My Great Aunt Ruth died this week at 104. Ruth, my fathers aunt and his last living relative of that generation, was 4-foot-10 (officially), a balaboosta, with a shock of red hair and a smile that exuded warmth and delight. She taught Yiddish until around age 94, and brought speakers in (including me, once) for her local Hadassah chapter events. At her funeral in Falls Church, Virginia, Friday, the rabbi told this story: during World War II, when she was living in Kentucky, working as an army court stenographer, she boarded a bus and unknowingly sat in the colored section. The driver told her to move, saying he wouldnt move the bus until she did. Ruth stood, indignant, and stormed off, never knowing or imagining that seven decades later, her deed would still be resonant. Rabbi A.J. Heschel famously prayed with his feet, and so did she. Ruth had a loving 40 year marriage -- and then outlived her husband by almost 30 years. At a tough time in my life, Aunt Ruth was a pure source of light and joy and courage. I never knew anyone like her -- I somehow thought she was going to live to 120 -- and I miss her, so much. legacy/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=173070156
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:28:14 +0000
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