Ed Ruestow, Long-serving Board Member and Dinner Chairman Emeritus, has passed away

Edward H. Ruestow, Jr., 88, of Bloomfield, formerly of West Hartford, husband of the late Margaret (Poor) Ruestow, died Sunday, August 13, 2017. He was the former longtime owner of Clapp & Treat, Inc. Ed was born in Maplewood, NJ, one of three children of Edward H. and Arline (Spitzer) Ruestow. He graduated from Lehigh University, Class of 1952, where he wrestled and played football. Early in his career worked as a civil engineer with Walter Kidde Company in New Jersey and he and Peggy married in 1955. Ed was an avid outdoorsman who fished and hunted as a child and maintained a lifelong passion for fly fishing. When the opportunity presented itself in 1962, he opted to forgo engineering and purchased Clapp & Treat, Inc., an established Hartford sporting goods store. He and Peggy moved to West Hartford and ran the store for the next 25 years. The store, located at the corner of Prospect and Farmington Avenue, evolved into the area’s premiere outdoors sporting goods store. In addition to the store, Ed also co-founded the Hartford Sportsman Club and the Limestone Trout Club and was active on the Connecticut River Salmon Association until 3 years ago. He was a longtime member of the West Hartford Rotary Club. Ed was predeceased by his wife Peggy in 2007 and by his two sisters, Dorothy Ruestow Burns and Shirley Ruestow Hamilton of New Jersey. He is survived by 11 nieces and nephews, 20 great-nieces and nephews, and 1 great-great niece. Funeral services will be at 12 noon on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main Street, West Hartford with the Rev. Julie Emery officiating. Calling hours will be one hour prior to the service from 11 – 12. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lehigh University or Masonicare Hospice Services. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.