Ruth Dukkony passed away on April 17, 2016 at home in Jupiter, Florida.  She is survived by her devoted husband of 37 years, Stephen J. Dukkony; three children, Donna Lachance (Frank) of Atlanta, Deborah Kennedy-Wolke (Wayne) of Melbourne, Florida and Dean Packard (Darian) of Chevy Chase, Maryland; three stepchildren Lisa Dukkony of Annapolis Maryland, Julie Dukkony of Williston, Florida, and Stephen P. Dukkony (Elaine) of Hollywood, Florida.  She has 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Her family wanted to share just a few of the amazing things she did during her life.

EARLY LIFE

Ruth Haslup Adams was born in Washington, D.C. on December 22, 1932. Ruth, affectionately called Ruthie, was the daughter of Donald H. and Eleanor (Freeny) Adams. Her father, a fourth generation Washingtonian, was an outstanding football player at the University of Maryland and the founder of the restaurant supply firm Adams-Burch. She has a sister, Frances “Parkie” Blaylock (Dan) of Chevy Chase, Maryland and a brother Donald H. Adams Jr. of Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Ruthie was raised as part of a close extended family, and family remained important to her throughout her life. Her cousins on her father’s side (Adams) and her mother’s side (Burgers) were like brothers and sisters to her.

Ruthie graduated from National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, D.C. in 1951, and Centenary Junior College in Hacketstown, NJ in 1953. She remained an active alumna of both schools throughout her life.

CHEVY CHASE: SOCIETY MOTHER

In 1954 she married John E. (Jack) Packard III of Marblehead, MA. They made their home in Chevy Chase, MD. They had three children, and raising them was Ruthie’s first priority and her lifelong joy. Her children’s friends still remember her for her elaborate and creative birthday parties. She was a natural hostess, and her home was always open for parties, and out-of-town guests.

As was customary for women in her circle, she devoted her spare time to volunteering in the community. Over time, her talent and enthusiasm led her to take on leadership positions in many organizations, such as Junior League, Children’s Hospital, Eye Foundation, Boys Club, Holton-Arms School, the Association of Private Schools, National Cathedral School, the Heart Association, and All Saints Church.

After serving as a docent at the Smithsonian, she organized their first tour guides program for the public in 1964. As a member of Columbia Country Club, she started the city’s first inter-club tennis league.

NIXON CAMPAIGNS AND FREEDOM TRAIN

In 1968, Ruthie co-chaired the committee responsible for tickets and invitations for the seven Nixon Inaugural balls. In 1972 she created a program called “Athletes-for-Nixon”, enlisting the support of 360 well-known sports figures. She also chaired tickets for all Nixon Inaugural events that year.

Because of her work on the Nixon campaigns, she was offered a major role in the American Freedom Train, the rolling tribute to American history that toured the US during the Bicentennial Celebration in the mid-1970s.

Ruthie was the vice president responsible for gathering a collection of over 500 artifacts that visually told the story of our nation; she traveled the country to convince famous Americans to lend their prized artifacts to the display. She then traveled with the train on its 21-month journey through 136 cities. She conducted the opening ceremonies in each city, hosted luncheons and dinners, and personally led tours for VIPs in every city. This experience was a highlight of her career, and one of her proudest accomplishments.

COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE TO STEVE DUKKONY

In 1977, while separated from her first husband, Ruth recognized a need for opening avenues of social contact between formerly-married men and women in her social circle. Starting with a few friends, she formed an invitation-only singles club she named “Cornucopia.” The club members enjoyed private dinners, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, theatre performances, other outings, and twice-weekly meetings in a private room at the Georgetown Inn Club. During this time, Ruthie became the Washington-area governor of a national singles organization called Who’s Who International. Her pastor, Louis Evans of National Presbyterian Church, also asked her to start a singles group at the church.

Her single club days ended when she met army colonel Stephen J. Dukkony – who had been referred to the club by a friend of a friend – and they fell in love at first sight. They married in 1979, and have rarely been apart since then. She and Steve each brought three children to the union, and over the years they have formed a close family unit.

ANNAPOLIS TRAVEL SERVICE

Upon Steve’s retirement from the army, they opened Annapolis Travel Service in Annapolis, Maryland, and grew it to be a respected travel agency for 18 years. Ruthie was an active participant in the Association of Retail Travel Agents, serving as president of the DC-area chapter, and as chairman of several key boards at the national level. Ruth served on the BWI Airport’s Board of Tourism, and was on the advisory boards of Eastern, Continental, and Pan American Airlines.

She and Steve visited 120 countries during their years in the travel business. This travel made them outstanding advisors to their clients, and also gave them a life of adventure together. She loved being in the travel business. Their cars bore the license plates, “GO 4 FUN,” and “MORE FUN.” Their boat was christened “Annapolis Traveler.”

Ruthie was active in both the Annapolis Yacht Club and the Maryland Capital Yacht Club. In addition to sailing with friends and family, Ruthie and Steve hosted parties aboard Annapolis Traveler for a range of travel industry leaders.

ANNAPOLIS CIVIC ACTIVITIES

In addition to running the business, Ruth continued to step up as a community volunteer. She was elected to the board of the Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce. After chairing numerous committees and leading many special projects, she was elected “Member of the Year” in 1993.

