Ruby Cavanaugh, namesake for Ruby’s Diner chain, dies at 93

Ruby Cavanaugh, the inspiration and namesake for Ruby’s Diner, died Sunday at age 93, the Irvine-based company announced Tuesday.

Born Ruby Michael on July 29, 1922, in Jefferson City, Mo., to Edwin and Victoria Michael, she moved with her family to California in 1936. She attended Fremont High School in Los Angeles and met her future husband, Doug Cavanaugh Sr., a Navy veteran, when she was 18.

The pair, who shared a love of swing music and dancing, married in 1944 and had two children, Doug Jr. and Jane. Eventually the family moved to Tustin, where Ruby Cavanaugh lived for more than 47 years. They remained married until his death.

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“Ruby was known for her quick smile, warm personality and inner strength. Her friends could count on her for warm support during their own trials and tribulations, and more than anything, she put family first,” the company said in a statement.

Her son, Doug Cavanaugh Jr., ran a restaurant on the East Coast before he returned to Orange County and opened his own restaurant, themed after his mother’s favorite era, the 1940s. He named the restaurant after her, and on Dec. 7, 1982, the first Ruby’s Diner opened on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. The red-and-white interior, ‘40s Americana decor and photos of Ruby completed the look.

“Ruby enjoyed being part of the company’s growth, serving as a greeter at openings, sweetly meeting fans and admirers,” the company said. “This past July 29, on her 93rd birthday, Ruby made a surprise appearance at the Corona del Mar restaurant and was greeted by rousing cheers of fans who were enjoying a burger meal special in honor of her special day.”

Ruby Cavanaugh is survived by Jane and Doug Jr., her sister Dorothy, grandchildren Doug III, Shawn and Kate, and many nieces and nephews.

A public memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 185 S. Center St., Orange.

Rob Vardon writes for Times Community News.

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