Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Attended State University of New York 1950 to 1953. Married to Marge Zucha 1953 to 1966, to Nancy Conklin 1967 to 1981 and to Sue Harper after 1986. He has two daughters. Employed by Ansco, a division of General Airline and Film Company of Binghamton, New York, 1953 to 1956.

He began collecting in 1953 and placed his first ad in Numismatic News in July 1954. Ruddy served as secretary of the PNG 1960 to 1964 and received the Distinguished Service Award. In 1990 he received their Founders Award.

Ruddy was involved with several numismatic businesses:

James F. Ruddy, Johnson City, New York 1953.

Triple Cities Coin Exchange, Johnson City, New York 1954 to 1958. His first auction was held July 18, 1956.

Penn-New York Coin Co. Johnson City, New York, with David Bowers. They conducted one auction July 27, 1957.

Empire Coin Company, Johnson City, New York, with Dave Bowers, April 1958. Empire Topics No. 1 was published May-June 1958. The partnership was dissolved July 20, 1960, and Ruddy continued to operate Empire. They continued to advertise separately through June 1961. By July 1961 Bowers and Ruddy were back together DBA Empire Coin Co., inc.

Jaymar Corporation about 1960.

Paramount International Coin Corporation with DiSalle, Humbert and Kelly June 30, 1964, to August 15, 1967. Ruddy was vice president and treasurer.

Empire and Paramount both did business until 1966. At that time Paramount merged with Empire as well as Kelly's firm World Numismatics, Inc.

James F Ruddy, Hollywood California, 1968 to 1970. Ruddy Investments, publisher of Ruddy's Review. Four editions were issued in 1969 and 1970.

Bowers and Ruddy Galleries in Hollywood, California, from 1971 until April 1977. They conducted 63 auctions. The firm was acquired by General Mills in 1974.

Author of Photograde in 1970. The first printing was 2000 copies. By the 18th printing, 500,000 copies were in print.

Ruddy developed "Ruddy's 1930s General Store Museum" in Palm Springs, California. The museum building was donated to the city in 1987. He has served on the board of The Manuscript Society and as vice president 1988 to 1992.

His collection of encased postage stamps was sold at auction by Bowers and Merena June 19-21, 1984.

He died at home in Rancho Mirage, California.

In 2014 he was inducted into the PCGS CoinFacts Coin Dealer Hall of Fame.

bio: RCR 82; correspondence, 1991; obit: NUM June 2017