Obituary of Ruth Fleishman

TROY--Ruth Dreizin Fleishman, 80, died on February 14, 2012, at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center in Troy after a long illness. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Bernard Fleishman; her children, Daniel Fleishman (Barbara Shapiro), Nina Fleishman (Barry Leibson), and Leo Fleishman (Tracy Prebish); six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Ruth was the daughter of Herman and Rebecca Dreizin. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1931. She graduated from Lincoln High School and Brooklyn College and earned a Masters of Science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin. After several years as a biology instructor at Russell Sage College, she served as laboratory coordinator and instructor in the Biology Department at Skidmore College for twenty years. She was an innovator in biology teaching and published several papers on the subject. Ruth loved to travel and visited exotic locations such as the Galapagos Islands and Panamanian Rainforest. She loved to play the piano and often played duets with her friends. Ruth was a congregant of Temple Beth El in Troy and was active in a number of community organizations. She served for a number of years on the boards of directors of the Friends of Chamber Music and Joseph's House and Shelter. She was a volunteer and active supporter of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. After retirement she spent many hours volunteering in the Troy schools, at the Brunswick Community Library, and at the Robert C. Parker School in North Greenbush. Ruth was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her husband remarked, "She was the sweetest girl I ever knew." The family would like to thank the devoted staff at the Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center for their loving care during Ruth's final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Beth El, 411 Hoosick Street, Troy, NY 12180; Joseph's House and Shelter, 74 Ferry Street, Troy, NY 12180; or Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, 855 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206. Services at Temple Beth El 411 Hoosick Street, Troy on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow in the Beth El Cemetery Troy, NY.