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Our family is grateful to receive your memories, stories, jokes, and loving reflections. Please use the form below to share your favorite remembrance and we will update this page with your submissions.
To contact the family directly, please email kelsieruffsmith@gmail.com or call 352-209-7042.
Remembering William Ruff
Whether it was giving informative presentations, rattling off jokes onstage, rushing to aide and comfort a fallen peer, giving ambulatory Botany lessons at The Botanical Gardens, sharing an appreciation for classic rock musicians, or simply warming my heart with his customary fist bump, William Ruff was a comforting and welcome presence in my life. His encouragement meant a lot to me, and he will be deeply missed. Sending up prayers for a truly remarkable friend.
Kevin Hubbard, Alabama
In 34 years of working a public interest lawyer, I have worked with many professionals, colleagues and advocates. Mr. Ruff was without fail one of the most dedicated advocates and steady-as-a-rock colleagues I have ever met. He never stopped his advocacy on behalf of those who needed him. He was a consummate pleasure to be with and work with. He brought a never-ending spirit of good will and whimsy to every task he engaged, no matter how big or how small. Without fail, every time I spoke to him or spent time with him, he was not just pleasant – but cheerful, filled with good humor and had a quality all too rare these days, humility. I do not know all of his history, but I always felt like there was more to the story, something (maybe a lot) that I did not know about him. And, it seemed, that imbued him with a maturity and graceful comfort with his knowing who he was and who he had become as he neared the end of life’s journey.
James Tucker – May 27, 2020
I know for myself, and I suspect for many of us, Mr. Ruff represented the best of what we hope we may be and become.
Godspeed, William.
Peace to you all, family and friends.
William: You are not forgotten.
Bill and I were friends and compadres for over 50 years beginning in 1968 when I started playing with John Winter, Mike Barnett, and Don Felder in the band Gingerbread later renamed Flow after recording an album at Van Gelder studios in Inglewood NJ in 1970.
We all have many branches in our journey down our own path and the 1st branch I had with Bill was as our road man for Gingerbread/ Flow in New York along with his wife Marsha. We played the Fillmore East in NYC in 1969 and Bill, always the anchor, made sure in advance that all needs were met and that we would have no surprises at the gig right down to a icy washtub full of our favorite soda’s in our dressing room. I returned to the dressing room after we finished our performance , laid down on the concrete floor to unwind when Bill came in and said ” Carlos Santana is here with Leslie West from Mountain and Carlos wants to jam with you and 2 other guys from different bands.” OK! Carlos wouldn’t speak to anyone and his manager said Mr. Santana will meet you onstage so I went backstage and had a 30 minute chat with Leslie West before the jam session with Carlos.
Knowing Bill you know he had every minute planned and a time table to be executed. We lived in a 22 room mansion in Dover Planes NY and he would walk through the house twice announcing how many minutes to departure time. ” 5 minutes till departure time”. The 5 of us along with German his Skipper Key would head off for the gig without any concerns due to Bills coordination.
We went to Mexico together in 2008 with Emily to visit Mayan Pyramids where I took the picture of him in front of Chichen Itza on the spring solstice. I think we went to 4 different Pyramids and ate and drank to our hearts content which at the financial exchange rate was pretty easy to do!
The last thing I did with Bill was in 2019 when he said he had a new song and we recorded “Red Wheels in the Sunset” here at my home studio, a song that is posted on his website for you to hear.
Being around Bill was like going to school at all times. So full of knowledge and ready and eager to share his vast wealth of understanding of the earth, it’s inhabitants, human, plant, geological and the list goes on. All we ever really have are memories even if someone is still living. I will always Truly Cherish the memories of my time with Bill. I hope you can enjoy your journey with a close friend as Bill and I did. Very fortunate am I with a tearful goodbye.
Charles Newcomb – Astatula, FL
Among the things I remember from my formative days as a student at CFCC was having Mr. Ruff as an instructor. His joke about being a descendant of cannibals in Borneo is one that still makes me chuckle today! I told my mom, she laughed, and wondered if my new professor was related in some way to an attorney in the Law Firm “Ruff & Ready.” He was!
