| Joe Ruddy | |
| Fullname: | Joseph Aloysius Ruddy Sr. |
| National Team: | United States |
| Strokes: | Freestyle, water polo |
| Club: | New York Athletic Club |
| Birth Date: | September 28, 1878 |
| Birth Place: | New York, New York |
| Death Place: | Far Rockaway, New York |
Joseph Aloysius Ruddy Sr. (September 28, 1878 – November 11, 1962) was an American competition swimmer and water polo player who represented the United States at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. Ruddy won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the men's 4x50-yard freestyle relay. He won a second gold medal as a member of the first-place U.S. water polo team.[1]
Ruddy was the father of 1928 Olympic swimmer Ray Ruddy, and two other sons and two daughters. His oldest son and namesake, Joseph Ruddy, Jr. was a U.S. Navy admiral.[2]
He died at home in 1962; he was 84 years old.[2]
In 1977, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.[3] [4]