Ruth Ann (Ruthie) Newcomer

Ruth Ann (Ruthie) Newcomer of Columbus, Ohio passed away on January 20, 2026. Born in Sandusky, Ohio on October 21, 1943 to Frances and George Gilbert, Ruthie graduated from Sandusky High School and St. Luke’s School of Nursing. She moved to Columbus with her husband Frank Elmer, where she raised her daughters and taught evening Lamaze classes amid second-wave feminism.

With boundless enthusiasm and almost fanatical attention to detail, Ruthie spent her career connecting people to each other, art, and new ideas. Under Chief Justice Moyer, she established the Ohio Supreme Court’s collection of contemporary art, developed the Judicial Family Network to support judges’ families, and managed the Off-Site Court Program, through which justices held sessions in other counties to educate high school students about the state’s judicial system. She supported visual artists seeking placement in museums and galleries, most notably helping facilitate Paul Henri-Bourguignon: A 50th Anniversary Retrospective at the Columbus Museum of Art in 2014. Ruthie co-led trips to Cuba to introduce American collectors to emerging Cuban artists and organized exhibitions in Havana, Columbus, and New York, including an exhibition featuring 90 artists from Cuba and Columbus during the 13th Havana Biennial.

Unafraid to engage anyone in conversation, Ruthie was extremely involved in the greater Columbus community. She was curious about everyone she met, rushing bright-eyed into conversation with handwritten lists of questions and following up with well-researched and enthusiastic emails in the middle of the night. She opened Ruthie’s Clubhouse in her immaculate one-car garage to ease the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually started a small women’s salon she called On My Porch, where she facilitated lively and deeply personal conversations on topics ranging from “Noticing” and “Good talk” to “Shoes, handbags, lipstick” and “Our refrigerators.” Ruthie always asked thoughtful questions, eagerly reconsidered her perspective, and learned from everyone around her. She will be remembered for her independent spirit, artful style, contagious laughter, and the tremendous network of friendships she built.

Ruthie leaves her daughters, Anne DeVoe (Craig Jarrell) and Sydney McComas (Peter), grandchildren, Maddie, Andrew, Ella, Patrick, and Liam, and a 6-year rummy match nearly tied at more than 7,000 points. Until the end, Ruthie continued to exude joy, audit undergraduate classes, organize writing groups, host bopping parties, travel abroad, prepare beautiful hors d’oeuvres, and bring new friends into her welcoming and wild intergenerational circle.

Ruthie will be inurned at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus. Her life and legacy will be celebrated at a private party this summer.

In lieu of flowers, Ruthie would be honored by donations to WOSU Public Media or the Greater Columbus Arts Council.