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Obituary for Frederick Ruffin
A Memorial Service will be held for Frederick, please contact the family of when this service will occur.
Uncle Freddie’s Obituary
Frederick Ruffin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania passed away after a brief illness on July 7, 2022. He was born on October 28, 1929 in Philadelphia to the late Andrew Benjamin Ruffin and the late Alma (Thomas) Ruffin. Freddie, as he was affectionately known to family members grew up in the Elmwood aka The Meadows and West Philly sections of Philadelphia.
Educated in the Philadelphia public school system, Freddie graduated from Overbrook High School in 1948. He then served in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Air Operations Specialist from 1948 until receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1952. Freddie joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1956; graduating first in his class at the Police Academy and was promoted to the position of detective in less than two years. He rose steadily through the ranks and was promoted to Sergeant in 1959, Lieutenant in 1963 and in 1966 was promoted to Captain of the West Detective Division. In 1968 Freddie became the Philadelphia Police Department’s first Black officer to attain the senior executive rank of Inspector. In 1972 he was named Commanding Officer of the Northwest Police Division, making him the superior officer of the captains of 4 districts and 800 men.
He retired in July 1980 after holding additional command positions as part of his very distinguished career and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5. Freddie was an outstanding role model for professional success, an avid photographer, a lover of professional football, a devoted grandfather and brother and personified excellence for his many nieces and nephews.
Freddie was predeceased by his wife of 27 years, Carole W. Ruffin; brothers, Andrew “Sonny” Ruffin; Harry Ruffin and sisters, Helen (Ruffin) Allen and Alice Ruffin. He leaves behind to cherish his memory two grandsons, Ian Pulido-Jones and John M. Reese; his stepdaughter, Carmen Pulido; nephews, David M. Allen, Michael S. Allen, Stephen M. Allen, Harry Ruffin, Jr.; nieces, Carolyn V. Harris, Leslie H. Allen, Esquire, Phyllis M. Donahue, Denise Thornton, Patrice Reavis, Lynette D. Fuller, as well as a host of family members and friends who loved and admired him throughout the years.
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