PETER C. RUSCITTO

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George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home - Needham

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Needham, Massachusetts

PETER RUSCITTO Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for PETER C. RUSCITTO
Start: 2019-05-03T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Dover Church

RUSCITTO, Peter C. Of Norfolk, April 21, 2019. Beloved husband of Sarah S. (Reed) Ruscitto for 39 years. Devoted father of David L. Ruscitto of West Roxbury, Louisa R. Ruscitto of South Boston and Matthew S. Ruscitto and his wife Meghan of Hingham. Loving grandfather of Reece and Isabella Ruscitto both of Hingham. Brother of Elizabeth "Ibby" Lizardo and her husband Jose of Plymouth. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Peter attended Thayer Academy, New Hampton School and was a graduate of Denison University of Ohio. As a school teacher and coach, he touched many lives at The Rectory School of Pomfret, CT, Charles River School of Dover, MA and Friends Academy of North Dartmouth, MA. He enjoyed the outdoors, working with his hands and spending summers with his family and friends in Harwich Port. A Celebration of Peter's Life will be held at the Dover Church, 17 Springdale Ave., Dover on Friday, May 3, at 11am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Peter's memory to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at https://curealz.org/ (search Peter Ruscitto). For online guestbook gfdoherty.com George F. Doherty & Sons Needham 781 444 0687

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Published by Boston Globe from Apr. 24 to Apr. 28, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for PETER RUSCITTO

6 Entries

Stephen Walach

April 19, 2021

Peter's name came up just last week in a conversation I was having with Pat B., owner of Earthworks -- the landscaping company Peter hired years ago to maintain our extensive school grounds. Pat recalled with admiration many instances of Peter's business acumen and down-to-earth approach to the tasks at hand.

We spoke while standing in front of the sturdy garden shed that Peter eventually gave me the go-ahead to buy, but only after he had given the deal a thorough going over. The shed continues to perform at and above expectations, as it has been doing since 2008. Hundreds of students and many more clients of local food pantries and soup kitchens continue to benefit from Peter's good judgment and foresight.

The garden shed is just one smallish example of the many and much larger, complex and costly construction projects that came under his purview. However, for me, the shed is a very available reminder of the way Peter touched my life and the lives of so many others.

Peter is missed and still remembered.

Michael McAdam

June 28, 2019

I was tutored by Peter Ruscitto for remedial reading at the Rectory School. To get me to work with him, he used to play a quick ping pong game at the start of the session to deal with my ADHD. He almost got himself in trouble with the assistant Headmaster but being the demon I was, the assistant Headmaster understood his reasoning. He definitely was a great teacher and friend during my years at the Rectory School. I will never forget, Peter Ruscitto, for the impact he was on my life

May 3, 2019

Peter was one of the first people I met when I interviewed for a teaching job at Friends Academy in 2002. I was relocating from warm Miami to chilly New England and Peter confidently predicted that being so close to the coast, the Dartmouth school had mild winters and I shouldn't have to worry about long slogs through the snow or school closures. My first year teaching, February of 2003 roared in with more than two feet of snow, shutting down the school for an entire week. Peter had to bring in military-size bulldozers to remove a six foot drift that completely blocked main driveway and the front door. We often shared a good laugh over his weather prognosticating.

Gracious, thorough, smart, considerate, empathetic, reliable and helpful, Peter was old school in the best sense of the word. We never had to wonder if Peter had it together because he always did, and always for the right reasons.

As business manager at Friends, Peter handled his numerous responsibilities impeccably, and he was predictably on point with the numbers when the feasibility of a project and its dollar and cents ramifications were being discussed and debated. The buck might not have stopped in his office, but it had to get past his desk. During his tenure Peter played a major role in keeping the school financially stable and secure -- never a simple task for an institution that was, and still is -- quite generous with its financial aid while at the same time also greatly dependent on tuition revenue.

Peter's other major contribution was his encyclopediac knowledge of the physical plant. He oversaw numerous construction projects at the school, and he was intimately familiar with the details and costs of each and every one. He oversaw the construction of the Commons at the turn of the millennium, and about twelve or so years ago -- when Friends underwent a major renovation of its main wing -- Peter was front and center all summer long, somehow guiding an enormously complicated and costly project to its completion in time for classes to begin in September. Peter often stopped by the garden that summer on his way to one venue or another and described in more detail than I could comprehend the nettlesome problems the crew was having with the French drains, just one of many difficulties that kept him up nights.

Uniquely focused and tremendously competent, Peter had a guiding hand in many other projects, and the millions of dollars of improvements to the physical plant that we enjoy today are in no small part thanks to him.

Peter and I are in the same age cohort. It is so sad and sobering to learn that he had been struck by a disease we generally think is the province of only the very old. Schools are places of great flux and movement -- an entire eighth grade of 30 or more launching off in new directions every June. Faculty also come and go and the turnover comes as no surprise. However, I am ashamed to say I did maintain communication with Peter once he moved on. I could have done better.

My condolences to Peter's wife Sarah and his children David, Louisa and Matthew. He spoke of you often and always in a heartfelt way.

At the very least, I hope you know that Peter had a major impact on the lives of so many -- faculty, parents and children. He did much of his best work behind the scenes but -- as it often is with the passing of a life -- we do not unearth our full appreciation until we hear the bell toll for the last time.

Wishing you all an uplifting celebration of Peter's life on May 3rd.

Danielle Hope

May 1, 2019

My deepest sympathy to all who loved Peter. He will be missed. I knew Peter for only a short while but his kind gentle manner and sweet smile made it very easy to care. I'm so grateful for the time I had with Peter and his family. I'm so truly sorry for your loss. Sally Dave Louisa and Matt. You are in my thoughts and prayers. And in my heart forever. God bless

Meg DeGregorio

April 28, 2019

Our thoughts are with Peter's family. Peter quickly made his way into the hearts of us all at Bridges. Rest in Peace Peter.

Betsy Guthrie

April 27, 2019

I am so sorry, Sally. I remember him as such a kind and brilliant man who was devoted to his students as well as to you and his children and grandchildren. I am thinking of you and praying for him and you and David, Louisa, and Matthew.

Betsy

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