Maurine Malster (Malster) Ruggles

Maurine Malster was born on July 17, 1920 in Stromsburg Nebraska to John Charles Malster MD and Clara Seiver Malster and passed away in Chagrin Falls Ohio on January 4, 2019.  The oldest of three girls, she was orphaned when she was 12 and went live with her aunt Kathryn Shaneyfelt in a hospital that Mrs. Shaneyfelt managed in a residence in Aurora Nebraska.   She graduated cum laude with a degree in English from the University of Nebraska and was elected honorary colonel for the University’s Military Ball in 1940. 

Maurine came to Cleveland to attend the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, where she got her Masters of Nursing degree.  She met her future husband Richard L. Ruggles, a medical resident, in an elevator in Lakeside (now University) Hospital.  They married on January 20, 1944. 

She was preceded in death by her husband and two sisters.  She is survived by her children, Ann Ruggles of Ashland Oregon, Charles M. Ruggles of Conifer Colorado, Barbara Pasi of Steilacoom Washington, Maurine Orndorff (Jeffrey Orndorff) of Chagrin Falls, and Richard M. Ruggles (Kathy McNeely) of Mount Rainier Maryland, granddaughter Maurine Pasi (Adam Garnich) and grandsons Clay Orndorff and Grant Orndorff, and one great granddaughter.

Mrs. Ruggles loved music and played popular songs on the piano by ear as a child.  She studied piano in Cleveland with Eunis Podis and Clive Lythgoe, among others.  She performed Gershwin’s Concerto in F with the Cleveland Heights High School orchestra in 1970.  She enjoyed playing piano duets with her husband.  She was an active member and past president of the Fortnightly Music Club of Cleveland and the Music and Drama association.   In addition to her music, Mrs. Ruggles loved to read, quilt, swim, travel and hike in the mountains of Colorado.  She and her husband were long-term active members of Fairmount Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts made in Maurine’s honor be made to Nate Hunter’s Faithful Friend Ministry, 274 Chillicothe Road, Aurora OH  44202.

A reception will be held at South Franklin Circle, 16600 Warren Court, Chagrin Falls OH  44023 on Tuesday, January 8 from 2 to 3 p.m.

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