Obituary of Ruth Munn Rich

Ruth Munn Rich, age 67 of Albany, NY passed away peacefully, on July 21, 2016 at home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was born November 23, 1948 in London, England to the late Olive Grace (Barley) and Gerald Teasedale Munn. She was the oldest of four daughters. She attended the Ealing Grammar School for Girls and Slough College. In 1970 she came to the United States to study under Professor Dr. Fred Billmeyer as a graduate student at RPI. She received her PhD in Color Technology from RPI in 1975. After her three children were of school age, Ruth worked at the Hebrew Academy as a Math and Science teacher and later as a Middle School administrator. She then worked as a Math teacher and Assistant Head of School at the Albany Academy for Girls until retirement. Ruth was a talented and award winning knitter and following her retirement worked at Trumpet Hill yarn store where she taught knitting classes. She will be remembered and revered as a kind friend, inspiring teacher, brilliant knitter, strong community leader and courageous woman who touched so many lives. Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Steven Allen Rich and their children Hyam Rich (Kelly), Leah Rich (Jayendran) and David Rich (Amber) and their 5 grandchildren Alisa Rose, Tierney Catherine, Isaac, Eva Rose, and Mason Steven and her three sisters Dorothy Munn, Janet Dolias (Iaonis) and Judith Cartwright (David) and sister in laws Lenore Reinhardt (Theodore) and Phyllis Weiser (Michael) and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Sunday, July 24th at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, 380 Whitehall Road Albany, followed by interment at Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob Cemetery on Western Avenue. Donations can be made in Ruth’s honor to Metavivor, Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob, the Albany Jewish Community Center or a charity of your choice.