Dr. Ruth Ann Kennedy - Iwai

Born in Phoenix, Arizona on July 23, 1946, Ruth Ann Kennedy-Iwai was the eldest child of Elizabeth (Randall) and Larry C. Kennedy. Her father was a WWII bomber pilot and POW, who later became a school principal, the namesake of an elementary school in Phoenix. Her mother was a nurse who trained at St. Joseph’s Hospital and served abroad during WWII before returning to Arizona to become a school nurse. In addition to their daughter, they had Ruth’s sister, Laurette, and younger brother, Keith.

Ruth attended Camelback High School, graduating in 1964. As a young teenager, she developed a lifelong interest in folk blues, eventually learning to play the guitar and becoming quite proficient at singing in this style. After high school, she went to California to attend Pitzer College. During that time, she continued to practice music, appearing in various coffee houses in Southern California and Phoenix. Later, Ruth would attend the University of Oregon, graduating with a BS in Psychology. She returned to Arizona to work with special needs students in Glendale.

Wanting more professionally, Ruth decided to continue her studies at Arizona State University, earning a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She became a counselor and later, the director of the Special Education program at Camelback High School. Ruth also spent several years serving as a counselor at high schools in the Phoenix Union School District, later working in an Employee Assistance Program in Phoenix. In 1985, she returned to ASU to pursue a doctorate in Counseling Psychology, earning her Ph.D. in 1991. Ruth then entered private practice as a full-fledged licensed Psychologist with a focus on marriage and family, children, gambling addiction, and substance abuse. She was popular with her clients, affectionately called “Dr. Ruth.” In 2014 she closed her practice and retired from the profession.

In 1972, Ruth trained at the Arizona State Hospital and Veterans Administration Hospital. It was then that she met Stan. Originally from Hawaii and later California, Stan had just completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at ASU. The two bonded over similar musical and personal interests. He was the first person she met who could play acoustic blues well, and Stan, who was primarily interested in the guitar, was impressed with her singing. This led to a bond lasting more than fifty years. Ruth and Stan were married on December 20, 1974 and within a few years started designing and building their family home in the desert on the side of South Mountain. Ruth was a truly devoted wife who loved her husband, almost from the moment they met. Their marriage was built on mutual respect, open communication, and last but not least, humor. They made each other laugh often during their daily routines with hugs, hand-holding, and affectionate pats. Ruth enjoyed learning to cook Japanese food from Stan’s mother, who she loved and admired. In 1978, Ruth and Stan had their daughter Kimiyo, followed by their son Casey in 1982. Ruth loved her family very much. She thoroughly embraced her role as a mother to her babies, then growing children. In later years, she supported and celebrated their personal and professional growth - Kimi as a wonderful teacher in San Francisco and Casey as a Clinical Psychologist in Ottawa, Canada. She also generously loved their respective spouses, Alastair and Diana, and became “Whamma” to her two granddaughters, Cerys and Mari.

As a person, Ruth was always kind, generous, giving much of herself to make the lives of others better. She described herself as an extrovert who was a closet introvert, complimenting her husband Stan, who described himself as an introvert who was a closet extrovert. Over the years, they would perform together at numerous counseling staff parties and expanded their repertoire to include humorous parodies involving counseling and counseling staff. Ruth was fluent in Spanish, having spent much time in Rocky Point and Mexico City, and was extremely well-read, with interests ranging across psychology, culture, science, science-fiction, politics, and even the paranormal. On road trips, Ruth and Stan could talk for hours, but could also travel in a companionable silence. In their senior years, they appeared at Fiddler’s coffee house in Glendale, calling themselves “To Oldly Go,” a reference to her beloved Star Trek. Ruth also loved to travel with her sisters, Laurette and “chosen” sister, Frances. Destinations included most of the U.S., several European countries, including Greece (a favorite), and most recently, a trip with Stan to Japan. As part of a large family, Ruth always shared her love with the many members of her extended family. She leaves a legacy of love and caring and will be remembered in the hearts of her family and many friends.

A memorial service will be held January 29, 2025 at 2:00pm at Shadow Mountain Mortuary located at 2350 East Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85022 where flowers may be sent. Donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to her favorite radio station KJZZ (https://www.kjzz.org) or the Public Broadcasting Service (https://foundation.pbs.org/donation/).