Ronald Ruskin dies at 91
Friday services will be held for Ronald Ruskin (ex-chairman and chief executive officer at Gimbels, and former president of BATUS Retail Group), who passed away Wednesday at the age 91.
Ruskin died at his Manhattan home of complications from Parkinson’s disease, according to his daughter, Robin Linder. Services will be held at 12 noon at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel on 1076 Madison Avenue, New York.
More information from WWD
Ruskin was a respected retail leader who managed many major department stores. He also lived in different parts of the United States.
Ruskin was born in Paramus, New Jersey on February 24, 1931. He graduated from New York University in 51 in just three years. He saw an ad for the executive training program for Bamberger’s in New Jersey, paying $50 a week, and grabbed it, but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army. Ruskin, 21 years old, proposed to Myrna at a college dance, while she was still high school.
The two were married in June 1954, upon his discharge from the Army service in Japan, and he returned to Bamberger’s, where he worked in the Ladies Better Coats department and then became a buyer of junior coats and suits. In 1957, Ruskin joined Bloomingdale’s and held various positions during his 10-year career there, rising to divisional merchandise manager of ready-to-wear in 1963. He left Bloomingdale’s in 1967 to become executive vice president of Best & Co.
According to his daughter, Ruskin’s favorite achievement at Best & Co. was the creation of a unisex department that was inspired by an article he read about Harrods in London and their marketing to young people. He set aside the ninth floor and hired the artist Peter Max to decorate and execute the vision of what became “Stage 9.”
He also met Diane von Furstenberg, who came to Best & Co. with some dressy dresses, before she introduced the wrap dress. Ruskin immediately called his buyer to tell her to select a few styles and then put them in store. The dresses sold well and were von Furstenberg’s first order in the U.S.
“One of my earliest appointments was I went to visit him at Best & Co.,” recalled von Furstenberg Thursday. “I was very pregnant, and could not carry my bag. He was a gentleman. I have fond memories of him.”
In a WWD story about Best & Co. in 1967, the 36-year-old Ruskin was described as “a dynamic, no-nonsense fashion merchandiser” who brought a wealth of ready-to-wear resource contacts and critical buying experience to his job. Ruskin was elected executive vice president of Jordan Marsh Florida in 1971. Three and a half years later, he received an offer to become president of May D&F in Denver.
According to WWD, Ruskin returned to New York in 1979 to become president and CEO at Gimbels. He also signed a contract that was considered a milestone in retail executive compensation. The Gimbels package included $2 million in base salary, and a bonus for five years. He was elected president of BATUS Retail in 1983.
When Ruskin assumed the role at Gimbels, he didn’t realize the extent of the challenge, Linder said. She recalls that her father wanted his young salespeople take pride in their work. “It was always my strong belief that people make the difference. If you can get them to perform at their best, you will be successful,” Ruskin told his daughter, she said. Gimbels was back in the black within a year.
Ruskin was also a major proponent for hiring women, she said.
In 1984, Ruskin was recognized by the National Jewish Hospital & National Asthma Center. The dinner raised over $1 million and was covered by WWD. Industry people like Marvin Traub and Arnold Aronson, Burt Tansky and Robert Suslow attended. While “always minding the store,” Ruskin said the fundraising was brought about by “our efforts and your money.” The prior year’s dinner had honored BATUS chairman Arnold Aronson, and also raised $1 million.
“I would like to make it clear, that the $2 million in no way excuses any manufacturer from participating in markdowns, returns, advertising allowances or the consideration of any other allowances,” Ruskin said at the time.
Burt Tansky, former CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, said Thursday, “He and I worked closely when he was at Gimbels and I was at Saks. I still remember him as a fine man and a great merchant. He was a good retailer.”
When BATUS decided in 1986 to sell 40% of its U.S. retail business, including Gimbelss, Ruskin resigned from the company. Ruskin, who was then president of Cohoes Specialty Stores (a privately-owned chain of clothing stores), became president on February 1, 1987. WWD reported that Ruskin left Cohoes after 16 months, when the company decided to reduce its ambitious expansion plans because of the slow retail environment. He began consulting shortly thereafter.
When asked what Ruskin was like as a father, Linder said, “He just never had a harsh word, he was just all love.” Ruskin’s hobbies included tennis, sports, old movies, and a love of chocolate. “But he would say his hobby was his family,” Linder said.
Ruskin’s survivors include his daughter Robin; his son Brad; daughter Susan; and his son-in law Brian Linder. He also leaves four grandchildren.
Donations in Ruskin’s memory can be made to the Michael J. The Fox Foundation and National Jewish Health Denver.