We’re fundraising in honour of someone we love.
Mary Ruggiero passed away peacefully at home on July 17th, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Mary touched the lives of many with her warmth, intelligence, and creativity.
Mary was born in Italy and immigrated to Canada at the age of seven with her mother and sisters to join her father, who had arrived earlier to build a new life for the family. She grew up in the east end of Toronto, where her passion for learning and creativity began to blossom.
Mary studied engineering at the University of Toronto where she was a trailblazer for women in her program, earning multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials Science. It was also at U of T that she met her future husband in 1975.
Mary went on to have a distinguished career as a Professional Engineer in industrial research and development. She worked in product design, developing electrical fuses and later ceramic coatings for heaters. Mary was particularly proud of the multiple patents she was awarded for her inventions. Over the course of her career, she built, led, and mentored teams of engineers and technicians, ultimately retiring with the title of Vice President of Research and Development.
Beyond her professional achievements, Mary was a remarkably talented and artistic person. She painted, created linocut prints, sewed, knitted, weaved, and worked with stained glass. She had a green thumb and found joy in gardening. A phenomenal cook and baker, Mary also loved sharing meals and hosting dinner parties for her family and friends.
Mary’s greatest joy in recent years was becoming a grandmother. She treasured her trips to Switzerland to visit her granddaughter, and loved every moment spent with her.
