Ruffings celebrate 50th anniversary at surprise event

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Mr. and Mrs. James Ruffing

YOUNGSTOWN

A surprise family dinner party at the Youngstown Country Club celebrated the 50th wedding anniversary of James and Joan Ruffing.

The event was hosted by their children, Michael and Dayna Ruffing of Canfield, Maureen and Kirk Hough of Boardman, and Mary Ann and James Tomasic of Dameron, Md.

Guests included the couple’s 10 grandchildren and their nephews and their families from Cleveland, Columbus, Nashville and Virginia Beach.

While traveling in Ireland in the spring, the couple also celebrated their anniversary at Ashford Castle in County Mayo with their with Irish relatives. A Mediterranean cruise with stops in Rome, Florence and Barcelona will conclude the celebration.

Mr. Ruffing and the former Joan Durkin were married April 3, 1961, at St. Dominic Church, where they are members and Eucharistic ministers and were honored and received a special blessing at a family Mass.

Mrs. Ruffing, a graduate of Youngstown State University and Clarion University of Pennsylvania, retired in 2006 after 31 years teaching home economics at Wilson High School and as library media specialist at Cardinal Mooney High School.

Mr. Ruffing, a graduate of YSU and Westminster College, retired in 1999 after 42 years as a teacher at St. Dominic School and Cardinal Mooney and as principal of St. Mary Middle School and John F. Kennedy High School in Warren.