Ms. Gertrud Ruth Opper

May 21, 1925 - March 13, 2023

Ruth Opper died quietly on March 13 at her care facility where she was known for her gracious smiles. She was born Gertrud Ruth Friedmann in Vienna, Austria. Shortly after Kristallnacht in 1938, she escaped to England on a train along with other Jewish children in the Kindertransport program. She moved to the United States in 1940 and, after time in NY and Chicago, moved to San Francisco. In 1948, she met artist Jerry Opper and married him three weeks later. They remained inseparable until his death in 2014.

She worked various clerical jobs, including at radio station KPFA, a sheet music wholesaler and the Academy of Sciences library. After retirement, she volunteered at Project Open Hand, Jewish Bulletin and Strybing Arboretum library.

Before dementia robbed her abilities, she enjoyed reading, baking, long walks, travel, museums, classical music, volunteering for liberal causes and spending time with family, especially with her beloved Mr O.

She is survived by daughters Jody Opper Reiss and Erika Opper (James Horton), granddaughter Naomi Opper Horton-Vienna (Rocco) and great-granddaughter Lucy Vienna.

Thank you to Daisy Dizon and her caregiving team (especially Josefina) as well as to Dr Daniel Pound for their compassionate care. Remembrance donations may be made to SF-Marin Food Bank. Memorial gathering will be at 2 pm, Sunday, March 26 at Ivy Golden Gate, 1601 19th Avenue.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Mar. 16, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the SF-Marin Food Bank.