a vibrant younger colleague is a shocking and unwelcome reminder of the transience of life, but I am thankful for having had the privilege of knowing Joyce and continuing to have the privilege of remembering her. She continues to be a great role model!

October 15, 2012

May the family continue to draw comfort from friends and family as well as the God of peace and hope during this most difficult time.

David McGuire

October 15, 2012

So sorry to hear of Joyce's passing.I worked for Joyce as an RN Clinical assessor/editor @ Lifeplans Inc. for several months. She was always so outgoing/pleasant/happy and you could tell she cared about those who worked for her. I will remember her and each of you ,her family members, in my thoughts and prayers prayers.

October 14, 2012

Dear Betsy,
It's been years, think of you so often, since my wedding ring is a constant reminder of our long friendship and your beautiful work. My heart goes out to you and your siblings. Sincerely, Sandra Nogash Schmidt

Gary Dixon

October 14, 2012

Ted, Jim, Betsy, and Lynn, Such sad news.... It's been years since we all saw each other on Winding Way. My only memories of your family are happy ones as we all grew up together in such a wonderful neighborhood. I am truely saddened by this and my prayers and good thoughts go out to you all.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results