Ruth Margolin, 98, passed away peacefully on Oct. 8 at Village Shalom.
Ruth was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1925 to Frieda and Joseph Levin. Growing up in St. Louis in the 1930s was difficult for Jews and their families. Ruth saw her parents and grandparents stereotyped and excluded from opportunities, and these experiences profoundly influenced her life choices.
In 1944, while volunteering at Council House, a local settlement house, she met Sol Margolin, a social worker and teacher at Washington University. They fell in love and married in 1945. Soon thereafter, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where Sol joined the Jewish Community Center as the assistant director. In 1950, the young couple moved to Kansas City, where Sol joined the staff at the Jewish Community Center. Ruth soon became involved in the Kansas City community as an active volunteer.
As president of the local B’nai B’rith chapter, Ruth initiated new programs. She joined the Panel of American Women in 1963. The Panel was composed of a Catholic, a Jew, a white Protestant and an African-American Christian. Their focus was to promote understanding and respect among people of different races, religions and cultures.
As a couple, Ruth and Sol were a team. Ruth was at Sol’s side when he became the executive director of the Jewish Community Center. Sol was Ruth’s advocate as he encouraged her to return to college, complete her master’s degree, and launch what would become a remarkably successful career.
While completing her coursework, she became active in the Department of Women’s Studies, and after graduation began her 33-year career at UMKC. She became the founding Director of the Women’s Center in 1983. She championed and expanded programming to advocate for, educate and provide essential support in the pursuit of women's equality. Additionally, she pioneered programs empowering young women to succeed in the workplace. Ahead of her time, she skillfully balanced a successful career with the joys of motherhood.
During her career, she received numerous awards for her work in the greater Kansas City area, including the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service, the first Woman of the Year Award at the Central Exchange, the “Women of Achievement Award” from the Mid-Continent Council of Girl Scouts, and more. She participated in designing and implementing programs for women in many agencies within the community.
The legacy of her work continued. Ruth was often recognized, stopped by many and told how her programs, seminars and efforts had influenced their life’s decisions. Ruth’s warm sense of humor, her willingness to say whatever was on her mind and her advocacy for women’s and minority rights remained an inspiration.
Nothing was more important to Ruth than her family. She was a beloved mother, and also an extraordinary grandmother. Her granddaughters see her as a remarkable role model for her accomplishments.
The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Village Shalom’s Health Center and her caregiver and friend of 13 years, Marcia Burns, for ensuring her care was nurturing, sensitive and dignified.
Ruth is survived by her three children, Beth Byer (Paul), Bruce Margolin (Judy Beiriger) and Michael Margolin; granddaughters Alyssa Montgomery (Jason), Emily Byer and Michele Margolin; and her sister, Mary Ann Hutkin.
A private graveside service was held at United Hebrew Cemetery in St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to Village Shalom development (5500 W. 123rd St., Overland Park, KS 66209) or UMKC Women’s Center, (5120 Rockhill Rd., Haag Hall 105, Kansas City, MO 64110/ (https://info.umkc.edu/womenc/contact-us/).
Arrangements entrusted to Louis Memorial Chapel.