Kenneth Barclay Ruhm

Ken Ruhm, of Holderness and Heritage Heights in Concord, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 12th, after an extraordinary 90 years of life. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Nancy.

Born in Utica, New York, in 1934, Ken was the elder of two sons of Kenneth and Ruth Ruhm. He grew up in Herkimer, New York, and graduated from the University of Rochester in 1955, where he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

After completing Undergraduate Pilot Training in 1958, Ken served multiple tours as an instructor pilot at Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas, and Williams AFB in Chandler, Arizona, training students in the T-6, T-33, and T-38 aircraft. It was during his assignement to Williams AFB in 1963 that he met Nancy and her two young sons, Michael and Robert, who would become his own. Ken and Nancy were married in Herkimer, NY, in December 1963 and welcomed their third son, Brian, in April 1965.

Shortly afterward, Ken deployed to Vietnam, where he flew nearly 300 combat missions in the Douglas A-1E Skyraider and served alongside Medal of Honor recipient Major Bernie Fisher. For his courage and distinguished service, Ken was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following his return from Vietnam, Ken left active duty and began a civilian aviation career with Pan American Airways, relocating to San Francisco. There, he and Nancy welcomed their fourth son, Steven, in December 1968. In 1972, Ken transferred to Boston and settled in Holderness, New Hampshire, where he would spend nearly all of his remaining years.

When furloughed by Pan Am in 1976, Ken chose to stay in New Hampshire to raise his family, even though it meant stepping away from commercial flying. During this time, he pursued an MBA and worked for the Holderness School and several regional airlines, including Winnipesaukee and Precision Airlines. He was recalled by Pan Am in 1985 and later joined Delta Air Lines, retiring in 1996.

Ken remained active in retirement, ski racing, cycling, traveling, volunteering, and spending as much time as possible with his children and grandchildren. He and Nancy were active in the Waterville Valley “Silver Streaks” ski program, and Ken continued racing into his seventies. Together, they skied in Courchevel, France; biked through Germany, Italy, and Vietnam; and cruised to Greece, Alaska and England. Ken volunteered with the Squam Lakes Association as a water quality sampler and was a vital part of the team that harvested and split firewood to heat the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. One of Ken’s greatest joys was his role as “Pop Pop” to his grandchildren. For more than a decade, he and Nancy hosted “Camp Gamma and Pop Pop,” creating cherished memories for their family.

Ken is survived by his wife Nancy, his four devoted sons — Michael, Robert, Brian, and Steven — seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.