In 1984, Annapolis was a host venue for the Summer Olympics. She led the planning for the ceremony in Annapolis as the torch made its way across America to Los Angeles. Annapolis received special press coverage for the outstanding ceremony conducted as part of the running of the torch through the city. The torch run sponsors contributed $39,000 to the local YMCA.

In 1990, as drug problems became more prevalent in the schools, Ruthie started a program that encourage students to resist drug use. She named the program CLASS (Chamber Leaders of Annapolis Sponsoring Students), and recruited local businesses to support parent-led programs.

Ruthie continued to support candidates in local, state, and national elections. She served on the Annapolis Republican Central Committee for eight years. In 1992, the Democratic mayor named her to the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

Ruthie also served on the board of the Friends of St. John, one of the first private preparatory schools in colonial America. St John has a teaching style that harkens back to Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle.

While living in the home city of the US Naval Academy, Ruthie and Steve served as local “sponsor families” to two outstanding Midshipmen, Mark Miller and Fred Malek, beginning friendships that have lasted ever since.

JUPITER FLORIDA: “RETIREMENT?”

In 1996, the Dukkonys sold their agency and retired to Jupiter, FL, buying a home in the Ocean Walk Community, where they have lived happily ever since.

It was just a matter of time before Ruthie’s volunteer spirit surfaced. Initially, she was attracted to the Florida History Center and Museum, and to the Lighthouse Gallery of the Arts. She also assisted the Program Director for the town of Jupiter’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

She shared the community’s disappointment when the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre failed. When the opportunity arose to bring theatre back to Jupiter, Ruthie was eager to help. She helped set up and manage the theatre’s box office, working there once a week for five years. She was an enthusiastic member of the Theatre Guild that was to become the backbone of the volunteer effort to ensure the survival of the theatre. Her financial donations have endowed seats and even a restroom at the current facility.

When Steve became president of the Palm Beach-Martin Counties chapter of MOAA (Military Officers Association of America), Ruth was right by his side. She co-chaired the annual meeting of the Florida Council of Chapters. Her dedicated service, organizational skills, and experience led to one of the most successful conventions ever hosted by a MOAA chapter. Materials from the event still serve as a detailed planning document for subsequent conventions.

JUPITER FLORIDA FRIENDSHIPS

Ruthie’s life-long love of tennis continued at Jonathan’s Landing, where she played on the B-2 level team. Many lasting friendships formed as a result of tennis and social events. When health prevented her from playing, she turned her competitive interest to bridge. She played twice-weekly, greatly enjoying the friendships this stimulating game provided. Not happy to give up her games during the off-season, she spearheaded the creation of a summer league.

In retirement, Ruthie also had time to pursue the extensive procedure and documentation necessary to become an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ruthie also became a member of the Jupiter-Tequesta Rotary Club. She was an active volunteer in their community projects and social events. She and Steve also enjoyed sharing travel stories with other members of the Circumnavigators Club (open to people who have traveled all around the world).

She was a member of the President’s Club of the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation, and also The Ambassadors. After her cancer diagnosis, she received outstanding care and support from the nurses and staff at the Edna Milbank Foshay Cancer Center. She also gave back, counseling women who were newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was an inspiration to all by her determination to keep living an active lifestyle for the seven years since her diagnosis. It was a standing joke at the center that she would not be scheduled for chemo at times that would conflict with her twice-weekly bridge games.

Ruthie wanted a church home in Jupiter, and It was a happy day when she found Dr. Barry Johnson of JupiterFIRST Church. The church became an important part of her Florida life and was a great comfort to her in her illness. The friendship of minister Debra Kaiser-Cross was much valued.

FAMILY TIES

Ruthie thoroughly enjoyed watching her children and stepchildren grow up, establish successful careers and interests each in their own way, and eventually provide her with grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Each Mother’s Day, she was proud to claim the honor of being the mother at her church with the most grandchildren.

Ruthie loved being with her family, and over the years, she created many opportunities to bring us all together. She planned a special surprise party for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary in 1980, bringing all of their closest friend together for a trip to their favorite nearby resort. When Steve turned 60 in 1991, she surprised him by bringing in friends from throughout his life for a special surprise celebration. In 1999, she planned a cruise for over 75 members of her extended family to ring in the Millennium. And in 2012, she convened all the children and grandchildren in Jupiter for a weeklong celebration together.

Her extended Adams family has a 150-year tradition of gathering at Thanksgiving, and she rarely missed one, even flying to be there last November.

RUTHIE’S LEGACY

Throughout her life, Ruthie showed an exuberance for living a meaningful life. She wanted not only to be a part of the world around her, but to influence events in a positive way.

Time was not to be wasted. There was so much happening in her world, and she saw how things could be improved and how people could be happier and more fulfilled by working together toward a common goal – be it family, social, politics, or business.

Being a facilitator was her greatest talent. She possessed an uncanny knack for bringing together people of similar interests and talents in such a way as to generate a symbiotic relationship that propelled the project forward toward a better outcome.

Her goal was never self-promotion, but rather the pleasure that comes from being a part of  that better outcome.

We will also never forget that Ruthie was FUN! She liked to see the humor in the world, and never took herself too seriously. She was rarely seen without her trademark smile.

The deep and lasting love that she shared with Steve was a joy to behold, and a blessing to all who knew them. Together, they were a union that could do anything, and did!

Ruthie is at rest now. She did not leave this life sorrowfully. She has run a good race. She was enthusiastically excited about the legacy she leaves behind, and looking forward to meeting up with lost family and friends in life to come.