BY ALBERT AMATEAU | Josephine Ruvolo, a Village resident for almost all her life and the widow of Dr. Charles Ruvolo, died Tues., Dec. 6, at the age of 95.
She was the secretary and receptionist and handled the billing in her late husband’s medical office, and raised two sons, both of whom are doctors.
In fragile health in recent years, she died two and a half weeks before her 96th birthday, said her son, Dr. Robert Ruvolo, who moved from Florida three years ago to his mother’s apartment at 37 Washington Square West to take care of her.
A member of the American Committee on Italian Immigration, she received the group’s citation in March 1983 for her dedication to the sick, aged and needy.
“She was very proud of that honor,” her son said. She volunteered at Cabrini Hospital for many years.
“She also volunteered at Xavier High School when I went to school there,” recalled her other son, Dr. Charles Ruvolo.
Born Josephine Longo in Sicily, she came to the Village with her parents and two brothers in 1920 when she was 5 years old. She went to St. Cecilia’s elementary school, which was located on the south side of Washington Square, and to Washington Irving High School.
After high school, she worked in the real estate office of Anthony Ruvolo, a family friend, and married his son, Charles, in 1941. Her husband died in 1999.
Perazzo Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. The funeral was at St. Joseph’s Church, at Sixth Ave. and Washington Place, on Fri., Dec. 9, and burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
