Ruth Myers, whose quiet dignity, penetrating intelligence and generous smile uplifted everyone who knew her, passed away March 15, 2011, in Denver.
Rabbis Jay TelRav and Richard Rheins and cantorial soloist Bryan Zive officiated at the March 17 service at Temple Sinai. Interment followed at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
She taught us the blessing of time and the value of using every minute with a sense of urgency, Rabbi TelRav said at the service. Her life epitomizes the words of the psalmist, reminding us that the length of life is much less important than what we do with it.
What made my moms life so special were the people in it, said her daughter Alixe Landry. She was a private person. She liked living alone. Yet I was amazed at the number of close friends she had, and how she cherished each one of those relationships.
Her love of learning is what defined her and of course her hats.
Born March 22, 1932, in Farmington, NM, to the late Nana and John (Jack) Frost, Ruth inherited her love of geology, archeology and nature from her father, who took her on excavations throughout the Four Corners area.
She started taking piano lessons at the age of five and eventually fell in love with opera, particularly Italian opera.
Valedictorian of her high school class in Artesia, NM, Ruth won a music scholarship to DU in 1949 and graduated with a BA.
Following her divorce, Ruth raised her children as a single parent. Employed at CNA Insurance from 1962-1980 and 1984-1994, she was the first woman promoted as an underwriter at CNA in the Western Region.
Ruth joined Temple Sinai in 1975 after studying with Rabbi Raymond Zwerin. An insightful member of Sinais Torah study class since its inception in 1986, Ruth sang in the High Holiday Choir for 31 years and regularly attended Friday services.
A frequent visitor to Israel, she climbed Mt. Sinai in 1999 and volunteered for archeological digs in Jezreel (1990) and Megiddo (2000). She traveled the world on a budget but saw more than the average traveler.
She was a popular facilitator at the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI); a member of the OLLI and DJIS boards; and volunteered at the Denver Art Museum gift shop, Denver Public Library, and the Institute of International Education.
Ruth Myers is survived by her children Michael (Sheila) Myers of Florida, John (Sarah) Myers of Dallas and Alixe (Chad) Landry of Centennial; and grandchildren Jonathan, Laura, Matthew, Steven, Katie and TJ.
Contributions may be made to the charity of choice.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
