<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">BLOOMFIELD, NJ –
Joseph “Joe” Ruffalo Jr., the much-loved and iconic leader in New Jersey and
national blindness communities, passed away quietly </span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">this morning </span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">at home, comforted by the
presence of family members and friends.
His death follows his valiant multi-year battle with metastasized
bladder cancer that developed from Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam
War.</span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Born on July 6, 1949,
to Joe and Rose Ruffalo in Montclair, Joe grew up in Bloomfield and was one of
five siblings, three of whom, like him, became blind from the inherited eye
condition retinitis pigmentosa. It was his loss of eyesight that would change
his life and those of thousands of people with whom he connected during his
adult life.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">He graduated from
Bloomfield High School, attended what was then <span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Montclair State
College, and served in the US Army in Vietnam from 1969-70. He was awarded a Bronze Star for valor. He
also brought home a number of service-related health issues, including his
cancer, which would not manifest themselves until five decades later.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe learned in 1976
that retinitis pigmentosa would slowly claim his vision. For six years he
continued his work as a manager in a Thom McAn shoe store, but by 1983 he began
looking for guidance about how to achieve greater proficiency and control over
his life as a blind adult.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">As it happened, Joe
dedicated his adult life modeling and teaching others the philosophy of the
National Federation of the Blind: teach the public that blindness is only a
characteristic of each blind individual.
Empowered by proper training, skills, attitude, and techniques,
blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance. And bolstered by love, hope
and determination, each blind or visually impaired person can indeed live the
lives they want.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Back in the 1980s,
professionals at the NJ state blindness agency discouraged Joe from learning
any blindness skills including the use of a white mobility cane because he
still had reliable residual vision so could do without them.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Though eager to obtain
the necessary skills, at the time Joe believed he had no recourse but to adhere
to the advice of the only professionals he knew. Not until 1986 did he learn to
use a cane, and he accomplished that by teaching himself. While at the state
blindness training center, then located in Newark, Joe discovered a talent for baking
which led to a successful nine-year career as the owner of a pastry business.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">In 1988 Joe
tentatively attended his first NFB chapter meeting in Newark. He reported that
after ten minutes he knew that his life was about to change dramatically.
Realizing that the NFB was a place of fraternity and empowerment, empathy and
accomplishment, Joe says, "I saw blind people doing things I wanted to do.
They were holding jobs, volunteering, and achieving in every pursuit."
This was the beginning of Joe's own growth and achievement as a blind person.
In 1990 he became second vice president of the New Jersey affiliate of the
National Federation of the Blind. <span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Two years later he was
first vice president and by 1993 he was president of the NFBNJ, a position he
held until 2020. “It is a tremendous honor and responsibility to promote
positive attitudes about blindness and the abilities of blind people," Joe
said at the time. He was a member of the
NFB National Board of Directors for 20 years and it would be difficult to find a
blind New Jerseyan who has not met Joe or been helped directly or indirectly by
him.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe's community involvement
was not limited to the National Federation of the Blind. He was a leader in the
Lions Club of Belleville for more than 25 years, serving as president for
three. He has also held positions as zone/regent chair and served on the district
16-B cabinet. <span></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">In more than 24 years
with the Knights of Columbus, Joe held the positions of guard, warden, and
deputy grand knight, and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for more
than 14 years.<span></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> As past president of the Special Education
Parent and Professional Organization for13 years and past chairman of the board
of trustees of the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI), he
further worked to ensure the full integration of people with disabilities into
society. He received the agency’s Trailblazer Award two years ago for his
achievements and contributions to the blindness community.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe attended the
Therapeutic Massage Center to obtain certification in massage therapy and from
1998 to 2000 provided massage for staff, patients, and visitors at Clara Maass
Medical Center in Belleville, before moving his practice to a private office. He
has served as a consultant to the Somerset School of Massage, making
recommendations to staff and students and answering questions about training
methods for blind students.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe also worked to
smooth others' transitions from dependence to independence as a leader in two
programs sponsored by the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He
was previously employed by the First Occupational Center of New Jersey as a
program specialist in the Senior Community Independent Living Services (SCILS)
program, which identifies people over age fifty-five in Essex and Ocean
counties who experienced vision loss, with the goal of teaching independence
skills so that these seniors can remain active in the community and independent
in their homes. <span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe’s dedication to
the blindness community stretched along the lifespan, As state program
director and northern region coordinator of the Leadership, Education,
Advocacy, and Determination (LEAD) program, administered in partnership with
Heightened Independence and Progress, Joe provided mentoring activities for
blind teenagers and their families until the program was terminated in 2013.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Most recently, Joe
served as a mentor to blind and visually impaired high school students in a
transition program sponsored by the NJ CBVI and the Family Resource Center
called EDGE for Employment, Direction, Guidance and Engagement.<span></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe's many
contributions to the community were recognized in November 2000when he was
honored with the Partnership for Progress Award at the NJ Commission’s Believe
and Achieve ninetieth anniversary celebration and he was presented in 2020 with
the agency’s Trailblazer Award.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">In July 2001 his
leadership in the blindness community was again acknowledged when he was
elected to the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind. In
October of 2002 the State of New Jersey honored by presenting him with the New
Jersey Vietnam Service Medal.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe was always encouraged
and supported by his wife of 44 years, Judy, and his two sons, Joseph and
James. In his spare time Joe liked sports of all kinds, especially baseball and
basketball, and enjoyed hosting “Thru Our Eyes”, an Internet radio program that
highlighted blindness issues and promote positive attitudes about blindness.<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Joe's life and work
expressed his commitment to the blind and their struggle for equality in
society. His achievements stand as an example for others, like those of the
Federationists who deeply impressed him at his first chapter meeting. He
achieves and grows, facing every challenge with energy, enthusiasm, and common
sense as well as his trademark sense of humor replete with jokes and stories
usually told at his own expense.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">In addition to his
wife and two adult sons and their wives, Joe is survived by his sister Jane
Degenshein <span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">also a leader in our
National Federation </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">of the Blind community </span>and
her husband Larry; his brothers Robert and Richard and another sister, Rose as
well as a host of nieces, nephews great nieces and great nephews and cousins.<span></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4">Additionally,
surviving Joe are thousands of blind and visually impaired people of all ages
across the country who have been assisted and influenced by Joe Ruffalo Jr. who
lived his trademark signature: “We care, we share, we grow, we make a
difference.”</font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size:14pt"><span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4"><br></font></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div></div></div><div dir="auto"></div><font color="#888888"></font></div></div></div></div></div>