Obituary – Rev. Louis William Ruoff

RUOFF, Rev. Louis “Lou” William, 75, retired priest of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond and resident of St. Mary’s Woods Retirement Community, Henrico, Va., died unexpectedly Monday, July 26, 2021, while recuperating from recent heart surgery. “Father Lou,” as he loved to be called, was born in his beloved “city of brotherly love,” Philadelphia, Pa., January 31, 1946. Orphaned as an infant and raised in a Catholic orphanage, he was adopted into the loving family of George and Anna Ruoff. After a somewhat rough and tumble adolescence and young adulthood in schools, factories and on Philly’s street corners, he began to “get his act together” while at Shippensburg State College (Pennsylvania). Father Lou discerned a call to service in the priesthood. He first joined a religious community but eventually joined the Diocese of Richmond in 1980, inspired by the progressive leadership of Bishop Walter Sullivan. He then attended St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md., where he earned the M.Div. degree. He was ordained a priest May 12, 1984, by Bishop Sullivan. For the next 32 years, Father Lou served as an associate pastor, administrator or pastor of 12 parishes throughout the diocese. At age 70, after his last assignment (10 years) at St. Ann Church in Colonial Heights, he retired from active ministry in 2016. Father Lou, a tough, tenacious and tender man, will be remembered for a very generous spirit, his love for the poor and an intense commitment to redeem the world from war and injustice. He loved to teach and preach, write and publish; feverish about newspapers and the daily news, Father Lou daily challenged the news of violence, deceit and corruption with Gospel “good news” of integrity, honesty and reconciliation. Whether with Christ’s Bread at the altar or around the table in parishioner’s homes with “pies” (Philly style pizza) or hoagies, or taking his parish staff or friends to lunch, Father Lou deeply loved and generously shared the holy communion of the beloved community(s) he was ordained to serve. Surely on July 26, he was welcomed home to God’s heart with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!” A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 5 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Rd., Richmond, Va. 23229. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. A reception will follow the Mass. For those unable to attend Mass, a livestream is available at stmarysrichmond.org. In lieu of flowers, Father Lou requested that any memorial donations be directed to the Human Concerns Ministry of St. Mary Church. He will be buried at a later date, next to his parents, in Roslyn, Pa.