Jeddy Manansala Ruiz

Jeddy Manansala “Bronco” Ruiz joined our Heavenly Father at the young age of 63 on July 7, 2025. He was a proud Marine Corps officer for 20+ years, a Pensacola High School Tiger alumnus, a kind brother, a strong father for his three daughters, a loving Lolo (Filipino for grandfather) for his grandchildren, and a teacher to all who listened. He was born on September 14th, 1961 in Oakland, CA as the first American-born child of Filipino immigrants Justo and Lourdes Ruiz. As a military child, Jeddy became fascinated with traveling, as he lived in many beautiful places—California, New York, and Hawaii—just to name a few. He attended middle school and high school in Pensacola, FL, shortly after his father retired from the US Navy. He often sang the Pensacola High School Alma Mater song by heart, and teased his daughters for not knowing the words, even though two of them graduated from there as well. With his love for traveling combined with his hobby of building model airplanes and experiences as a “military brat,” he set his sights on entering a military academy. During his senior year of high school, he was accepted into not one, two, but three military academies—the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Military Academy at West Point—and yet he forgot to tell his own daughters about it, instead opting to let his own sister surprise them with a newspaper article from that time. He ultimately chose to attend the US Naval Academy, taking nothing but his baseball cards and monopoly board game. After graduating from the US Naval Academy, he started as an Artillery/Infantry Officer. He was eventually accepted to be a Naval Flight Officer and was the NFO for an electronic jamming aircraft. He flew in the OV10 Bronco as a Supporting Arms Coordinator (airborne) and the EA6B Prowler as the Electronic Countermeasures Officer, earning a medal for his time in Kosovo, among many others. One of Jeddy’s favorite stories to tell about his time in the military was when he was regarded as one of the toughest, most detail-oriented flight instructors. Because of his infamous reputation, one student ended up studying through a three-day weekend, and was relieved to pass with flying colors. A key detail that Jeddy left out of this story was that he cared so deeply about seeing his students succeed that he gave out his house phone number to discuss any questions they had. These calls were frequently fielded by his young daughters. In the height of his military career, he met his late wife, Rosie. Rosie insisted that they first met at the NEX, where she worked for a time. She asked him what he was doing, and he replied, in a monotone voice often mistaken for standoffishness, “Working.” Yet, somehow, after this not-so-meet-cute encounter, they met again, fell in love, and were happily married. Shortly after Rosie passed from leukemia in 2004, he dedicated his life to raising their three beautiful, independent daughters on his own, always remaining strong for them, and never showed his weaknesses. However, he wasn’t alone for long. In 2010, Jeddy fell in love with Gisel Pineda, his mother’s goddaughter. The two of them shared a love for running, long races, and traveling. For the next fifteen years, they would meet in the Philippines, the U.S., or whatever country Jeddy had a conference in that year. Even after he retired from the Marine Corps in 2004, everyone in his life considered him to be one of the most disciplined men they knew—whether it came to training for triathlons with fellow Tri Gulf Coast members, investing to build wealth for his family, promoting the National Flight Academy and Flight Adventure Deck, working with worldwide allies at NETSAFA, and even earning his Master of Science (MAS) in Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Jeddy was also quietly selfless. He was happy to volunteer at Tri Gulf Coast practices and youth events (while also being their unofficial recruiter), act as a lector and member of the choir at The Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, tutor ESE students at Escambia High School, build homes with Habitat For Humanity, and even coach any sports that his daughters wanted to try out. Near the sunset of his life, he was a loving Lolo who enjoyed visiting his grandson has often as he could. Together, they loved building model airplanes, playing with legos, reading “bookies,” and “tarrying.” He made it a point that he would not spoil his grandson with toys or money, but only with ice cream. He was ecstatic to hear that his recently born granddaughter is named after his late wife. Life became full cycle when he recently carried and held his grandson and newborn granddaughter at the same time, just like he did with his daughters. None of his adversities could define him. He never let them. Jeddy showed his love to his family and friends through hard work, sound lessons, and kind encouragement. Jeddy is survived by a large and loving family: his three daughters Elizabeth Ruiz, Marygrace Ruiz Schell (Danny Schell), and Gabrielle Ruiz (Tristin Patane); his grandchildren Tauren Immanuel Schell and Rosie Marah Schell; his two sisters Therese Ritchie (David Ritchie) and Divinagrace Koonce (Robert Koonce); his aunt and uncle Natividad and Leodegario Racho; his nieces and nephews Felicia Pewitt (Chase and children Grayson, Brayden, and Carson), Joseph Lawrence (Emily and son Evan), John Zachary Lawrence (Bella and children Luca and Amelia), Joshua Lawrence (Selena), Anthony Koonce, Chiara Koonce, Francesca Koonce, Rafael Koonce, Ashley Ritchie, Justin Ritchie (Sheilamae and children Oliver and Henry), and Bradley Ritchie; his brother-in-law and fellow USNA graduate Paul Lawrence; his many cousins; and his loving, amazing partner of 15 years Gisel Pineda. He is preceded in death by his wife Rosita Flores Ruiz, his grandchild Ascension Ruiz Schell, his father Justo Torres Ruiz, and his mother Lourdes Manansala Ruiz. Despite his “no mascotas” policy during their childhood, his three daughters quickly added pets to the family after moving out. He would lovingly write their names in his daughters’ birthday cards. Arrangements: Thursday, July 24, 2025 The Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway Pensacola, FL 32507 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Rosary 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Visitation Friday, July 25, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Mass of Christian Burial at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit Livestream available at https://youtube.com/live/enLdhToZ4Y4?feature=share 1:30 pm Procession to NAS Barrancas National Cemetery 2:00 pm Full Military Honors Graveside Service Livestream available at https://youtube.com/live/czPpVy8GP5M?feature=share Reception at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit Seton Building after the cemetery service In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation: https://www.mcsf.org/donate/ Our family would like to formally thank the following organizations and families: Faith Chapel for the funeral arrangements, the Ritchie family for providing us with amazing support, Mike Johnston for his role in the initial discovery and support, the Childers family for aiding us throughout the discovery process, Jeddy’s colleagues at NETSAFA, club members at Tri Gulf Coast for their friendship, and the Catholic Church of Holy Spirit for their prayers and support. God Bless, Go Tigers, and Semper Fi!

Tributes

Jeddy Manansala Ruiz

September 14, 1961 - July 7, 2025