Carl Edward Rouff

Carl Edward Ruoff, Inventor, Farmer, IBM Executive, honorable son, father, grandfather, and husband, died at home with his dedicated wife by his side, on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, in Hunter, N.Y.
High up in the Catskill Mountains, during a truly different era, Carl was born on Feb, 1, 1937. His ancestors left Germany, sailed across the ocean, and got off the boat in Hudson. In 1848 they purchased the land where Carl would spend his final years. His parents, Edward Ruoff and May Schatzel, were hard-working, rugged people and this foundation truly shaped the man he became. As the oldest of two children, he worked from sunup to sundown for most of his life. In 1954 he graduated HTC top of his class. He received too many scientific achievement awards to mention in one article. His intellectual capabilities enabled him to receive a Bachelors of Science from RPI and three Masters of Science Degrees from MIT, Syracuse and UCLA. Known for his thrifty mindset, he reveled in the fact that all of his education was 100% scholarship money. His free education coupled with his belief that "the scholars will emerge" most likely prompted his pursuits after retirement at reducing the financial burden of taxpayers for the exorbitant school budget.
In 1958 Carl began his career with IBM in Endicott, N.Y. In 1962 he married his summertime love, Abby Jo Braun. They met while working as soda jerks in the Rexall Drug Store when they were 13 and 15. A few years after getting married, Carl was promoted to work at the TJ Watson Research Center in Yorktown. While living in Westchester, the couple had two daughters Jessica and Rebecca. As Carl climbed the corporate ladder the family moved often and Carl's achievements were many. They include, but are not limited to: 15 US Patents, one listed with the Smithsonian (first digital camera), Director/designer of team facilitating first automated check cashing machines (routing numbers we use today), Manufacture/Distribution of first generation PCs for Asia/Pacific, Director of Quality for all of Asia/Pacific IBM. His many different positions with IBM enabled him to travel the world. After 37 years Carl Ruoff retired.
In addition to his many accomplishments with IBM, Carl thoroughly enjoyed working on the farm his ancestors settled 170 years ago. His philosophy was to produce every day and he surely succeeded. He could single handedly (and/or with the help of his backhoe, dozer or farm tractor) repair, create, design, invent, and build anything he set his intentions on.
In 1994, the year coinciding with Carl's retirement, he became a grandfather for the first time; at the time of his death he was extremely proud of all four of his grandsons. After Carl's retirement he was living in Woodstock, N.Y., and while Abby was busy writing books, he was building a house. His wife, Abby, died suddenly in her sleep in 2000. They had a long beautiful life together and now was the time for a new chapter.
Knowing Dolores Chimato for most of his life and after the sudden, almost too familiar, death of her husband (Paul), Carl and Dolores were married in 2003. They enjoyed skiing and hiking in the Catskills, traveling and a bit of shared aggravation regarding our corrupt government. Carl loved his new family and had an ever expanding number of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren that he truly cared about.
Carl Edward Ruoff was a dynamic, capable, self-sufficient man and he will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife, Dolores Chimato Ruoff; sister, Marie Ruoff Weber; daughters, Jessica Ruoff Freund and Rebecca Ruoff Quine; grandsons, Ben Freund, Sam Freund, Adam Quine, and Matt Quine; step-children, Korisa Mullenix and husband David and Paul Chimato and wife Lori; step-grandchildren, Phoenix, Andrea, Ashley, and Paul; and three step-great-grandchildren.
He is predeceased by his first wife Abby Jo Braun Ruoff; his son-in-law, Stephen Quine; and his grandson, Peter Quine.
Donations may be made to: Community Hospice Columbia/Greene County, Living Faith Community Church, Maplecrest, N.Y., or a charity of your choice.
Funeral is graveside at Maplewood Cemetery, Route 23A, South Jewett, N.Y., on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, at 3 p.m. Arrangements by Aston-Basagic Funeral Home, Hunter, N.Y.