Bauer, Ruth Bunce
January 12, 1918 -- March 3, 2007
Ruth was a pioneer for a woman of her generation in combining
professional success with creative motherhood and community
leadership. She grew up in Iowa and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Iowa, where she met her husband of twenty years, Eldon Bauer. Her work included: news editor of the Park Ridge IL Advocate; teaching first grade in Rochester NY; a long career in a variety of administrative roles at Bell Labs in NJ, where Ruth became one of the first woman department heads. She loved the English language: writing, editing, speaking, and especially tutoring new readers. She was a tireless church and community volunteer. Other joys were singing, sewing, gardening, cats, and grandchildren above all! Ruth was proud to be included in the 1979-80 Who's Who of American Women, but prouder still of her family. After a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, her final challenge was to surrender gracefully to the losses of Lewy body disease. She never lost her loving and generous spirit, her sense of humor, her faith, or her love of music. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Sheila Bennett and David Bennett of Mahtomedi MN; Sharon Bauer and David Breakstone of Watertown MA; her sister Rosalee King of Cedar Rapids IA; her grandchildren Lorna Bennett Samatas (Jason Samatas), Ben Breakstone, Stephen Bennett, & Joel Breakstone; a great-granddaughter, Ayla Samatas; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned at St. Andrew's Village on Saturday, March 10, at 2:00. No flowers, please--although Ruth loved flowers! Donations in her memory may be made to Livingston United Methodist Church (290 W. Hobart Gap Rd., Livingston, NJ 07039), to the University of Iowa Foundation (PO Box 4550, Iowa City IA 52244), or to the St. Andrews Village Employee Appreciation Fund (240 East Avenue, Mahtomedi MN 55115). Her family is grateful for the skillful and loving care that Ruth received at St. Andrew's Village during her last four years, as well as from Hospice of the Lakes caregivers.