Aaron Ruvelson, 100, Minneapolis Businessman
Chuck Haga, Star Tribune March 13, 2000
Aaron (Macy) Ruvelson offered proof long ago that a person
could survive cancer.
His colon cancer was diagnosed in the 1940s. In the 1950s,
he had to deal with prostate cancer.
He died Sunday, but not of cancer. He was 100,
daughter-in-law Sally Ruvelson said, and he just decided it was time.
"He said, 'I look back on my life like a good day's
work -- it was done, and I feel satisfied with it,' " Sally Ruvelson
said.
"He beat cancer twice, and he decided then to give
his body one hour of exercise for every 24 hours of service it gave him,"
she said. "He went to the boxing gym, and he did long-blade ice-skating.
People thought he was strange back then for all the attention he gave to
exercise."
He was born Jan. 17, 1900, in St. Paul, the son of
Lithuanian immigrants.
"He was most proud of saying that he was an
American," his daughter-in-law said, "because he was broke, he was
nobody, yet he could make a good living and have all the fruits of being an
American."
He owned a business, Macy Signs, in northeast Minneapolis, and he didn't retire until he was
86. In his 80s and 90s, he mentored young businessmen.
"For him, a contract was a shaking of hands,"
Sally Ruvelson said. "He never had a lawsuit in 47 years of business, and
he was proud of that."
He was proud, too, of maintaining good relations with the
four unions that represented his employees.
"He thought it was a very good thing that they were
represented," she said. "He really believed in the men helping him
and him doing the same back."
Survivors include daughters Irene Broom and Ellen DeMuth
of Santa Fe, N.M., and 12 grandchildren.
Private family services are planned.
No comments:
Post a Comment