Tom James, Ocala FL
Mr. Ruff was very instrumental in my path to becoming a Peer Support Specialist and NAMI presenter for IOOV. I always looked forward to seeing him at our quarterly meetings. He always had encouraging words for me. I know that he has effected so many lives in a positive way. I am extremely grateful that God put such a wise man in my path, that I could learn from and grow in my recovery. He will be tremendously missed by me and many others.
Leslie Michaud, Jasper AL
I will miss ride sharing with you to Peer Conferences and Continuing Education with you William. I miss your jokes and your visits to the Drop-In Center and your phone calls to “check-in”. I could always count on you Professor to share your wisdom when I had questions or needed direction. Your encouragement made me finally become a Peer Support Specialist and then a Certified Peer Support Trainer. I am so thankful for your gentle and wise heart of compassion for others! I am thankful to have been able to connect with you over the last couple of months where you shared how proud you are of your daughters! You said that they are beautiful and William you are right! We always as friends said I love you dear! I love you dear Willam and I will see ya!.
Vickey Pierson, Birmingham AL
Will miss Mr. Bill a sweet soul. He was always kind to me when we were young kids and would share his music talents with me I remember coming to his place and playing music together.
Fred Siyufy, Ocala FL
I had the good fortune of meeting Bill in the 9th grade and it was the year that we spent the most time together – just hanging out at each other’s houses and with sometimes with mutual friends. On several occasions, we explored the caves on his property – and on one adventure we enjoyed the mutual excitement of finding fish in a small spring-fed pool, in the deep darkness of a cavern – fish that incredibly had no eyes in the absence of any sunlight. We would also spend time shooting pool’ at my house; or walking after school to downtown Ocala to listen to records at Kranik’s music shop; or visit his Mom, where she worked in an attorney’s office; and at other times going to a park or vacant lot to play ‘sandlot football’.
Mike Webb, Tampa, FL
When I met Bill, he was the new ‘cool guy’ who had recently moved to Ocala. He was instantly liked and for good reasons – he was sharp looking, had a friendly nature, easy laugh, and a curiosity and a developing knowledge about things that were beyond his years (or at least beyond mine). Bill was smart, artistic, sociable and gifted in music. These personal gifts all quickly drew people to him. I didn’t get to see much of Bill after that year but the connection would always be there and we reconnected in the 90’s several times for great conversations and we also had a special visit in 2016 during our Ocala High School high school reunion. I am very fortunate to have had a friendship with, and great memories of, a very remarkable and very widely loved man – a great father, brother, provider and friend.
My first meeting William was at the Peer Training a few years ago. He had a way of making you feel special, really encouraging. As others have stated he said to me once “what can I do for you?” I called him on it regarding my son. He asked me to bring .y son to his home and they talked. So he was a doer and did not mind helping. We had the opportunity to travel to the IOOV training together. Anyone who knows me, know that I don’t like driving, but he took a chance putting his life in my hands and we made it to Montgomery and back safely. I am so fortunate to be counted as one who got to know William. The last time we spoke was just after covid19 hit, I was led to call him and so glad I did. He is missed. May God bless and see you his family and friends through this time. I am thankful for the great legacy William has left in the archive of history.
Mary Murphy, Birmingham AL
This past winter, Bill mailed me a Lady Antebellum CD which includes the song “Hello World.” He wanted me to hear that song because it perfectly describes the ups and downs in life and how certain experiences and precious memories can remind us of why we’re here and how we can be moved to feel joy and love again after periods of alienation and depression. I know what the “little girl” in the song meant to Bill; she embodied both of his daughters, Emily and Kelsie, the two sources of joy in his life that gave him the courage to hang on during the most difficult of times. I hope they both know how very much he loved them and how proud of them he was. Highlight & then right click on this URL to hear the song “Hello World”: https://youtu.be/W7UDjc4f658.
Judy Davis, Georgia
It was my privilege to come to know him at his church, IPC. He had a very gentle spirit, coupled with a brilliant mind, and with a fierce determination to get the treatment he needed and deserved and to make sure others had access to treatment as well. He was a wonderful PEER leader with NAMI. I was so lucky that for several years, he asked me to do the invocation for the NAMI walk each fall and it was one small way the church could show support to him and to the Mental Health community. He spoke so lovingly of you and I know he was so very proud of you. I am also the proud and grateful possessor of several of his wonderful origami animals, made out of dollar bills. I am amazed at his ability to work with paper so small to create these amazing creatures, especially given the difficulty he had with his hands shaking (edit: a side effect of his medications that caused tardive dyskenia). The origami art he created and gave so freely was an act of love and dedication. He will be missed by so many. I know he wished everything could have been easier for him and those who loved him, but I was grateful for his courage to keep showing up in his life even when it was hardest. Strong indeed.
