2012 FATHER OF THE YEAR HONOREE
Joaquin Ruiz
Building Team Ruiz
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He is a wonderful kid and my wife is a wonderful wife and mom. We are a team.
”
Joaquin Ruiz
Executive Dean, University of Arizona Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science Dean, UA College of Science
Family Wife Bernadette, son Peter Involvement SciTucson, Science Downtown among others
120 BizTucson
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Summer 2012
Photo: www.balfourwalker.com
By Gabrielle Fimbres When Joaquin Ruiz’s tiny son came into the world 25 years ago, the future was uncertain. He was born too early, weighing less than two pounds. Ruiz and his wife, Bernadette, spent months in the intensive care unit at Peter’s side. Today, Peter, who has cerebral palsy, is a busy 25-yearold man – and the joy of his parents’ lives. “Peter is such a happy and easy-to-get-along-with kid,” said Ruiz, dean of the University of Arizona College of Science and a 2012 Father’s Day Council Tucson Father of the Year. “It’s just a joy to be with him.” Bernadette Ruiz, an attorney, worked with the Jewish Community Center to create a program for adults with disabilities, and Peter takes part during the day. He enjoys Judaic studies, reading to kids and learning Spanish. “He has a very rich day,” Ruiz said. Father and son love going out to eat – always Mexican food. They cheer on the Wildcats at football games and enjoy programs at the UA School of Dance. Peter often accompanies his dad to the office on weekends. “He is in a wheelchair but otherwise incredibly healthy,” Ruiz said. “He is a wonderful kid and my wife is a wonderful wife and mom. We are a team.”
The family enjoys traveling, and Peter has been to Israel, Spain, Paris, Germany and Mexico. Joaquin Ruiz was born in Mexico City to a New York mother of Polish descent and a Spanish father. “I was assembled in Mexico with imported parts,” he said. His parents were not highly educated, “but they were very well read and appreciated good art and classical music,” Ruiz said. After growing up in Mexico, he received bachelor’s degrees in geology and chemistry at the University of Miami. He received a master’s degree and doctorate in geology from the University of Michigan and joined the UA faculty in 1983. He was appointed Dean of the College of Science in 2000. Ruiz partners with K-12 education and the community to spread science beyond university walls. “We owe it to the community to be part of it,” he said. “To have a working democracy you have to have an educated population.” Through Father’s Day Council fundraising, Ruiz is happy to help combat type 1 diabetes, inspired by Dr. Fayez Ghishan, head of the UA Department of Pediatrics. He calls Ghishan “a fireball.” “I always bet on people – and the program he has created is incredible,” Ruiz said.
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