Dave Ruel
Colleagues and other friends are mourning the loss of Dave Ruel, the retired director of enterprise applications and systems in ITS who, over a 30-year career at Union, was known for his kindness, compassion, generosity and humor.
Ruel, of Clifton Park, passed away June 8, 2023. He was 68.
A native of Lewiston, Maine, he was a 1978 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he majored in social services and minored in business administration. After college, he worked as a counselor and administrator for social services agencies in Maine. He then transitioned to IT, first as a systems analyst for Liberty Mutual, then as a manager of administrative information systems at Swarthmore College.
He joined Union in 1988 as associate director of administrative computing services, and was steadily promoted until his retirement in 2020.
He enjoyed family vacations along the Maine coast and Lake George, swimming and animals. He was a history buff with a particular interest in the Civil War and World War II. A fan of music, tennis and basketball, he was especially devoted to the Dallas Cowboys.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ruel; and daughter, Erin Konchanin.
Services are set for Tuesday, June 20, at noon at the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St., (Rte.32) in Waterford, N.Y., where visitation begins at 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, N.Y. 12204.
An obituary for Dave Ruel is posted online.