Ruth Louise Epstein

Ruth Louise Epstein was born Ruth Louise Sandberg in Manhattan, New York on November 19, 1925. She entered Hunter College, NY at the age of 16 and earned a BA in Sociology in 1947. She did graduate work at the New School of Social Research in NY and was a caseworker for the NY City welfare department.

She married Jeremiah Fain Epstein in 1950 and with him moved to Illinois, where he earned his MA. Ruth and Jerry then relocated to Philadelphia where Jerry earned his PhD in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, Ruth was an assistant field director for a market research firm. After Jerry earned his doctorate the couple moved back to NYC where he taught anthropology at Hunter College. During this time Ruth worked for the Engineering News Record and wrote the Unit Price Page. A highlight of this period was meeting Margaret Mead.

In 1958 Jerry accepted an offer from the University of Texas and the couple moved to Austin. Shortly thereafter Ruth began 50+ years of political activism. She served as president of Travis County Democratic Women and the ACLU. The Austin City Council appointed her to serve on the Charter Study Committee and the Police-Community Relations Committee. She single-handedly ran three political campaigns and won two. She had a weekly television show on ACTV (Taking Liberties) where she featured guests and hot topics of the day. She wrote the monthly newsletters for the Travis County Democratic Women's Committee and for the ACLU. For both she also organized monthly educational forums.

Ruth was an active gardener and entertained and hosted numerous faculty/student gatherings at her home. She was generous and compassionate. After meeting one foreign exchange student and learning that she was suffering from a lack of dental care, Ruth paid to have her teeth fixed.

In 2012 Ruth and her cat, Mr. Kitty, moved in with her daughter Louise Epstein and son-in-law John Henry McDonald. She actively pursued Jewish education through the Jewish Community Center of Austin. She loved her daily walks, the sunsets, the dogs and cats, having coffee outside with her daughter and home cooked meals with Louise and John Henry. She was a delight to be around.

Ruth was brilliant. She knew four languages and did the NY Times crossword puzzle in pen every day until suffering a stroke on October 18. Ruth turned 90 on November 19 and died at home on December 10, less than an hour after being kissed goodnight. She will be missed beyond words.

Ruth is survived by Louise Epstein and John Henry McDonald of Austin; Susie Epstein of Austin; and Anne Carol Epstein of Lubbock.

Ruth will be buried and have graveside services on Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 pm at Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North IH 35, Pflugerville, TX. Then at 5pm services will be held at Congregation Agudas Achim (Chapel) at 7400 Hart Lane. All are invited.

It would give Ruth great pleasure to know that your thoughts of her will help others. To that end she hopes that you will contribute today to Texas Hillel and/or the Texas Humane Legislation Network (TexasHillel.org and THLN.org).