Many people know John Ruf as an Olympic medal winning and world champion sailor, but he was also a lawyer, movie buff, politician, an avid reader, an Admiral, a loyal and faithful servant of God, a music aficionado, a gifted storyteller, a person who valued integrity, a loyal friend to many, many people, and most of all, a deeply loved uncle, brother and son.

John was born in Chicago to Fritz and Sally Ruf. Just months after his birth, his parents, along with his older sister Sarah, moved to Pewaukee Lake. For John, even though he would visit numerous places and meet countless people throughout his life, Pewaukee would always be home. His youth was spent at his parent’s home on Rocky Point and when he was able to have his own home, the “Base Camp” became the happiest place on Pewaukee Lake, for both John and his friends.

At the age of 5, John was found to have a tumor on his spinal column. The treatment of the tumor, and subsequent medical issues, led to a decline in John’s ability to walk and play in the ways most enjoy as a child. John lost his ability to walk in 1999, but that did not stop him from becoming a beacon of inspiration for those who knew him. He greeted each setback as he would so many things in his life: head-on with humor, strength, and perseverance. Somehow, he always found the positive aspect, flashing his megawatt smile and moving forward. Over the years he found ways to challenge himself to climb to great heights, if not literally, certainly figuratively.

In school, John excelled. He had a keen mind, constantly reading and learning. He was a performer and storyteller himself and embraced a saying of his dad’s early on – “don’t let the details get in the way of a good story.”

After high school, John studied at Washington University in St. Louis. It was there that he met two of the most loyal buddies a guy could ask for in life, Lee Rosen and Eric Kosser.

John took in all that was available to him: joining a fraternity, studying overseas, and fine tuning his ability to find good scotch. In one of his favorite stories from college, John used his acting chops, playing the role of a prince of a wealthy family (with his friends acting as his entourage) all in a successful effort to get into a “back door” tour at Anheuser Busch’s headquarters in St. Louis!

Following Wash U, John moved on and earned a law degree from UW Madison. John used his degree for business, not as a practicing lawyer. With his background, John would put his education to work through a variety of jobs, ranging from a beer distributor start up in Russia, a role at an early website developer, and jobs at Baird, and other companies, working in compliance. John’s two final jobs were at Harken, where John used his extensive sailing background, collaborating with good friends and a few of his childhood mentors, before his last position at Frentzel Products in Sussex. It was here that John seemed happiest at work, getting the chance to work alongside one of his dearest friends, Tom Frentzel.

While John had plenty of successes, his favorite memories revolved around sailboat racing. He was a 4th-generation sailor, and sailing brought incredible joy to his life. At an early age, in a way that defined his goal of being in control of his life, he started skipping (steering) his own boats. As a youth, he skipped an X-boat and graduated to an M-16 scow. In his early 20’s, he acquired an E-scow, a boat designed by his great grandfather, sailed to legendary success by both his grandfather and great uncle, and known by many as the Ferrari of sailboats for its high performance. John sailed his first E, “Liquid Inspiration,” for several years before getting the chance to build a new E, “White Buffalo,” at Melges Boatworks with the help of noted boat whisperer, Henry Colie. With both boats, John raced throughout the upper Midwest, as well as to regattas along the east coast. While he loved the White Buffalo and had great fun sailing it, what he cherished most were the friends he made, and the adventures he had with his mates. After selling the White Buffalo, John took a brief respite from sailing.

While recovering from a medical procedure, John learned about the 2.4mR (2.4meter), a single-handed sailboat with a fixed keel, sailed by both able bodied and disabled sailors. The 2.4 was introduced as a fleet in the 2000 Paralympics. At the time, John was intrigued about the challenge of becoming an Olympic athlete and said, “There might be a ramp to the podium but the road to it is exactly the same.” With his confidence and positivity, he attended the Paralympic trials in 2000. He did not win, but he learned he could compete.

John tried again to qualify for the 2004 Games. He finished 2nd in that attempt, which was an outstanding improvement. This motivated him to fully commit to the 2.4 with the goal of qualifying for the 2008 Paralympic Games, to be hosted in Beijing, China. He trained extensively, and developed a network of coaches, boat builders, friends, and donors who backed him in his attempt. John won the trials and developed an inner fire to become a medal winner. With his parents and sister watching him in China, and with many others watching across the country, John won a bronze medal for the United States.

Following the 2008 Games, John would continue to race the 2.4 and in 2009 he won the 2.4 World Championship Regatta in Fort Myers, FL. This was a hugely satisfying win for John as it showed that when given a boat that evened the playing field, John’s tremendous ability as a sailor was proven against both able bodied and disabled sailors.

John was generous with his time, and he showed it in a variety of ways:

· After his Olympic success, John made numerous presentations to a variety of groups, but his favorite audiences were always children. With his encouraging example of showing that you can accomplish anything in life, regardless of the obstacles you face, his positive messaging shined through.

· Given his Olympic exposure, John was appointed to the US Olympic Athlete Advisory Board, overseeing the ways Team USA athletes are supported by the US Olympic Committee Leadership. This was a deep honor that he took seriously.

· John’s faith was a guiding principle for him, and he worshipped at Galilee Lutheran Church in Pewaukee. John served 4 years on Galilee’s Leadership Board, the last three as President. His relationships with members at Galilee were vital to him.

· In 2002, John was elected by his community to the Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District Board of Commissioners. At the time of his passing, John was President and he is credited with leading LPSD through a series of significant upgrades that are currently underway. His work with this organization will be felt for years to come.

John is proof that a positive outlook can improve the outcome of any situation. His life was challenging, but he challenged himself to carry on, living with a zest that is rare. His laughter filled a room, and his big toothy grin was ever present. He is deeply missed by his loving mother, Sally Ruf, his devoted sister Sarah Spencer, his brother-in-law, and nearly lifelong friend Carl Spencer, his two nephews, whom he adored, Christian and Sam Spencer, his extended family and many, many friends from all over the world. He was preceded in death by his father, Fritz Ruf, who will always be one of John’s biggest supporters.

A funeral service for John will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Galilee Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held at the church from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with service to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that memorials in John’s name be made to Galilee Lutheran Church, The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, or to an organization of your choice.