Michael Ruiz

1932 - 2021

Michael Leopold Ruiz
1932 - 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Michael Leopold Ruiz, renowned artist and Professor of Art History on November 24, 2021.
Michael was born in Redwood City, CA. He spent his childhood in the Peninsula/Bay Area with his loving mother, Rosa Cota who instilled heritage and rich traditions and his stepfather and role model, Jesus Quintana who taught him confidence, hard work, resourcefulness and determination-life skills that served him well; and five siblings each of whom were special to him.
He attended Mission High School and City College San Francisco. He then joined the US Army and was assigned to the Signal Corp Radio School in Fort Lewis, Washington and was also on the boxing team with a select group of college athletes.
After his military service, he held various part time jobs while attending college, including a road worker laying cement, moving furniture for Bekins Moving and Storage, delivering pastry at 5am, copy boy at the SF Examiner and eventually a sports writer where he luckily attended sporting events citywide watching the Bay Area teams he always loved. Eventually, he started a career in a large advertising agency in New York City. After several high profile graphic design/architecture projects, he moved back home to the SF Bay Area to return to the classroom. He pursued higher education earning his secondary teaching credential and Master's Degree. He taught at high schools in Northern California before his 28 year career as the Professor of Art and Art History at City College San Francisco.
During his career, he served as President of the Latin Educational Association, Chairman of the Art Department and the American Federation of Teachers Union. He remained active in various community organizations including Galeria de la Raza, where he was a founding member, Calle 24 and Accion Latina. He always found time to share his knowledge of Art History and developed and taught classes at the de Young Museum, Walnut Creek Civic Center and Mt. Diablo Community College in the East Bay where he currently lived.
He had a unique talent and thirst for knowledge and studied Pre-Colombian cultures and their art throughout his career. He traveled to Europe, Peru and Mexico frequently and often said he needed to know and understand the art he was teaching! He was a published artist and his work has been prominently featured in art galleries nationwide.
Over the past decades, he championed efforts to preserve and showcase Latin and cultural traditions rooted in the SF Mission District where he grew up.
You need only walk on Calle 24 in San Francisco to see his art and feel his spirit in the reliefs he carved on building facades, in his depiction of glyphs and Mayan ball players on another and in the sunrise installed on a storefront entry; and at Carnaval SF where he designed the poster art for the annual festival honoring Latin American and Caribbean traditions.
Although his love of art was tremendous, it was only second to his love and dedication to his family. He was a caring dad and 'papa' who cherished the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. His legacy now lives on through their eyes, hearts and talents.
He is survived by his children, Michael Ruiz, Amalia Mann (Ruiz),Robert Ruiz, son-in-law Christopher Mann, and six grandchildren, Akili, Nolani, Skylar, Danelle, Gabriella and Sofia; siblings, Rosalie O'Connor (Quintana), brother-in-law, Gino Lomonaco; and his brother Ernie Quintana and many nieces, nephews and cherished friends.
He is predeceased by his mother, Rosa Cota, father, Miguel Ruiz, stepfather, Jesus Quintana, sister, Anita Villalobos (Contini),brother-in-law David Villalobos, sister Manuelita Contini Cota, sister-in-law, Jeannine Quintana, brother, Fernando Ruiz, and sister-in-law Nellie Ruiz.
Memorial Donations may be made to: Acción Latina, Galeria de la Raza, Calle 24 Latino Cultural District