School is focus for entire family

Family is the most important priority for Peggy and Paul Ruggeri, parents of two daughters -- seven year old Rachel and two-and-a-half-year-old Rebecah.

"We're a very close family," Mrs. Ruggeri said. "We're very close because we're such a small family. There are no grandparents. Our family is the Church."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruggeri work at St. Helen's School in Niskayuna where their oldest daughter is enrolled. Much of the family's day revolves around St. Helen's. As if that weren't enough, Mr. Ruggeri is currently enrolled in the diocesan Formation for Ministry Program with the ultimate goal of becoming a deacon.

Volunteers

Mrs. Ruggeri attends Mass each weekend with her family even though she is not a Catholic. She also played an important role in the selection of St. Helen's as the school for her daughter.

"We wanted her to be brought up with a Catholic education, knowing her faith," she said.

When a call for volunteers goes out, the Ruggeris often respond. "One of our greatest challenges is preserving family time," Mr. Ruggeri said. "There's something that always needs doing [at St. Helen's.]"

Togetherness

While much of their world revolves around their St. Helen's family, the couple says that is just the way they like it. Working together at the school has many advantages.

"The best part is that it's an opportunity to be together and to share something we love," Mr. Ruggeri said. "I think it enriches our marriage."

"We talk about school all of the time," Mrs. Ruggeri said. "We can all talk about it."

So that their youngest daughter feels a part of the school community, Mrs. Ruggeri often brings her to school. "We try to incorporate her here," the mother said. "I bring her here before dismissal."

Pitching in

Mrs. Ruggeri is a part-time office aide at the school. The position was an outgrowth of her volunteer commitment to the school.

"I did a lot of volunteering," she said. "When their secretary left, Sister needed someone part-time. She asked me, and I held her off for three weeks because I had a baby at home. But then I thought it would be great to be with my other daughter."

A few months later, the school was in need of a part-time technology teacher. Mr. Ruggeri had just left Siena College, where he had worked for 15 years, in order to start his own business. While his original intention was to continue to pursue his own business while working at the school part-time, his plans changed. The business was taking up too much family time and requiring him to be away. The St. Helen's position has now grown into a full-time job that encompasses technology as well as remediation and enrichment.

Crossing paths

While the couple works in the same school, their contact with each other during the day is minimal.

"We don't have a lot of time together," Mr. Ruggeri said. "If we want to see each other [during the day], I'll send a kid to the office with a note."

Mr. Ruggeri's requests to see his wife go unnoticed by the rest of the school; but when Mrs. Ruggeri wants to see her husband, she has a powerful tool at her fingertips: the school intercom system. "She pages me," he said. Often, his students tease him about it.

This is not the first time the couple has worked together. They both worked for a local life insurance company. "I hired her," Mr. Ruggeri said. "That's how we met. We couldn't stand each other."

Working together

Married 21 years, the couple continued to work at the same company after their wedding, although Mrs. Ruggeri transferred to another department once they were engaged.

"We missed working together," Mr. Ruggeri said.

While the Ruggeris enjoy working together, they say it's something that shouldn't be rushed into.

"Talk it over," Mr. Ruggeri advises other couples who are thinking of working together. "Find out how much time you'll spend together. You need to think about how to separate work and family life. Well, actually, it's more 'manage' it; you can't separate it."

(03-05-98) [[In-content Ad]]