Hobby Loses Stalwart Ruth M. Phillips

As is so often nowadays and as we age – and our hobby is aged – another email reported, sadly, the passing of Ruth M. Phillips, at age 94, just a few days after quietly celebrating her 94th birthday, at her home in Fresno, Calif.

Ruth, in her days, was an active and avid hobby participant and promoter. She served the elite Pacific Coast (San Francisco) Numismatic Society, the Fresno Numismatic Society and California State Numismatic Association (CSNA), where she chaired a state convention and rose to serve as president. She was awarded the Krause Publications Numismatic Ambassador Award in 1987.

Ruth was passionate about service to and within our hobby, wanting only the best. She was an intense advocate for CSNA, striving to make CSNA a strong presence in The Golden State’s organized numismatics.

At the state and local level, Ruth contributed. Her annual donation to a charity fundraising auction of the Fresno Numismatic Society was her famous homemade apple pies, which generated strong bidding.

Once, in her CSNA service, she literally took over and dedicated many hours over many months to reconstitute and rearrange the extensive CSNA library, redoing and de-accessioning and in the process earning significant revenue from excess items.

Ruth’s services spanned decades, and only in the past decade had she withdrawn.

Ruth typified the many, into the hundreds or thousands, around our nation and into Canada who willingly, freely and consistently make our hobby great while never asking for anything in return.

It is difficult to end a eulogy. Yet, knowing Ruth was always happy and joyful when in our hobby and with fellow hobbyists, I close with this fitting tribute by Booker T. Washington: “Those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others.

RIP, Ruth.

Michael S. Turrini CSNA President Vallejo, Calif.