News
Morton Ruderman, Alpha and philanthropist, dies; family foundation grant spearheaded airline oxygen ruling
Morton E. Ruderman of Boca Raton, FL, and formerly of Lynnfield, Massachetts, died Oct. 12.
“We proudly salute an Alpha hero for his passion, dedication and commitment to his family and the individuals whose lives he impacted throughout his life as a father, friend, philanthropist and humanitarian,” said John Walsh, president of both the Alpha-1 Foundation and the COPD Foundation.
“Mort was a true inspiration to those of us who knew him,” added Walsh. “His courage, spirit and enthusiasm for life and sharing with others will always be remembered. If someone was in need, he was there in the background making certain that they were cared for.”
Walsh pointed to Ruderman’s legacy achievement:
“We have Mort to thank for launching our campaign on the airline oxygen issue so that I and others with Alpha-1 and COPD can take our POCs aboard an airplane and breathe easier in flight. His generosity was a key factor in our ability to spearhead the drive for this achievement.”
In May, 2008, the US Department of Transportation issued a long-awaited ruling that airlines must accept portable oxygen concentrators carried aboard by passengers, as long as those concentrators are approved by the DOT.
The ruling, effective May 13, 2009, was long sought by the Alpha-1 Foundation and other patient advocacy groups. Many partnered with the Foundation as members of the Airline Oxygen Council of America (AOCA). AOCA spearheaded the effort to ease access to medical oxygen for airline passengers. The Alpha-1 Foundation coordinated the coalition’s advocacy and sponsored the AOCA website, funded by a Ruderman Family Foundation grant.
“This will make air travel more accessible and convenient for those of us who need supplemental oxygen,” said Ruderman at the time. “We have much more to do – patients using less expensive alternatives to the portable concentrators, such as liquid oxygen, deserve easier access to air travel as well – but we can all be pleased with this ruling.”Ruderman appeared on the cover of the Alpha-1 Foundation’s 2008 Annual Report. In an interview for the annual report, he said that he was still very concerned about fairness and equal access for everyone who needs supplemental oxygen when they travel.
“Some people can afford to buy a five-thousand-dollar portable oxygen concentrator to bring aboard the plane,” he said. “But most people cannot, so this ruling needs to be expanded. Many airlines still provide no oxygen at all on any flight. The DOT should require all airlines to provide medical oxygen for those who need it and don’t have the wonderful luxury of a portable concentrator.”
Even so, Ruderman added, “This ruling is a great step forward.”
He was a seasonal member of Alpha-1 Association support groups in both Massachusetts and West Palm Beach, FL. Fred Walsh of the Massachusetts support group praised him as “a kind, wonderful and generous man. His dream was to achieve equal access for everyone in need of supplemental oxygen when traveling, and to make it more affordable for all.”
He is survived by his wife, Marcia Ruderman, three children and 10 grandchildren. Services were held in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation, 2937 SW 27th Ave., #302, Miami, FL 33133 or to Gateways; Access to Jewish Education, 333 Nahanton St., Newton, MA 02459.
