Tony Ruiz

Tony Ruiz, 61, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 21, 2013, at his home in Burdett, NY.

Born Segundo Antonio Ruiz Quintanilla on July 26, 1951 in Hamburg, Germany to the late Margarete Bielefeldt and Segundo Ruiz Quintanilla, Tony spent his early years in Germany, where he was an avid handball and socceer player and took care of race horses. He loved photography and later became a supporter of the Arts. Tony met his future wife, Christa Wolf, in 1978, when they were colleagues at the University of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The two lived in Berlin, Germany for ten years before moving to Ithaca in 1989. They were married in 2000 and moved to Burdett in 2001.

Tony received his undergraduate degree from the University of Hamburg, Germany and his Ph.D. in psychology, in 1983, from the University of Technology in Berlin, Germany, where he was also an Associate Professor in the Department of Work & Organizational Psychology. He went on to hold visiting research professor positions at the University of Oklahoma; Osaka University, Japan; University of Ghent, Belgium; and the Aarhus Business School in Denmark.

Tony was a Visiting Professor and Senior Research Associate at Cornell University from 1990-2008 and, most recently, a Research Specialist at the University of New Hampshire’s Hunter College Institute on Disability. Throughout his career, he published numerous scholarly articles on organizational behavior, human resource management and disability statistics.
Tony could often be found tending his vineyards and bees on the beautiful land overlooking Seneca Lake, where he and Christa restored a farmhouse and barn. The two spent many enjoyable hours sailing, swimming and walking in the fields and woods.

During the last year of his life, Tony stoically endured and, with the loving support of Christa, worked hard to overcome the physical and other challenges presented by long-standing spinal injuries.

Tony is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 34 years, Christa Wolf; a brother, Manuel Ruiz; his stepdaughters, Christina and Kati; and by a large community of friends and colleagues. Tony will be remembered for his kindness, mentorship, keen intellect and delight in life.

There will be a private service preceding cremation. A celebration of Tony’s life will be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tony’s memory may be made to The Ink Shop 330 East State Street, Ithaca NY 14850. You may sign a guestbook or “Light a Candle” in his memory online at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.