Richard M. Ferrugio ’71

Our multi-talented and widely admired classmate Rich excelled as an actor, caterer, painter, and innkeeper before succumbing to pancreatic cancer Nov. 15, 2021. 

Rich came to Princeton from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. He immersed himself in campus theatrical life, starring, directing, and serving as executive director in numerous productions at Theatre Intime. Rich majored in art history, lived with Flip Connell and Miles Reiter senior year in 1903 Hall, and was a member of Quadrangle. Classmates remember him for his brilliance, creativity, and family-based hospitality experienced by many.  

After graduation he pursued an acting and design career in New York City and was married to Anne Hoffman for 11 years. To “make a living” he founded a very successful catering business, the Food Gallery, whose noteworthy events included a New York City mayoral inauguration and two of our major reunions. 

After selling his business, he shifted to a painting career and produced more than 100 paintings, which are displayed in collections across the continent. He moved to Colorado and then back to upstate New York, where he continued to paint and operated the Saratoga Rose Inn and Restaurant with Claude Belanger, his domestic partner for 20 years. In later years, he moved to Florida, married Juan Valladares in 2019, and began his long struggle with cancer. 

Rich loyally served Princeton as a P-rade marshal, Schools Committee interviewer, major Reunion chair and fund raiser. The class extends its condolences to his family and many admirers.