LYNN — Carol A. Ruggiero, age 74, of Lynn, died Tuesday in Salem Hospital.
A lifelong resident of Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Stella (Sobotka) Ruggiero. Carol was a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1959.
She received her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Boston University in 1963 and two master’s degrees from Salem State University.
Carol worked as a history teacher in the Lynn School System for 51 years, nine at Cobbet Junior High and 42 at Lynn English High where she also served as a department head until her retirement. She was an advisor of many school activities including the Cheerleaders, Drama Club and Quiz Team. She had a passion for trivia and even appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy in the late 1980’s. In 2013, she was elected to the Lynn English High School Hall of Fame.
Carol loved to travel and had been on many cruises and trips to Europe, South America and the United States. She also made frequent excursions to Foxwoods and North Conway, N.H. She loved to shop and bought loads of gifts for everyone she knew.
She also enjoyed dining out, playing Bingo, blueberry picking, knitting, doing puzzles, reading, watching television, going to the movies and being involved in politics. She recently began working at the polls on election days. She liked to be busy and enjoyed life.
She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Needham and her husband Scott of Middlebury, Vt.; her cousins, Janice Gates and Patricia D’Angelo; second cousins, Gary and David Gates, Paula Pickett, Pamela D’Angelo, and Lisa Fibbe; as well as her close friend Mary Latour.
Service information: Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. from SOLIMINE Funeral Home, 426 Broadway (Rt. 129), Lynn, followed by a funeral Mass in St. Pius V Church, Lynn, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. Those who prefer may make donations to “The Carol Ruggiero Scholarship Fund,” Lynn English High School, 50 Goodridge St., Lynn, MA 01902. Directions and guest book at Solimine.com.
