Rodney “Rod” Ruth
OBITUARY
Rodney �Rod� Ruth 91, of Allendale, New Jersey. Musician, educator, music contractor, environmentalist, and world traveler passed on Monday November 17, 2025.
He graduated from Sinking Spring High School in 1952 and led alumni in singing the alma mater during an open-house program in the school gymnasium, June 1999, prior to the building closing as a school. He also led the Sinking Spring Alumni Association in singing the alma mater a last time, during their final annual banquet meeting, September 11, 2021.
He and his beloved wife Gloria {Kauffman), formerly of Shartlesville, PA {both were born and raised in Pennsylvania), were married at Chapel 2 Air University Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, November 14, 1953. While living in Montgomery, two years after the wedding, Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat on a public bus she was riding. The actions following including the bus boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became a huge part of history in America.
A scholarship graduate of Manhattan School of Music, New York City, and Columbia University. He taught music 37 years for the City of Paterson, New Jersey, retiring in 1998.
He was a life member of musicians Local 802, New York City, and Local 16-248, Paterson, NJ. Also, a past member of Local 135, Reading, PA.
Since high school he led his own combos and dance bands, taking great pleasure in confronting the challenges associated with countless weddings, parties and events over the many years. He served honorably with U.S. Air Force bands: Air University band, Montgomery, Al, and the Far East Air Forces band, Tokyo, Japan, before he and his wife moved to New Jersey in 1957.He began touring with the Sammy Kaye band, the Wagner Opera Co., and the Herb Shriner tour �Pops Americana�, conducted by the radio icon, Gus Haenschen.
In 1960 he established an office, Rod Ruth Music: and began a long career contracting for various theaters, arts centers, orchestras and performers in the New York metropolitan area, including Playhouse on the Mall, Paramus, NJ. A theater produced by the famed author, Robert Ludlum, and began a fifteen-year collaboration with Ann Corio and her show �This Was Burlesque� …. the premise for Broadway�s 1979 production of �Sugar Babies�, a tribute to the burlesque era, starring Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller.
He performed with an extensive array of personalities and artists, from every aspect of performance: pop, jazz, rock and soul concerts, musicals, comedy, dance, symphony and opera. From Tony Bennett & Johnny Mathis to Frankie Valli, actor Tony Curtis to actress Betty Hutton. ballet�s Irene Fokine to magician Harry Blackstone, Phyllis Diller to Bob Newhart, dancers Ann Miller to Cyd Charisse, The Four Tops to vaudville�s George Jessel, Patrice Munsel to Ru Paul, Billy Eckstine to Frankie Avalon, and in Reading�s city park, with the Dave Stahl band featuring Cab Calloway.
For over four decades he proudly furnished musicians for the private enclave of Tuxedo Park, NY, numerous, and at times, elaborate affairs. Musical Director for the concert series �40�s in the S0�s� Productions, Hackensack, NJ, that featured over 50 recording artists including: Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, Helen O�Connell, Nelson Riddle, and bandleaders Tex Beneke, Ray Anthony and Bob Crosby.
Active from the inception of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, East Rutherford, NJ, the world premiere of Disney�s �World on Ice�, and the opening of Meadowlands Arena. Contractor for Ice Capades and their annual visits to the Arena and Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY. Performed with Ringling Bros. circus band during their visits as well.
Contractor for over four decades: bergenPAC, Englewood, NJ, sharing the stage with epic performers: Ray Charles, Bernadette Peters, Joan Rivers, Regis Philbin, Aretha Franklin, Don Rickles, The Temptations, Paul Sorvino, Wayne Newton, and Frank Sinatra Jr.
He worked numerous dates with the bands of Warren Covington, Les Elgart, and many noted symphony and opera conductors. Freelanced with the NewJersey Symphony, and for 18 years was a first call musician at Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ. His biography appears in the Marquis publication, Who�s Who in America.
He and his wife were world travelers, having visited all seven continents and were present on several events of world-wide significance. A gardener, active environmentalist, he was a member of some twenty national and local organizations dedicated to protecting our environment, having received, as of March 2019, acknowledgment of the fiftieth consecutive years of membership in the national organization, the Sierra Club.
Surviving is his beloved wife of 72 years, Gloria – a daughter, his pride and joy, Tiffany Tunisia, her husband Brandon Feldman and grandchildren, Davina & Lander Feldman.
Predeceased: a brother, Donald Ruth of West Lawn, PA. Burial at St. Michael�s, Hamburg, PA.