Henry Ruffner Couch, Jr.

Fairport, NY – Lifelong Rochesterian, Eagle Scout, MIT mechanical engineering graduate, business owner, hobby livestock farmer, vegetable gardener, antique house restorer, church volunteer, sports fan and most importantly, devoted husband and father, Henry Ruffner Couch, Jr. died on Friday, September 26, 2025, at age 89. He suffered two strokes a year and a half earlier and several more mini strokes, followed by a slow decline until his death.

Henry was a 1954 graduate of Brighton High School, then completed a post-graduate year at The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, NJ) before entering Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the fall of 1955, where he later joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He met his beloved wife to be, Sarah Ann Swan, at nearby Wellesley College. Hank and Ann dated throughout their 4 years of college and after their 1959 graduations, they married in January of 1960 in New Orleans.

Just before his graduation, Hank accepted a job offer at Morley Machinery, a manufacturing firm in Rochester that made precision parts and machines that made precision parts for companies such as Mack Truck, and several local and Canadian companies. Years later, Morley Machinery was bought by Van Hansford and became Hansford Manufacturing. Hank worked for Morley and Hansford for 40+ years as the lead engineer, running all engineering functions and overseeing all machining. He, and the late Bob Detweiler, bought the division they were responsible for in 2001, renaming it to Hansford Parts and Products. Hank and Bob made a very good team, because they complemented each other so well. Both were very good at their jobs and were good friends.

In 1970, Hank and Ann bought a (now over) 200-year-old farmhouse with a large barn and acreage in Penfield, where they raised their two young children, Kirk and Lissa. They lovingly restored this home by doing much of the work themselves. The whole family spent their free time being farmers and raising animals such as chickens, sheep, their donkey “Eeyore,” pigs, pheasants, dogs and cats, and growing lots of vegetables.

Hank was very active with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the church he grew up attending and continued to attend every week as an adult with his own family. He was devout and very involved. He received an award for being “A Man for All Seasons at St. Paul’s Church” in 1990 after teaching Sunday school for several years, being the Stewardship Chair in 1979, the Venture in Mission Chair in 1980, a Vestry Member from 1977-1983, the Property Committee Chair from 1981-1984, the Warden from 1984-1990, and continued in other jobs. Later, until his stroke, he contributed by delivering flowers to the infirmed every Sunday.

Also in his spare time, Hank interviewed MIT candidates in Monroe and Wayne counties for at least 25 years. He took the job very seriously and liked to meet the college applicants at their homes to better understand their upbringing. He made a great effort to write a very detailed, thorough recommendation letter for each of them.

Hank was one of those people who was well liked and admired by everyone who met him. He was unassuming, his intelligence inspired respect, and he always had a great story to tell. He possessed the virtues of humility, wisdom, and perseverance that spoke volumes of his strength of character and positive interactions with those who knew him. He was very special to us.

Hank was predeceased by his sister Sarah Couch McQuilkin in January 2023, Hank and Ann’s son, Kirk Ruffner Couch in June, 2023, and his brother-in-law Robert Rennie McQuilkin in July 2024. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Sarah Ann Swan Couch, their daughter Lissa Jane Couch Seeberger (George J. Seeberger), his nieces Eleanor McQuilkin Burns (Dr. Archibald S. Perkins), Sarah McQuilkin Leverett, nephew Robert Rennie McQuilkin, Jr. (William B. Russell, Jr.), cousin Lina Robinson Hart (Charles T. Hart) and two very adored grandchildren, Andrew G. Seeberger and Gabriella A.E. (Abby) Seeberger.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (25 Westminster Rd, Rochester) on Saturday, November 22nd at 10:30am.