Dr. Michael Bartholomew Ruggiero, age 93, of the Homestead section of Columbus, NJ for the past 12 years, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at home. Born and raised in Newark, NJ, he previously lived in Long Branch. Mike was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Florence Ruggiero; his first wife, Rose (Russo) Ruggiero; a brother, Raymond Ruggiero and a sister, Barbara Langella. He is survived by his wife, Ann (Miller) Ruggiero; two sons, Peter Ruggiero and wife Cindy of Long Valley, NJ and Michael Ruggiero and wife Myriam of Eatontown, NJ; a stepson, Scott Cammerano and wife Suzanne of New Egypt, NJ; a stepdaughter, Suzanne Cammerano of Lambertville, NJ; two sisters, Teddi Freda of Westfield, NJ and Dolores Terhune of Las Vegas, NV; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Immediately subsequent to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mike joined the Army and served as a Lieutenant in a Tank Battalion in active combat in the North African and Italian Campaigns. At war’s end, he was employed by American Airlines for five years installing and flight testing state of the art air guidance and communications systems. In 1950, he was recalled into active military service during the Korean War as a Signal Officer with the 24th Infantry Division. During that war, he was decorated with a Bronze Star for valor, courage under fire and exceptional leadership. Remaining in service he had a number of world-wide prestigious tours of duty with the Army, at sea with the Navy, NATO in Italy, NORAD during the Cuban crisis and as Signal Officer on the Allied Staff in Berlin, Germany. He was also selected by the Department of the Army to attend the prestigious Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His last military assignment prior to retirement from the Army was as Commander of Signal Group Mediterranean consisting of a thousand men, scattered in sub-commands in Italy, Ethiopia, Turkey and Iran. Retiring in 1967 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he resumed his academic studies and acquired his Master’s Degree from Pepperdine University in California and his Doctorate at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Associated as a senior level manager with the Department of the Army for fifteen years, Dr. Ruggiero was Project Manager for the installation of American military command and control and communications installations throughout the world. Retiring a second time, he served as a Professor at Monmouth University instructing advanced degree students modern project management techniques. Concurrently, he established and served as President of MBR Associates, a consulting organization dealing primarily with large industrial firms in the USA. Dr. Ruggiero was a FFA licensed Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor, giving flying lessons for twenty plus years, to male and female students, a number of them who became National and International Airline pilots. He was also deeply involved in Amateur Radio activities since 1941, speaking to other “hams” throughout the world. His life was interesting, indeed! Funeral services for Dr. Ruggiero will be held on Monday, August 19 at 12:00 Noon at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street, New Egypt, NJ 08533 (www.tilghmanfh.com) with burial with military honors to follow at the BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. Calling hours will be on Monday morning from 10:00 AM to Noon at the funeral home. Due to cemetery restrictions, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dr. Ruggiero’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).