Santa Fe, NM – Barbara “Bobby” Johnson Rugg of Santa Fe, NM, formerly of Greenfield, MA, passed away Jan. 28, 2026. She was born June 10, 1928 in NYC to Inez and Clair Johnson. Bobby grew up in Larchmont, NY. During WWII, she attended schools in AZ and Santa Fe. She graduated from Greenwich Academy in 1946, then attended Mt. Holyoke College, graduating in 1950 with a BA in English.
While working in radio in Brattleboro, VT, she met Bill Rugg, a handsome young organist at the church where she sang in the choir. They wed on Apr. 26, 1952, and lived the first four decades of their married life in Bill’s hometown, Greenfield, MA, where they built a house and raised their family. After Bill retired, they moved to Santa Fe, first living in a self-designed solar house, and later moving to El Castillo Life Plan Community.
Besides raising four children, Bobby was a very active volunteer, editing the Second Congregational Church newsletter, serving at the hospital coffee shop, and finding homestays for international students visiting the US through the Experiment in International Living. Bobby and Bill welcomed many of these visitors into their home and extended family. The husband of one “daughter”, from Zimbabwe, called her “a great mother of many nations!” In Santa Fe, Bobby continued volunteering: finding homestays for exchange students, staffing the reception desk at First Presbyterian Church, tour guiding at Ghost Ranch, and helping at the El Castillo library.
Bobby enjoyed reading, writing, music (singing in church choirs and choruses, even once in Carnegie Hall), creating and solving crosswords and cryptograms, playing tennis into her eighties, birdwatching, traveling, camping and skiing with Bill and the children, baking, and family gatherings. At El Castillo, she participated in a book discussion group, Mahjong and Scrabble games, and exercise groups (until the last!). Most of all, Bobby enjoyed people – friends and family.
She was a wonderful mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and for Bill, a loving wife, intellectual partner, homemaker, and traveling companion. She was a caring, positive person with a gentle sense of humor. A nephew described her as “strong, principled, and very clear about what she believed was right. She had a rare way of letting people be exactly who they were, without imposing expectations, while making sure everyone was treated with respect.”
Bobby was predeceased by her dear husband William P. Rugg in 2016, her parents, brother C. Lewis Johnson, and son-in-law Stephen Peck. She is survived by her loving children Betsy Grybko (Donald), Ginny Ackermann (Carl), Satto Rugg (Meera Reid), and Ken Rugg; Zimbabwean daughter Maonei Muzondo (Lameck); grandchildren Sarah, Andrew, Sandra, Kirsten, Judy, and Adrienne; and great-grandchildren Benjamin, George, Mira, Noki, Eleanor, Lukas, and Adam; and dear nieces, nephews, and friends. Bobby is deeply missed and loved by all of us.
The family is very grateful for the loving care she received from her primary nurse Marcie, Enchanted Sky Hospice, and all the nurses and staff at El Castillo. There will be no services, per Bobby’s request. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301, or to Locust Hill Cemetery, c/o Ann Fisk, 15 Meadow Rd., Montague, MA 01351.
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