TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
John W. Ruffin, Jr. 1941–2020 Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Community Leader J ohn W. Ruffin, Jr. spent most of his adult life in international trade, business development, corporate finance, joint ven tures, and participating in numer- ous civic groups in South Florida. Nana. Also, Ruffin and friend and business associate Reese Marshall, Esq. in 1986 co-owned South Florida’s first African-American owned radio sta-
tion WRBD. In addition to J.D. Ruffin Associates, Ruffin started a consulting firm called the Ruffin Group and Trans Ocean Holdings, which had economic interests in the U.S., Africa, the Carib- bean, and Latin America. Ruffin served for many years as Chair- man of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Broward, spearheading over $1 million for scholarships in Broward County. He also served as chairman of the Urban League of Broward County, the Community Foundation of Broward, National Conference for Community and Justice of Broward & Palm Beach Counties, Leadership Broward, Leader- ship Florida, and the Internet Coast Initiative Council. Ruffin served as Chairman of the Coral Springs Commu- nity Redevelopment Agency. In honor of his philanthropic efforts, the UNCF Broward established in 2012 the UNCF John W. Ruffin Jr. Endowed Scholarship to assist low-income minor- ity students attending Florida Memorial University and the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneur- ship at Nova Southeastern University, where Ruffin served as a trustee at both institutions. Florida Memorial Univer- sity and Ruffin’s alma mater, Morgan State University, each bestowed honor- ary degrees to Ruffin. On August 7, 2020, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Congressman Alcee L. Hast- ings, the 59th Laurel Wreath Laureate, read a resolution honoring the Life and Legacy of John W. Ruffin, Jr. on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Most notably, Ruffin worked as a volunteer fundraiser for UNCF in South Florida for more than 25 years, helping to make a college de- gree a realistic goal for low-income minority youth. South Florida-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Brother John W. Ruffin, Jr. (Alpha Iota 1960) entered the Chapter Invisible at his home in Coral Springs, FL, on June 24, 2020, at the age of 79 due to a long battle with prostate cancer in 1995. The son of two educators, John Wal- ter Ruffin, Jr., was born on June 15, 1941, in Moncure, NC. He earned a B.A. degree from Morgan State University in 1963 and subsequently earned an MBA degree in Market- ing and Industrial Relations from Cornell University in 1970. Professionally, Ruffin started his career in management with firms in New York City and New Jersey before moving to South Florida in 1980 for an officer position with Food Fair/Pantry Pride. He worked for Pantry Pride for 20 years, retiring as a corporate vice-president. In 1984, Ruffin and his wife Doro- thy entered a partnership with The Paradies Airport Shops, where their company, J.D. Ruffin Associates, owned and operated airport conces- sion shops. Ruffin had numerous international business enterprises including Ghana, where a local community installed him as a Chief/
A Life Member of the Fraternity, Ruffin was a member of the Fort Lauderdale (FL) Alumni Chapter. Brother John W. Ruffin, Jr survived by his wife Dorothy Walton-Ruffin, daughter Jehan, son Johnathan and three grandchildren. In honor of his philanthropic efforts, the UNCF Broward established in 2012 the UNCF John W. Ruffin Jr. Endowed Scholarship to assist low-income minority students attending Florida Memorial University and the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern
University, where Ruffin served as a trustee at both institutions.
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