Ruta came to my life as a beam of sunshine. I remember her first as a preschooler swimming with a kickboard in Crystal Lake.  Even then, she was the exact copy of her Mom as they sat together laughing on the large picnic blanket.   Later, I saw her again in early Elementary, standing in line and giggling with pigtails tied in large green ribbons that matched her bright eyes.  She became one of my closest childhood friends.  She made such an impact in my formative years.  I often called her my "kindred spirit".  We had a love for all things cute and innocent; handmade beaded necklaces, Hello Kitty paraphernalia, and the best face masks featured on Seventeen Magazine.  

Later in high school, I started to realize Ruta had a knack for bringing out the best in just about anyone.  Often, I called her a chameleon because she could blend in just about any setting and had a way in connecting with anyone she met.  In our 20s, I saw her blooming-she branched out even further, intertwining so many close friends with each other.

Although, it took time to accept her passing, she left an indelible mark on my life.  When I see sunny days--I think of her.  Like the Beatles song; "Here comes the Sun"...I think "Here comes Ruta💖"

I met Ruta my freshmen year at CWRU, but got to know each other better during my graduate school years.  Ruta was always a very kind and generous friend.  We shared our love for dance whether it be performing a traditional Indian dance, Bollywood, or even just having fun at the club. Through the years we did not get to see each other as much, but always made time on each others birthdays to catch up and chat.  Today, I wish her a happy heaven birthday and miss her even more not being able to have our annual chat.  I will always remember her radiant smile and the way she brought joy to all that were around her.  May she be in peace.  

Love,
Sweta 

Ruta and I have had this amazing fortunate friendship- it all began summer of 1995 at a fogana (garba) competition in Dayton right before I began my freshman year at Case- and as soon as I entered Case that fall we had this almost immediate connection. Through hours of dance practices for ISA (which of course is when I discovered Ruta’s effortless grace), to fun nights out in the Flats,  to “studying” for micro exams but instead sitting in her dorm room and continuously replaying madonnas Ray of Light album. We built a strong foundation from the beginning. And who knew one day- thanks to Ananth’s Map of NoVa- we would live one traffic light away and raise our kids together.  In Ruta’s own words that she wrote to me for a birthday a few years ago- “there is such a comfort, like being wrapped in a cozy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa (with almond milk of course), knowing that you have that bond with someone and you are there for each other…It goes without saying that I am always here for you, through the good and the bad, because that’s what family is”. 
We will miss Ruta so much.  She has touched mine and all of our lives in beautiful ways.  She will always be a part of us and hold a special place in our hearts. 💞 

I still remember seeing Ruta in the library at Case where I didn’t know who she was, but she always smiled. It was her smile that was a gateway to her kindness. As we became friends when she was med school and I was in law school, I saw the gentleness she exuded towards everyone she met. It would always start with her smile. 



Words cannot fully capture the depth of the relationship I had with this beautiful person who entered my life decades ago. Ruta was a pivotal and integral part of my existence.  She had a significant impact on how I grew into the person I am today.  She brought an abundance of meaning, happiness and laughter into my life.  I distinctly remember this newfound feeling I had when we first met  of how I just I instantly loved everything about her!  It felt like I found a true diamond in the rough.

Ruta had an extraordinary ability to connect with anyone effortlessly. Her presence was magnetic, and she had a way about her that made you want to be around her endlessly.  We had countless laughs until our abdominals ached.  We would dance into  the nights and break  out into our routines until our feet could no longer support us.  We were there for each other in moments of heartbreak, sadness and tragedy.    Not needing to utter a word, she could understand exactly what I was thinking and feeling.   It was a beautiful and meaningful friendship that rarely comes around in one’s lifetime.  I thank god for how lucky I am to have had Ruta in my life.  She is a true and rare gem. 

I miss her immensely. It's hard to face the reality that she is no longer physically with me.  To know I will never be able to call her to talk about nothing to everything, share ideas about mindfulness,  laugh to no end about who knows what, commiserate about the cicada emergence, work on designing dance  routines (the list  is endless) is so heartbreaking and unbearable.  I just have to remember and believe that  her spirit is within me.  She has shaped me into who I am today.  Ruta is, and always will be, a part of me. I am one small part of her immense beautiful legacy. 


Ruta singing “Love Shack” on stage in Thwing Center while on my Case interview tour back in 1994 was my  first intro to her ,  and is one of my favorite memories of her.  Her joy and smile are radiant .  
This is a memory from one of our Case Med  crew dinners before a night out at the Velvet Dog !  

Ruta and I met in kindergarten and remained best friends. Ruta was a sister to me in so many ways… she and I could complete each other's sentences, we shared so many memories together, and we connected on so many levels. Ruta brought love, light and laughter wherever she went. She made me a better person and she taught me so much without even realizing it. Ruta’s beautiful smile, her seemingly effortless dance moves, her grace, her deep strength, her mental fortitude, her laughter, her creativity… her ability to actively listen and love without judgment… these are just a few things I will miss most. I am grateful for my time with Ruta and her spirit will be forever with me. We all have much to learn and embody from what Ruta so gently but humanly shared with us. 

Our friendship began during the first week of Freshman year at Case. Ruta approached me to eat lunch with her before classes and our friendship has blossomed ever since. She had an incredible skill of making everyone she interacted with feel special. She remembered every detail of conversations and interactions, and somehow she knew just the right things to say.  I can distinctly remember hard times in life where a message from her would appear at the right time and with the right message.  I feel fortunate to have been a part of her life. Her smile, her words of advice and our random chats will always be treasured memories. 

Ruta was beyond amazing. She excelled at everything she did and she did everything with such ease and grace. She was also one of the funniest people that ever existed and always had people laughing with her witty sense of humor.  We will miss her every second of every day but we will always keep her presence with us through laughter, dance, music, and love for the people in our lives.  Our heartfelt condolences to the Thyagarajan and Nene families. We love you all very much. 

Ruta will always be my soul sister… at first sight during freshman orientation of college 30years ago, we instantly knew we would be best friends.  Ruta exuded unconditional love, kindness, beauty, grace, and respect for others - she was truly magical because she made each person who loved her feel so special and heard.  Ruta and I shared our passion for dance together - this picture is us at age 18years right after we performed our (first of many) Indian dance together and I love how this pic shows her pure joy, innocence and youth…this was the start of our life journey together as best friends and dance partners.  Ruta and I shared many laughs and tears throughout our 30 years…reading each other’s thoughts during vulnerable times and laughing so silly without any particular reason.  Despite living in different cities after med school, we were always emotionally connected in many beautiful ways. Ruta will always be part of my heart and soul forever. 

I met Ruta during our first year of med school, and she quickly became the glue that held together our study circles at the Kelvin Smith Library and our dance circles at the Velvet Dog night club. She continued in this role of bringing people together when she advocated for us getting together at our  20th reunion. Although it didn’t happen exactly as we had planned, we all had such a meaningful time reconnecting in DC. I will deeply miss Ruta’s kindness, her talent for uniting us, and the birthday text she never failed to send me. Sending our love to each of you!

Ruta and I became fast friends our freshman year at Case and were pretty much inseparable for the next 4 years. We were on a “single wavelength “ as we used to say. Even after moving to separate cities, we remained connected for 30 years-in so many beautiful ways. Ruta was one of those souls that just lit up the room and made you feel like she had all the time and space for you. She was brilliant, funny, smart, warm, kind and one helluva dancer. She is a part of my soul. I truly hope you’re dancing out there, Toots. I love you. 

OBITUARY

Ruta Ravindra Nene

August 15, 1976 – April 23, 2024

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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