Obituaries

-- Patricia Sullivan

Douglas Thomas RuppertSubstance Abuse Counselor

Douglas Thomas "Thom" Ruppert, 56, a substance abuse counselor at Community Connections in Washington for the past 15 years, collapsed and died April 12 while out for his morning run on the Montgomery Blair High School track in Silver Spring. He had a heart attack.

A Silver Spring native and resident, Mr. Ruppert graduated from Montgomery Blair High School and attended the University of Maryland. He received an associate's degree from Montgomery College and was a certified addictions counselor.

He belonged to the Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship, from which he both drew and gave support for more than 25 years, his family said.

Mr. Ruppert had 21 years of sobriety, said his brother-in-law, Mark Smith.

"He was a great example of someone who can recover from a major problem," he said. "He really was an inspiration to other people."

Mr. Ruppert was a passionate athlete who ran several Marine Corps marathons and other races. He also enjoyed music and had a large LP collection of jazz, blues, folk and other music.

Survivors include his wife of nine years, Janet Harris of Silver Spring; two stepchildren, Brendan Ennis and Molly Ennis, both of Silver Spring; and four stepbrothers, Richard Padgett of Reston, Steven Padgett of Virginia Beach, James Padgett of Los Angeles and Vernon Padgett of Silver Spring.

-- Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb