Howard M. “Mac” Ruddell, a Clallam County icon whose almost countless community service efforts ran from helping youth to tuna drives for the hungry, is dead at age 55 from a heart attack.
Ruddell, co-owner with his wife Sandy of Ruddell Auto Mall in Port Angeles, died Saturday night in a Seattle hotel.
Ruddell and his wife had returned from Husky Stadium, where they watched the Apple Cup football victory by the University of Washington, his alma mater, over Washington State University.
“He had just laid down to take a nap,” said his eldest son, Howard. “He took a breath, had the heart attack — and it was over.”
Paramedics were called immediately, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
While he was well respected as an auto dealer, Ruddell may have been better known for his involvement in, and contributions to, numerous community causes, campaigns and events.
He was involved in many programs aimed at helping young people and making the community a better place to live.
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