Tyler James Ruggere

OBITUARY

Tyler James Ruggere, 31, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026, at his home in Mifflin Park with his loving family by his side after a courageous six-year battle with cancer.

Born in West Reading, PA, Tyler was the beloved son of James M. Ruggere and stepson of Diane M. (Puntillo) Ruggere. Tyler was a 2013 graduate of Governor Mifflin High School, where he proudly played the offensive and defensive line on the football team. He later attended Reading Area Community College.

Tyler had a lifelong love of computers and technology and was exceptionally intelligent, becoming the person family and friends turned to whenever they needed computer advice or technical help. He built several custom computers from the ground up, carefully researching and selecting only the highest-quality components because he believed in doing things the right way. In fact, whenever Tyler wanted to buy something, he would spend hours researching it online, comparing every option until he was convinced that he had found the very best choice.

He enjoyed gaming with friends, was a devoted Star Wars fan who seemed to know every character and storyline by heart, and loved settling in for a laugh-out-loud comedy movie. Tyler also had a true passion for cooking and great food. His favorite meals included slow-smoked BBQ ribs, classic Italian dishes like chicken Parmesan, and a perfectly cooked prime rib au jus. No trip to Dairy Queen was complete without his favorite treat�a Cookies �n Cream Blizzard.

Tyler was also an animal lover who shared his life with many beloved cats, both at home and with Sam. Tyler cherished traveling with his family and made wonderful memories on several cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas. One of his favorite adventures was renting a scooter with his father and spending an entire day exploring the beautiful island of Bermuda together. It became one of their most treasured memories and a story that will forever bring a smile to those who shared it.

Tyler built a career through hard work, leadership, and dedication. He served as Assistant Manager at Kenhorst Dairy Queen, worked as an estimator for Gigliotti Iron Works, in sales at Fred�s Music & BBQ, and most recently as a supervisor at Amazon in Hamburg until May 2025. While at Amazon, Tyler assembled and developed a team that he was especially proud of, earning the respect of both his coworkers and those he supervised. Even after his illness forced him to step away from work, he often spoke about how much he wanted to return because he genuinely loved his job and the people he worked with. Throughout his career, he earned the respect of coworkers and friends through his strong work ethic, leadership, willingness to help others, and genuine personality.

For the past six years, Tyler faced cancer with extraordinary courage, determination, and hope. Through every setback, he never stopped believing that a cure was possible and continually looked toward the future with optimism. In his final months, he chose to participate in an advanced clinical trial at Penn Medicine, knowing that while it offered hope for his own recovery, the knowledge gained from his participation could one day help countless others battling cancer. Tyler refused to let cancer define who he was. Instead, he chose to face life with hope, courage, and determination, inspiring everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His selflessness, resilience, and unwavering spirit became an inspiration to everyone who walked beside him on that journey.

He was always happiest spending time with those he loved, but nothing brought him greater joy than being with his father and the love of his life, Samantha �Sam� Burnett.

Tyler is survived by his father, James M. Ruggere; his stepmother, Diane M. (Puntillo) Ruggere; his beloved girlfriend, Samantha �Sam� Burnett of Grill; his stepbrother, Justin Puntillo of Palm Coast, Florida; his aunt, Donna Welch and her husband Jerry of Kenhorst; his aunt, Sharon Berger and her husband Gerry of Telford, Pennsylvania; his aunt, Lisa Marie Masciotti; along with many extended family members, friends, coworkers, and all whose lives were touched by his kindness, intelligence, and friendship.

Tyler wished for no formal services to be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Tyler�s memory to Penn Medicine Melanoma Research, 3535 Market Street � Suite 750, Philadelphia PA 19104 to support the groundbreaking cancer research that gave him hope and may one day help others.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the physicians, nurses, researchers, and caregivers at Penn Medicine for their compassion, dedication, and exceptional care throughout Tyler�s journey.

The Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Shillington, is honored to serve Tyler and his family.