Al Ruffo, 94; Former San Jose Mayor Guided City’s Transformation

Al Ruffo, 94, a former mayor of San Jose who helped transform the town from a small agricultural center to a sprawling modern city, died of natural causes Monday in San Jose.

Ruffo served on the San Jose City Council from 1944 to 1952, and was an influential attorney who specialized in land-use issues. He also helped start the San Francisco 49ers football franchise in 1945.

Born in Tacoma, Wash., Ruffo moved to California to attend Santa Clara University in 1927. He earned degrees in electrical engineering, literature and political science before obtaining his law degree in 1936. Ruffo played football at Santa Clara University, and coached the game for a few years while also teaching engineering.

He later started a lumber delivery business with a former teammate, Tony Morabito. With Ruffo’s legal help, Morabito started the 49ers. Ruffo later became a part owner of the team.

He became mayor of San Jose in 1946. He was on the City Council in the late 1940s when it voted to move City Hall out of downtown to a site close to the Santa Clara County government offices.

In 1998, Ruffo sued the city when the council was trying to move City Hall back downtown. His lawsuit, which alleged that the city was illegally using redevelopment funds, was settled last year after the city promised to stop using redevelopment money and keep citizens informed of the project’s cost.