Philip A. Ruggiero

Philip A. Ruggiero age 75 of Concord passed away peacefully on Monday, August 29, 2016 at his residence.

Born in Boston he was the son of the late John and Dominika (Stacishin) Ruggiero. Raised and educated in Somerville, MA, he graduated from High School in 1959. He then went on to graduate from Northeastern University with a BS from their school of Pharmacy. He enlisted in the United States Army National Guard during the Vietnam Era and worked as a Pharmacist in various retail outlets in New Hampshire, Belmont and Quincy.

Philip always had a job from shoe shine boy, selling newspapers to daily commuters on McGrath Highway in Somerville, soda jerk and driving cab while studying at Northeastern. It was in the early 1970s that Philip opened his first Concord Pharmacy. As the business grew, Philip rented space at two different locations along the business section of Thoreau Street, Concord. It was not until 1982 that Phil's dream of owning his own building came true. To make it happen, Philip purchased an old gas station at 158 Sudbury Road, managed the excavation and construction of a new brick building while he continued to operate his Pharmacy at 88 Thoreau Street. The "new" expanded Apothecary Shoppe on Sudbury Road was truly a family operated business that Phil and his family all worked for many years. In the mid 1990's, Phil sold the business and took a job as a pharmacist at the VA CMOP in Chelmsford where he worked until his retirement in May 2009.

Phil always enjoyed traveling especially to Mexico and New Orleans. He loved dining out and when he took time off from the Pharmacy he liked hunting in Maine with his buddies

He is survived by his children, John Ruggiero of Boston and Mary Nicola of Burlington. His sister Maria Ruggiero of Watertown and nephew John J. Porter of Acton. Phil was the brother of the late John Ruggiero and Donna Porter.

Family and friends with gather to honor and remember Phil on Friday, Sept 2 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Concord Funeral Home. His funeral mass was celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am. in Holy Family Parish, Concord. Burial followed with U.S. Army Honors at St Bernard's Cemetery in Concord.

Concord's town flag will fly at half-staff on Saturday, September 3rd in honor of Phil's service to his country.