Norman Nadel

Cousin

I heard about Ruth’s passing and after reading the LA Times obituary, I was surprised to realize she had such a full, rich life.  

I have a vivid memory of Ruth. It happened 55 years ago, at my bar mitzvah. The bar mitzvah was a standard type of Jewish immigrant ceremony at the local synagogue. Almost all the guests were Holocaust survivors and their families.  

The Epsteins and Hirschmans were invited as well, including my dear Aunt Sylvia, Ruth’s mother. What I remember most about the bar mitzvah was Ruth wearing this beautiful pink dress and Jack wearing a suit without a tie. They were such a striking presence. 

But the memory seared in my brain is the way they danced. They were so elegant as they glided across the floor. They were clearly the classiest people at the party and that always stuck with me. It’s probably the strongest image I have from the bar mitzvah!