Milt Rugg was a guardian angel for all of us. He cared deeply and took great responsibility for the welfare of the Grand View family. He established an incredibly warm, supportive culture at Grand View which became a part of the DNA of the school, carrying on to this day.
Retirement did not end his determination that Grand View would continue to flourish and be a safe, friendly place for students. I kept in touch with Milt throughout my principalship and found him such a role model. He was a wealth of sage, down to earth advice through many of my leadership challenges. He always gave generously of his time when asked to help with an event or give some support behind the scenes. If he knew Grand View needed him to help, without question, he would be there! Milt was humble, self-less and understated, but so powerful in his influence of others. His noble actions and fearless, intelligent leadership were focused continually on kids. It was an honor and a great fortune for me to be given the opportunity to follow in his special footsteps.
In 1965 I had the pleasure of meeting Milt Rugg when his son, Richard, a fun living, outgoing six year old with a crew cut arrived on the first day of schoolin my first grade classroom as Ladera. For the next 46 years we remained close friends.As a parent Milt was at every school function. He was very proud of Richard and his older sister, Susan. He had a real respect for teachers and for Ladera.
Retirement did not end his determination that Grand View would continue to flourish and be a safe, friendly place for students. I kept in touch with Milt throughout my principalship and found him such a role model. He was a wealth of sage, down to earth advice through many of my leadership challenges. He always gave generously of his time when asked to help with an event or give some support behind the scenes. If he knew Grand View needed him to help, without question, he would be there! Milt was humble, self-less and understated, but so powerful in his influence of others. His noble actions and fearless, intelligent leadership were focused continually on kids. It was an honor and a great fortune for me to be given the opportunity to follow in his special footsteps.
Mrs. Anita Robinson
In 1965 I had the pleasure of meeting Milt Rugg when his son, Richard, a fun living, outgoing six year old with a crew cut arrived on the first day of schoolin my first grade classroom as Ladera. For the next 46 years we remained close friends.As a parent Milt was at every school function. He was very proud of Richard and his older sister, Susan. He had a real respect for teachers and for Ladera.
Several years later Milt became principal at Ladera replacing Lew Chase. From day one he was a hands on administrator. He was at every paper drive.He would arrive early in the morning and heave bundles of papers over his head into large bins all day long. You always knew where he was at lunchtime.He would be found in the cafeteria helping serve the food. He had something nice to say to each student who came his way.
In 1979 Ladera closed and we all moved up to Grand View. Milt was known for knowing the names of all the students and he knew most of their families. He has lived in the Ladera/Grandview neighborhood for over 50 years. I have been lucky enough to have lived in this neighborhood for 46 years. The students have been friends and neighbors. I wi I will never forget Milt.
He had been a friend to my own children since they went to Grand View. Last year when my son, Pat, won the Palos Verdes marathon on Sunday there was a letter from Milt on the following Monday congratulating him. My son was very impressed! When I retired in 2002 there was Milt, who as usual, had something nice to say.To say Milt Rugg was an important part of the Manhattan Beach community would be putting it mildly. You could always count on him. He will be missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him.
Sincerely, Diane Sweeney
Mrs. Rugg and Family,I came to know Mr Rugg on the first day of Kindergarten at Grand View. There must have been 60 of us, but he knew all of our names by the end of the week. It was his interest in each of us that shaped us into distinguished young people, helped us reach our potential, and fostered a relationship that has extended well past the 6th grade. He was my first role model, principal, and adult friend. I realize now that we were lucky enough to attend Grand View during a very special moment in time.On my last day at Grand View, Mr Rugg shook my hand, looked me in the eye and told me to do great things. Throughout the years I frequently run into Gators all over the world and we begin to reminisce; the lower playground, camp runamuck, and Mr Jim. However, as soon as Mr Rugg comes up we always smile and nod because we all know what we were fortunate to have had.
My condolences, Justin Dilg