Rev. Susan Clayton, Birmingham AL
I’m so sorry to learn of Uncle Billy’s passing. He was a lot of fun and always excited to teach. I remember way back at Granny’s old house in Ocala, when I was 4-5 yo and afraid of the sound of bullfrogs. Uncle Billy would squat down to my level and tell me all about frogs and told me not to be scared. He also taught me about the stars and constellations. One day while I was mowing Granny’s property, the mower struck some kind of animal. He looked and found I ran over a rattle snake that struck the tire!! No more lawn mowing. I remember he gathered all of us cousins to make Granny Blair’s shortbread and we all complained about how much work it was!! It was all great fun and I miss him terribly. He and Aunt Marsha always reminded me of John and Yoko when they were in their hippie days. I’m sorry for your loss, Emily and Kelsie, and hope you keep those fond memories in your hearts.
Jeanne Ruff, Williamsburg VA
One time, I remember in the good ol’ days, William and I were riding bikes to school, and he said, and I quote, “Were getting a good kick outta this!”, and I laughed so hard that I rolled off my bike and fell onto my neighbours yard, Old Man Herbison, and he yelled at me for ruining the flowers, me and William then rode to school in silence, until we were at the gates, when we then laughed until we were called by the principal to get in class quick…
Bobby Gibson
R.I.P William Ruff, the best man I’ve ever known
As the Executive Director of NAMI Alabama, I had the privilege of working with (William), and I had the honor of calling him my friend. He was like something from a different age. Well educated, well spoken, kind, passionate, loyal, and a true gentleman. He will leave behind a huge void at NAMI but a even larger legacy. Thank you for sharing your father with us and know how deeply sorry we are for your loss.
Kelly Emerson, AL
Stephanie Odom
June 1, 2020
I always liked seeing William around Episcopal Place where we lived. I think he really liked being part of our community. I will miss him.
Joy Doering
May 29, 2020
William and I became friends through NAMI Birmingham in 2010. I had just become president and he was a mentor that guided me through the details of being president.
When my husband passed in 2015, William guided and mentored my daughter, Helena, during this very difficult period.
William was a good man who worked diligently for the cause of mental illness and NAMI. He is loved and will be dearly missed.
Brittney Scott
May 29, 2020
I first met William at a Continuing Ed. When I first started my journey as a Peer . He was witty, and kind, and made me feel welcome immediately. I later got to know him much better during my Certified Peer Support Specialist training. William not only gave us the knowledge we need to succeed, he gave us hope. With his own struggles, his own story, and that is exactly what being a peer is all about. Anyone that had the pleasure of training with him took a little bit of him with them when they left. We can all continue his legacy in mental health as well as just being KIND. I find comfort in knowing how many lives he touched, and how much he changed me personally. I will miss you your “Highness”.
Charisse Parker
May 28, 2020
Mr. William Ruff was an amazing man. From the first time we met in 2014 until the last two occasions I was blessed to be in his presence, it was a real pleasure to be in his presence. He was always so humble and caring and humorous. He will be greatly missed more than words can express
Kym Klass
May 28, 2020
William was a wonderfully dedicated man who worked tirelessly to make the world a better place. He will be missed throughout NAMI Alabama and by everyone whose life he touched.
Kym Klass
NAMI Alabama
Stephen Puckett
May 27, 2020
What a wonderful and humble individual we have lost at least in this world. I know William is looking down on us with a bright smile. He will always be remembered for his kindness and dedication for all of God’s people.
William I will always miss you and your dry wit
Steve Puckett
Robert Williams lll
May 22, 2020
Praying for your family and friends…I served on the N.A.M.I. of Birmingham INC. Board Vice President with William. He is a devoted member and served family members and friends well
..Bill always showed up on time and took his volunteer work seriously…he helped himself and eventually everyone around him.. Bill was a great leader and worked his heart out in the community…I am so proud of his life…God Bless you William Ruff and your two daughters and friends.