Canton community rallies in support of police detective

By Jay Turner

As a dedicated family man and a 25-year veteran of his hometown police force, CPD Detective John Ruane III has spent the vast majority of his adult life helping and serving others.

But in an instant this summer, his circumstances changed, and now it’s Ruane who finds himself in need of help. And it hasn’t been an easy adjustment, to say the least.

Canton Police Det. John Ruane III

“I’m just a normal guy,” he said, “but I’m so used to fixing other people’s problems and being busy that this has been really difficult for me.”

Diagnosed in early July with a brain tumor, Ruane went in for a biopsy and was promptly hit with a triple dose of bad news from the doctors — that it’s “inoperable, it’s in a bad spot, and it’s malignant.” He is currently out on medical leave and just wrapped up an initial course of radiation and chemotherapy, with another six months of “heavy” chemo still to come.

For Ruane, positivity, along with his trademark sense of humor, have been the keys to getting through this ordeal — that and the support of his loved ones, colleagues and friends.

“I’ve had people lining up at the door to drive me to my treatments,” he said. “People have been fighting over who gets to take me.”

Two of his friends, Laura Donahue and fellow CPD Officer Eric Wade, have also gone ahead and planned a fundraiser for Ruane — an evening of music, dining and fun scheduled for next Saturday, September 22, at Brookmeadow Country Club in Canton. The event will feature a cash bar, raffles, and a silent auction, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Ruane and his family to help offset the costs of treatment.

While still somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of accepting donations, Ruane is truly touched by the community’s generosity and concern. He added that he is eager to see everybody and is looking forward to having a fun night out with friends.

“I’m not sure how I’m going to get to everybody, but I’m sure I will say something — maybe throw in a couple of jokes,” he said. “The closer it gets to that day, the more I’m looking forward to it and the chance to see and thank everybody.”

Donahue said ticket sales to date have been “beyond what [they] could have imagined,” and she is anticipating a large and lively crowd.

“So many residents in the town of Canton have purchased tickets and people that can’t make the fundraiser are making donations,” she said. “I have never been prouder to live in the town of Canton. It’s just amazing how much support everyone is giving us while planning this fundraiser, and it doesn’t surprise us because this is what the town of Canton does — comes together when need be.”

***

As he reflects on his diagnosis and treatment and the whirlwind nature of the past few months, Ruane speaks matter of factly and with the confidence of a man who truly believes he’s going to beat this.

“Just to give an analogy, I feel like if I go on a rollercoaster 100 times, the wheels are not going to come off with me on there,” he said. “Unfortunately, this time I got stuck at the top of the hill, but you just face the challenge and you move on.”

“I’m genuinely positive about this,” he added. “I’ve never gone to the dark place. Maybe once in three months I had a momentary lapse, but then I was fine.”

The diagnosis itself came as a total shock, to be sure — even after learning he had a brain tumor, both Ruane and his wife, Renee, expected to be told that it was benign and easily treatable. Instead, they were blindsided by the news that it was an inoperable, high grade glioma that had “infiltrated” his frontal lobe.

“We kind of just sat there with our jaws dropped,” Ruane recalled.

But after taking some time to absorb the news, the close-knit couple who had met while serving overseas in the Army and had overcome numerous other challenges in their lives resolved to approach this the only way they knew how: by working as a team and confronting it head-on.

“We’ve always been very self-sufficient,” said Ruane. “We’ve dealt with challenges like no other and I think that’s what’s getting us through this.”

And Renee, he said, has been there every step of the way, meeting with doctors and educating herself on the disease and the treatment options. In addition to being his confidante and his advocate, she has also managed to hold down her full-time job with the town Water Department while also doing her best to “keep him from doing things he’s not supposed to be doing,” such as yard work and other strenuous activities around the house.

“I really have to keep him in check because he’s a very active person,” said Renee, “and I know it’s tough on him.”

She said they also recently had the “bad talk” — a discussion about wills and other end-of-life planning issues — although she shares her husband’s optimism and is confident that he will pull through.

“We’re all just playing off of his attitude, which is very positive,” she said. “He’s kept a good sense of humor about it; obviously he internalizes a little bit, but he’s always very upbeat and positive.”

Ruane, who goes by “Rue” to those closest to him, said the toughest part of the ordeal has been the fatigue and overall lack of motivation he’s felt, although he tries to keep busy around the house and still sneaks in his “house chores” when Renee will allow it.

His original symptoms were headaches and “olfactory hallucinations” — smelling scents that were not actually present — but both symptoms have mostly dissipated. The biggest challenge he faces now, in addition to fatigue, is watery eyes, which are more of an annoyance than a debilitating problem.

“I almost need windshield wipers,” said the perpetual jokester. “It’s hilarious.”

***

While not everyone understands his unique brand of humor, especially about something as serious as cancer, Ruane insists that his optimism is not an act and those who know him best can back him up on that.

Det. Ruane with his wife, Renee, and sons Trevor and John Ruane IV

Officer Wade described him as the “definition of a best friend,” while Donahue said that he’s the “first one there to help when you need it.”

Another longtime friend of his, Chief Ken Berkowitz, has watched him grow from being a rookie cop to a highly respected detective and doting father and husband.

“Johnny and I have known each other for over 25 years, since August 1992, the night we were both hired,” said Berkowitz. “John had to finish up his Army commitment, so I ended up attending the Police Academy alone before him. He graduated about a year later and we were assigned to the midnight shift together. Some of my best memories of my career are from those years.”

Chief Berkowitz said that he and Ruane have shared the “highs and lows of both their personal and professional lives.”

“I know this is a big challenge for both his family as well as his CPD brothers and sisters,” he said. “However, knowing John as I do, I’m confident he’ll be back stronger than ever.”

A third-generation Canton police officer — both his grandfather and father served stints as chief — Ruane said he deeply misses his job and is eager to get back, but he still maintains a strong connection with his fellow officers.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t get a text or a call from one of my guys,” he said. “Every day I get multiple texts from coworkers checking on me and offering whatever they can.”

And it’s not just the Canton department, either. Donahue said that several other area departments have gotten involved with the upcoming fundraiser and have made donations, including the Needham, Milton, Stoughton, Norwood, Sharon, and Boston police departments.

The local business community has been similarly supportive and the sponsorships have been rolling in over the past month. Among the major sponsors are Brookmeadow Country Club, Bank of Canton, EM Duggan, Foley’s Backstreet Grille, PBZ Construction, Podgurski Corporation, A Meadow Inc., M. McHugo Tree Service, Crossfit HomeBase, Pickering Paving, & Cassie’s Corner Store, along with more than a dozen others.

Donahue also wanted to thank Deputy Chief Helena Rafferty and John’s sister, Cindy Ruane Leblanc, for their assistance in planning the fundraiser, and there are countless others who have offered to help on the night of the event.

“I just want everyone to know how grateful I am,” Ruane said of the fundraiser. “I know there are other people out there who are in far worse position than I am, but it means so much to get this type of support. You don’t realize how much you affected people in a positive way, and then you see a response like this and it’s just incredible.”

Tickets to the September 22 fundraiser are $40 per person and can be purchased at eventbrite.com. Direct donations are also accepted via the Venmo app. For more information, contact Eric Wade at ericwade2120@yahoo.com or Laura Donahue at ldonahue1333@verizon.net.

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