May 13, 2026
Anthony “Tony” Ruger, former trustee of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, passed away on May 11, 2026. The United Board gives thanks for his life and mourns his passing with deep sorrow and abiding gratitude.
Tony served the United Board with distinction for a total of 16 years and also represented the organization on the Board of the Harvard-Yenching Institute. During his years of service, he brought wise counsel, sound judgment, humility, and a steadfast commitment to the flourishing of Christian higher education and theological education.
At the United Board, Tony had served on its Development Committee and Finance and Administration Committee, the latter of which he chaired for a long time. He was Vice Chair of the Board from 2020 to 2023. In every capacity, he was known for combining strategic clarity with kindness, and for approaching institutional challenges with both realism and hope.
Over the course of a distinguished career, Tony devoted himself to helping educational and theological institutions navigate change with integrity. He served as Chief Financial Officer at McCormick Theological Seminary, worked with Auburn Theological Seminary, and collaborated with the Association of Theological Schools, In Trust, and other organizations to support leaders facing financial and strategic challenges.
Tony held a particular affection for the United Board and treasured the relationships formed through his years of service. He felt deeply honored to serve the organization and valued the opportunity to work closely with fellow trustees and staff in advancing its mission. As his wife Deborah Kapp wrote after his passing, this work was profoundly meaningful to him, and he remained deeply grateful for it.
Tony believed that institutions thrive not only through careful planning, but also through trust, shared purpose, and strong relationships. In a 2017 interview with Horizons, the United Board newsletter, he observed that strategic planning must attend not only to analysis and opportunity, but also to the “relationship” work that enables communities to move forward together.
Those who worked with Tony remember a man of unusual depth and grace. He was thoughtful and politically astute, yet never self-important; disciplined in judgment, yet warm, generous, and humane in spirit.
His family’s tribute beautifully describes him as a person of “serpent wisdom and dove innocence,” a phrase that captures the rare blend of prudence, humility, humor, and moral seriousness that marked his life. Colleagues and friends across the United Board community knew him as a trusted advisor, a faithful friend, and a person whose presence brought steadiness and encouragement.
Tony also cherished his family, church, and wider community. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; his sons, Geoffrey and Peter; his grandson, Parker Ruger; and other beloved family members.
Born in May 1948, Tony was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Union Theological Seminary, and Carnegie Mellon University. Throughout his life, he sought to help institutions remain faithful to their mission while developing the practical wisdom needed not only to survive, but to flourish.
The United Board has been deeply enriched by Tony’s faithful service, wise leadership, and compassionate spirit. His legacy endures in the institutions he strengthened, the colleagues he encouraged, and the many lives touched by his integrity and generosity.
The United Board extends its heartfelt condolences to Deborah and the entire Ruger family, and gives thanks to God for Tony’s life and witness. May his memory be a blessing.