Victor Andrew Rugala Jr., 67, of East Brunswick, passed away on Monday, August 29, 2022.

Victor was born July 14, 1955, in New Brunswick, NJ, to Victor Andrew and Amelia (Krell) Rugala. He grew up in nearby East Brunswick and graduated from East Brunswick High School in 1973, excelling in mathematics, science and computer science. He attended Rutgers College, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Economics.

Before age sixteen, he started his own lawn service, cutting lawns in the surrounding neighborhood. During high school and college he had summer jobs with the East Brunswick Board of Education, US Postal Service, and Ford Motor Company. He also worked as a “temp” at numerous Central Jersey corporations.

Following college, he joined a small Certified Public Accounting firm as an auditor, traveling throughout New Jersey, while studying for the CPA exam. He subsequently worked as an accountant/administrative assistant for the Director of Research and Development, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange, NJ. He then ventured out on his own as an Information Technology Technician, working alongside third-party IT contractors before considering a permanent position at Rhone-Poulenc in Monroe. While at Rhone-Poulenc, he developed a computer program to provide consolidated worldwide financial statements.

Victor was a gifted musician. He took classical piano lessons from the ages of seven through sixteen and played the piano in the East Brunswick HS jazz band, The Indigos. He started playing drums in junior high school and played the snare drum in the marching band and, on occasion, percussion, in the orchestra, throughout high school. He also sang in the Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church Choir in South River.

Victor loved sports. He was a member of the East Brunswick HS golf team and as a freshman at Rutgers College, he tried out and made the lightweight crew team.

Victor was one of the pioneers of Ultimate (Frisbee) at the high school and college levels. He played for East Brunswick HS in the spring of 1973 when they beat St. Joseph HS in Metuchen, NJ.

After graduation he played as a key member of the Rutgers Ultimate team that won 3 consecutive undefeated national championships. He continued to play Ultimate after college with the Knights of Knee which was the first East coast Ultimate team. Vic also played summer league on Ultimate teams in Westfield and Mercer County, NJ. He was a very reliable teammate and was respected for his passion and skill by all the Ultimate community.

He is predeceased in death by his parents, Victor and Amelia (Krell) Rugala. Surviving are his loving sister Laura Jean Rugala of Annapolis, MD, his Aunt Mary Jane Rugala of Hernando, FL, as well as many Krell and Rugala cousins.

Funeral services will be held Saturday 9:30 a.m. from the M.A. Maliszewski Funeral Home, 218 Whitehead Avenue, South River with a 10:00 a.m. service at Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 76 Whitehead Avenue, South River. Burial will follow at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Calling hours at the funeral home will take place on Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Panahida prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made in Victor’s name to Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church Icon Fund.

Complete funeral arrangements, directions, and letters of condolence to the family may be found by visiting www.maliszewskifuneralhome.com.




Please follow this link to view Victor, Jr's livestream beginning at 2pm.

Link for 1st viewing ONLY, 2-4pm:
https://youtu.be/uUczLFbdj9Q

Link for 2nd Viewing beginning at 6pm
https://youtu.be/5XRt_dvt7vw