Ruth Levinsohn Siteman of St. Louis, Missouri died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on June 13 at the age of 92.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Miriam Levinsohn and was predeceased by her brother Robert Levinsohn. She is survived by her beloved husband of 72 years, Alvin J Siteman, and was the cherished mother of four daughters, Estelle (De Kaplan) Siteman, Nancy Siteman, Joanne Gordon and Suzanne Siteman along with six grandchildren, David (Dr. Marcie) Siteman Garland, Jessica (Rob) Jacobson, Madeline Gordon, Bradley Gordon, Carrie Phillips and Amy Phillips and three great-grandchildren, Aviva and Coby Garland and Charlotte Jacobson.
Ruth earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Washington University in 1976 and raised her daughters to engage with the world in ways that would bring their lives meaning. She was an ardent philanthropist, passionate about women’s reproductive rights, early childhood education, civil rights and the arts. She served on the boards of The Scholarship Foundation, Reproductive Health Services, and the National Council of Arts and Sciences of Washington University, among many other organizations.
Ruth was a highly respected docent at the St. Louis Art Museum and was particularly proud to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission where she interviewed candidates to fill judicial vacancies on the circuit courts of St. Louis city. She also worked as a counselor at Hope Clinic and Reproductive Health Services for many years with great courage in the face of demanding protestors. She never wavered in her commitment to provide guidance to women. She had an insatiable intellectual curiosity and was a prolific reader of literature and the daily newspaper, often sending opinion pieces to her daughters and grandchildren, speckled with underlines and exclamation points. Her signed photo from Hilary Clinton was a prized possession.
Ruth and Alvin enjoyed their vacation homes in Lake of the Ozarks, Keystone, Colorado and Rancho Mirage, California. Many treasured memories were made there with their daughters and grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched.
To honor Ruth’s request there will be no service or visitation. Tributes in her memory may be made to the following organizations whose work meant the world to her: NCJW, St. Louis Section; Planned Parenthood of St. Louis; ACLU, St. Louis Chapter; Evelyn’s House; or to a charity of your choice.
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