Edith Rueger, helped establish lifestyle museum in Florida

EDITH AND BORIS Rueger went from Delaware County to Delray Beach, Fla., in the '80s, then became supporters and leaders in the development and operation of an unusual museum.

So influential were they in running the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History that one of the three galleries in the renovated facility in Boynton Beach, Fla., will be named for them.

Edith Rueger, the former Edith Zal, a woman who had the reputation of always putting other people's needs ahead of her own, died Aug. 26. She was 88 and lived in Delray Beach.

She and her husband lived for more than 45 years in Chester, where he operated the East End Repair Shop. The couple were married in 1944. They moved to Florida after their retirement in 1985.

They became interested in the museum, a unique institution with many unusual exhibits, including an extensive one on Barbie dolls, shortly after their arrival in Florida.

The museum was the brainchild of Lori J. Durante, now its executive director and chief curator, who conceived the idea of a Barbie exhibition in 1999. It was so successful, the museum grew out of it.

True to its name, the museum has more than 300 fashion items, including gowns by such prominent designers as Arnold Scaasi, Chester Weinberg, Bill Blass and Hattie Carnegie.

Boris and Edith Rueger became the longest and most significant supporters of the museum when they became involved in 2000.

They helped the museum find a permanent home after some years of temporary housing and homelessness. They helped support the acquisition of its current 8,000-square-foot facility in Boynton Beach.

Among programs they organized at the museum were children and parents days, and they narrated bus tours of historic Delray Beach.

They both helped create, and Edith chaired, a cultural program called "Summer Humanities," which was open to residents of Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach.

They also were active members of Temple Sinai in Delray Beach.

"Edith was the kind of person who always wanted to help others and would put the needs of other people first," said Lori Durante. "She had a lot of sincerity in her heart."

Lori often referred to the Ruegers as her "honorary grandparents."

Boris Rueger died in June 2009.

Edith is survived by a daughter, Judith Space; a son, Lawrence Rueger; and two grandchildren.

Services: Were Aug. 29 at Congregation Ohev Shalom, in Wallingford. Donations may be made to the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History, P.O. Box 6127, Delray Beach, FL 33482.