Obituary for Robert "Bob" Ruxin
Robert “Bob” Ruxin died peacefully Sunday morning, July 17, 2022, in the presence of his loving wife, Peggy Shukur; children, Scoop and Tally (Erickson), Ali, and Talia; sister, Suzanne Fin; and a 14-1 Yankees win the night before.
Bob was a proud journalist and athlete growing up in Cobleskill, NY. He was deeply loyal to his family, his friends, his teammates and his fellow Tigers. One of the highlights of his time at Princeton University was the opportunity to hone his love of writing under the tutelage of John McPhee, a lifelong friend and inspiration, who considered Bob a member of “Phi Beta Football”. After relishing his time at Princeton, where he was Chairman of the Daily Princetonian, he went on to Harvard Law School. He was the author of “An Athlete’s Guide to Agents”, and then began a long career in the sporting goods industry, working for Dick Kazmaier, fellow Tiger. He especially enjoyed company meetings that were held in ballparks and football stadiums rather than conference rooms.
Bob was a Princeton Alumni of New England President and avid supporter of Princeton men’s and women’s basketball teams. His beat at the Daily Princetonian was women’s sports, and as chairman he championed equitable coverage of women’s and men’s sports in the 1970s. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of his children’s sports teams and served as their coach in the early years of their careers. Among his proudest coaching moment was coaching the “Reds” to the Little League championship.
Bob managed to weave his passion for sports into everything he did as an early supporter of the Women’s Sports Foundation, as director of operations for the Israel Baseball League and as a dedicated and fierce player on the Temple Shir Tikvah and Princeton Alumni softball teams. He joined his intellect and his passions as an active board member of the Sports Lawyers Association where he is remembered as smart, creative and caring, and at Temple Shir Tikvah, serving in many roles including President, chair of the Israel Committee and chair of the Rabbi Search Committee. Bob helped lead Jewish Major Leaguers which produced a set of baseball cards and a book of Jewish Major League Baseball players as well as a weekend honoring them in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bob and Peggy met in Washington D.C. in 1981 and cherished over 40 years of travel, community, family, and love.
Services will be held at the Beit Olam East Cemetery 42 Concord Street (Route 126), Wayland on Tuesday, July 19 at 10:30 AM. Shiva at 12 Nickerson Road, Lexington from 7-9 pm on Tuesday and from 2-4 pm on Wednesday. Shiva will be held in the backyard. Please bring a water bottle and chair.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Women’s Sports Foundation www.womenssportsfoundation.org, which Bob was involved in for many years (consistent with his encouragement for his daughters to play any and every sport, always); Temple Shir Tikvah www.shir-tikvah.org, where Bob cultivated and shared in community; and/or the Patient Assistance Fund at Dana Farber donate.pmc.org (“add a rider” and search for Margaret Shukur and Aliana Ruxin), for which Ali and Peggy plan to ride the Pan Mass Challenge, and which provides financial assistance to access the exceptional care that allowed us six extra years with Bob. Also, consider donating blood and/or platelets, both of which are a lifeline to many, particularly blood cancer patients.
To view Bob’s service webcast please click the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87553048373?pwd=b1M2cWNwc1grRE5nbE9DZEwwcS9Pdz09
Passcode: 345029
Webinar ID: 875 5304 8373
Bob was a proud journalist and athlete growing up in Cobleskill, NY. He was deeply loyal to his family, his friends, his teammates and his fellow Tigers. One of the highlights of his time at Princeton University was the opportunity to hone his love of writing under the tutelage of John McPhee, a lifelong friend and inspiration, who considered Bob a member of “Phi Beta Football”. After relishing his time at Princeton, where he was Chairman of the Daily Princetonian, he went on to Harvard Law School. He was the author of “An Athlete’s Guide to Agents”, and then began a long career in the sporting goods industry, working for Dick Kazmaier, fellow Tiger. He especially enjoyed company meetings that were held in ballparks and football stadiums rather than conference rooms.
Bob was a Princeton Alumni of New England President and avid supporter of Princeton men’s and women’s basketball teams. His beat at the Daily Princetonian was women’s sports, and as chairman he championed equitable coverage of women’s and men’s sports in the 1970s. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of his children’s sports teams and served as their coach in the early years of their careers. Among his proudest coaching moment was coaching the “Reds” to the Little League championship.
Bob managed to weave his passion for sports into everything he did as an early supporter of the Women’s Sports Foundation, as director of operations for the Israel Baseball League and as a dedicated and fierce player on the Temple Shir Tikvah and Princeton Alumni softball teams. He joined his intellect and his passions as an active board member of the Sports Lawyers Association where he is remembered as smart, creative and caring, and at Temple Shir Tikvah, serving in many roles including President, chair of the Israel Committee and chair of the Rabbi Search Committee. Bob helped lead Jewish Major Leaguers which produced a set of baseball cards and a book of Jewish Major League Baseball players as well as a weekend honoring them in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bob and Peggy met in Washington D.C. in 1981 and cherished over 40 years of travel, community, family, and love.
Services will be held at the Beit Olam East Cemetery 42 Concord Street (Route 126), Wayland on Tuesday, July 19 at 10:30 AM. Shiva at 12 Nickerson Road, Lexington from 7-9 pm on Tuesday and from 2-4 pm on Wednesday. Shiva will be held in the backyard. Please bring a water bottle and chair.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Women’s Sports Foundation www.womenssportsfoundation.org, which Bob was involved in for many years (consistent with his encouragement for his daughters to play any and every sport, always); Temple Shir Tikvah www.shir-tikvah.org, where Bob cultivated and shared in community; and/or the Patient Assistance Fund at Dana Farber donate.pmc.org (“add a rider” and search for Margaret Shukur and Aliana Ruxin), for which Ali and Peggy plan to ride the Pan Mass Challenge, and which provides financial assistance to access the exceptional care that allowed us six extra years with Bob. Also, consider donating blood and/or platelets, both of which are a lifeline to many, particularly blood cancer patients.
To view Bob’s service webcast please click the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87553048373?pwd=b1M2cWNwc1grRE5nbE9DZEwwcS9Pdz09
Passcode: 345029
Webinar ID: 875 5304 8373