John M. "Jack" Rua Obituary

John M. "Jack" Rua attended Somerset Berkley Regional High School in Somerset, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about John M. "jack" Rua.

Graduation Year	Class of 1982
Date of Passing	Sep 10, 2003
About	John M. “Jack” Rua, 39, of 1146 Ray St., Fall River, died Wednesday, September 10, 2003, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on route 195 in Somerset. He was the husband of Darlene J. (Sisson) Rua. Born in Fall River, the son of John S. and Barbara C. (Wisnewski) Rua of Somerset, he had lived in Somerset for many years. A 1982 graduate of Somerset High School, he attended Westfield State College and is known for his extensive involvement in civic and community service organizations. His volunteer work began prior to his graduation from then Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1986. Since that time, he has been associated with the insurance business in Fall River, starting out as an account executive with a large local insurance agency. After learning the business and pursuing professional knowledge through various training courses within the industry, he became Vice President of the Giroux-Audet-Rua Insurance Agency, Inc. Jack, as he is known in his community, attended the Professional School of Insurance in preparation for the state examination as a fully licensed Insurance Broker. He is a member of the Fall River Association of Insurance Agents, where he held the position of chairman of the Education Committee and presently serves on the Board of Directors. He is the current chairman of the By-Laws and Nominations committees. He is also a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, and past member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Life Underwriters. He serves on many boards and holds office in numerous organizations. Locally, he is very active in the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry where he has been a board member or executive committee member since 1992. Jack was the Chairman of the Board in the year 2000 and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. While serving on the board and executive committee of the Chamber, he has also served in many other capacities, including past chair of the Presidents Club; member of the Ambassadors, chair of Finance in 2000, Government and Economic Affairs, Tourism, chair of Nominating in 2001 & 2002, Education, By-Laws, Awards and Marketing Communications committees. He was the 1997 and 1999 chair of the chamber’s membership drive, which brought in over 175 new members to the Chamber. In addition, he is also a member of the Executive Committee of Fall River Celebrates America, one the largest waterfront festivals New England. He has been tasked with many responsibilities including chairman of the following committees: manpower, resources and logistics, public relations, and finance. In 1992, Rua served as chair of the annual waterfront event, which brought more than 300,000 people to Fall River’s Waterfront. The United Way has also benefited from his dedicated service. He held the positions of chair of the annual campaign in 1998/99 raising more than $2,000,000.00 and served as the secretary of the organization for many years. Currently, he serves as vice president and a member of the research and planning committee and finance committee. Rua has been recognized by the community for his outstanding volunteerism. In 1995, he received the John S. Brayton Memorial Outstanding Community Service Recognition Award, given by the Fall River Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 1997, he received the Thomas F. Cooney Memorial Award for outstanding volunteerism during the 1997/98 annual United Way campaign and he also received the Hometown Hero award in December of 1997. Other organizations that have benefited from his dedicated work are: Friends of Heritage State Park- Fall River, board member since 1992, past president 1995-2002, and present executive committee member. Fall River Lions Club, member since 1986, past president 1994-1995, and present board member. The Diabetes Association, Inc. board member since 1991, past president 1998/99, and present board member. United Way’s Campaign Millennium, 2001-present board member. The United Way’s Lantern Society, 1990-present member. The Chamber Foundation, 2001- present board member. The Fall River - New Bedford CEO Group, 2000-present board member. The H.M.S. Bounty 1993-2000, volunteer crew member and committee member. International Trade Assistance Center, 2000 board member. The SouthCoast Development Partnership, 2000 board member. Pop Warner Football, Coach 1995-2000. North Park Pony Baseball League, Coach 1999 & 2000. Milliken-Silva Basketball League, 1995-1999. Maplewood Independent Youth Baseball League, 1997-1999. The Marine Museum at Fall River, 1994-1996 board member The Advisory Committee for Challenged Scouting, 1988-1992. Due to Jack’s outstanding dedication, his firm, the Giroux-Audet-Rua Insurance Agency, recently received Rough Notes Magazine’s prestigious national award for community service. Besides his wife of 19 years and parents, he is survived by a son, John R. Rua and his fiancée Nicole Sousa of Fall River; a daughter, Jocelyn L. Rua of Fall River; a sister, Marybeth Rua-Larsen and her husband N. John of Somerset; a brother, Jason M. Rua and his wife Amy of Somerset and aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.