In Memoriam: Red Bank-Raised 47-Year Prown’s Employee, Former Longtime Little Silver Resident, Steven Ruzicka, 90

Red Bank-raised 47-year Prown’s employee and former longtime Little Silver resident, Steven Wilhelm Ruzicka, more recently of Middletown, passed away peacefully on Nov. 5. He was 90.

“Steven was born (1933) in Long Branch. Having lived in Red Bank most of his life and graduating from Red Bank High School in 1952, Steven was proud of his Red Bank roots as his family settled in Red Bank in the early 1900’s. Steven then married the love of his life, Barbara Brooks-Ruzicka, also of Red Bank, in 1957. Their love story lasted 66 years until Barbara’s passing in 2023. Steven spent two years in the US Army, was a member of the Little Silver Volunteer Fire Department for many years, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bank and the Year Round Sportsman’s Club. His love for the outdoors and passion for hunting and fishing were his great joys … Steven had a career with Prown’s of Red Bank for 47 years and was fondly referred to as ‘the man with the pipe.’ After retiring, he and Barbara traveled the world together.”
Loved ones of Steven Ruzicka in his obituary

He is predeceased by: his wife, Barbara; his parents, Stephen R. Ruzicka (’77) and Emma M. Schwanemann-Ruzicka (’88); and his sister, Emily Easton (’09).

Steven is survived by: his three children, Lisa A. Colmain (husband Edward), Deirdre J. Rice (husband Todd) and Laura J. Scalzo (husband Louis); six grandchildren, Christopher and Cooper Colmain, Megan and Zachary Rice, Alyssa and Nicole Scalzo; and four great-grandchildren, Johanna, Emma and Maverick Contreras (Megan), and Declan Rice (Zachary) and sister, Helen Thomas, of Fair Haven, along with her children, Trevor and Stephen.

Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. The family would like to thank Brighton Gardens of Middletown and Embracing Hospice Care, Wall New Jersey for their most compassionate care during this most difficult time.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home