Joe Ruddy

1904 Olympic gold medals 4x50 Freesyle relay gold Ruddy won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the 1904 St. Louis men's 4x50-yard freestyle relay composed of members of the New York Athletic Club coached by NYAC Head Coach Gus Sundstrom. The American team members included Ruddy as lead off swimmer, followed by Budd Goodwin, Louis Handley, and Charlie Daniels, a particularly accomplished American swimmer. The New York Athletic Club team swam a combined time of 2:04.6. The team from America's Chicago Athletic Club took second for the silver, and the team from the Missouri Athletic Club took third for the bronze. The 1904 Olympic gold medal New York Athletic Club team consisted of David Bratton, George Van Cleaf, Leo Goodwin, Louis Handley, David Hesser, Ruddy, and James Steen.

Ruddy placed third in the 100-yard handicap event at the 1904 Olympics, though it was not a medal event, and both other entries were members of the American team.

Ruddy continued to represent the New York Athletic Club, while winning both the harlequin and obstacle races at the Annual Water Sports Meet of the Jamaica Bay Yacht Club in early September, 1911.

Water Polo coach, civil service Ruddy continued to compete in Water Polo matches into his 50's. In 1902, he served as a Junior clerk in the Municipal Civil Service Commission, and was later appointed as a physical examiner. While serving in the Civil Service, he dismissed many non-swimmers who were serving as lifeguards. He retired from his position as examiner in 1935. After his retirement around 1939, he was indicted for taking unlawful fees for civil service jobs.

Ruddy was the father of 1928 Olympic swimmer Ray Ruddy who also participated in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics. Ruddy had two other sons and two daughters. His oldest son and namesake, Joseph Ruddy Jr. was a U.S. Navy admiral, swam for the Naval Academy at Annapolis and was the recipient of a Navy Cross as an aviator in WWII.

He died at his home in Far Rockaway, New York on November 11, 1962, at the age of 84. He had been living on Newport Avenue in Far Rockaway. He was survived by his wife Mary, two of his three sons, and two daughters. A Mass was held on November 14 at St. Frances de Sales Church in Rockaway Park, Queens.

Honors In 1977, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He received a special medal of recognition for having saved 200 lives during his career as a lifeguard.