Giving Thanks to the Ruegers on Thanksgiving Day

Boris & Edith Rueger, supporters of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Boris and Edith Rueger were the longest and most significant supporters of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History when they became involved in year 2000. Sadly, Edith Zal Rueger passed away on August 26, 2010 which was nearly one-year and two months to date of the passing of her husband Boris Rueger who preceded her in death in June 2009.

For numerous years, the Ruegers had supported the Museum's inventive educational programs and efforts to secure a permanent home. Some of the Museum programs which they supported included the annual Children & Parents Day event that has been held in Boynton Beach; and they also funded the Museum’s Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach and the Children’s Mathematics in Design & History program. 

In Addition, the Ruegers also sponsored the Museum’s efforts its previous donated 8,000 square feet facility located in Boynton Beach, Florida at the Boynton Beach Mall. The Ruegers left a bequest in their Will to help fund the renovations and programs at MLFH. Because of the support from the Ruegers, the facility was renovated and included three gallery spaces and an education room.   MLFH opened in the Mall location in 2009.  In February 2012, the owners of the Mall forced MLFH to abruptly move because they needed the space for another tenant.  A gallery to be named in the honor of the Ruegers was planned at the Mall location but plans have now changed for the gallery naming to now be done once MLFH secures a new home.  MLFH's bus tours still continue without interruption along with ongoing efforts to sercure a permanent home.

For more than 45 years, the Ruegers lived in Delaware County, Pennsylvania where Boris Rueger was a co-owner of the East End Repair Shop. He and his wife Edith married more than 65 years ago on December 31, 1944.

The Ruegers lived in Pennsylvania until their retirement to Delray Beach, Florida more than 20 years ago. They both helped to create and chaired for 16 years a cultural program called “Summer Humanities” for residents of Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach, Florida. The Ruegers were also active members at Temple Sinai in Delray Beach, Florida.

Boris and Edith Rueger were each others best friend. Their birth dates were only one day a part as Edith often recalled “Bob’s birthday is November 22^nd and my birthday is November 21^st.” They are survived by their two wonderful children, Larry Rueger and Judi Space; and two fantastic grandchildren Rita Rueger and Dana Rueger along with a host of many wonderful family members and friends. And, the Ruegers also developed a very special friendship with Lori J. Durante who is the Executive Director of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Lori often referred to the Ruegers as her “honorary grandparents.”

Boris and Edith are now both interred in Wallingford, Pennsylvania.

Year 2011 marks the 12th anniversary of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. The Ruegers had dedicated many years to help the Museum realize its dream of a permanent home. In Fall of 2009, the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History opened in a donated facility at the Boynton Beach Mall in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Museum will be at the mall location while efforts still continue for the permanent facility. A gallery at the Museum will be named in their honor.

To Make A Donation:
If you would like to make a monetary donation to the Museum towards a fund to help raise monies for the gallery to be named in the honor of Boris & Edith Rueger, send a monetary donation, in any amount, payable to the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History at P.O. Box 6127, Delray Beach, Florida 33482 or donations can be made on-line. Click here to access the website. For more information, call 561-243-2662 or e-mail: donate@mlfhmuseum.org.