Denise Ross

Denise Ross, of Rutherford, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on November 14, 2025. She was born in Jersey City, raised in Hoboken and Edison, and moved to Rutherford in the mid 1970s, where she met her beloved late husband, Al, who lived next door to her parents, Salvatore "George" and Vern Ruiz. She was known for her loyalty, honesty, straightforwardness, and her fierce and unwavering love for her family and friends. Above all things, she wanted to be remembered as fair. She has been described as always looking out for everyone even if they didn't realize it. Denise proudly held many roles in her life, but nothing was more important to her than her family.

Denise and Al married in 1980 and were blessed with their adored son, Spencer, in 1986. Since 2014 the family was joined by Miranda Helck, Spencer's fiancée, who Denise loved and cherished as her own daughter. She was a loving and caring daughter to her father and mother, who predeceased her in 2012 and 2022, respectively. She was a devoted sister to Bart and Michael Ruiz, sister-in-law to Morteza and Josiane Marshall, aunt to Melissa Chamchil-McMillan (Paul), Eric Marshall (Megan), William Ruiz (Erin), and Margot Ruiz, and great-aunt to Tyler Marshall, Michaela Marshall, Miles Marshall, and Daphne Ruiz. Cousin to Patty Basil, Gloria Richman, Robbie Basil (Debbie), and Adam Richman (Rachel).

Among her many roles, Denise was a top sales associate for Parklane Hosiery in the early 1980's. She worked alongside Al in one of the first Domino's pizza franchises. When Spencer was starting Pre-K at Saint Mary's Elementary, she volunteered there and served for many years on the Saint Mary School Advisory Board. When the Archdiocese threatened to close Saint Mary's in 1992, she was instrumental in the plan that ultimately saved it until 2021 by advocating for full day Kindergarten and other improvements. She went on to become a beloved Saint Mary Pre-K teacher, Parish Council member, Usher, and Eucharistic Minister for many years. The friends she made at Saint Mary's stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Denise helped launch the careers of many Democratic candidates at all levels of government. In 1997, she joined the Rutherford Democrats and eventually served for more than two decades as the Chairwoman of the Rutherford Democratic Municipal Committee and on the Executive Board of the Bergen County Democratic Organization. Under her political direction and leadership, Rutherford has maintained a Democratic majority on the Council since 2000.

She became a Rutherford councilwoman in January 2000 after Bernadette McPherson was elected Mayor of Rutherford. As a Councilwoman Denise served as Rutherford Fire Department Liaison, where she was lovingly referred to as "Commish" and during her tenure advocated for legislation to require the installation of hard-wired smoke detectors in residential homes. In her role as Chair of the Downtown Partnership, she helped transform Rutherford's Park Avenue into the beautiful and vibrant destination it is today.

Her incomparable organizational skills served her well in her roles as Open Public Records Act liaison for the Meadowlands Commission, as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Bergen County Executive, Bergen County Deputy Director of Human Services, Bergen County Utilities Authority Director of Wastewater Education, Campaign Manager to Rutherford Council candidates, and the job she was born to do, Bergen County Board of Elections Commissioner. Please join her family and many friends in honoring her memory this Friday, November 21, 2025 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM and Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 10 am at Calhoun-Mania Memorial Home at 19 Lincoln Avenue, Rutherford, NJ followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 am at the Church of St. Mary 91 Home Avenue Rutherford , NJ.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rutherford Food Pantry, https://www.rutherfordcommunitypantry.org/