Ruth Strassner

March 15, 1935 - November 8, 2022

Ruth Strassner, the beloved matriarch of our family, was a maker — she used her hands to turn mounds of wet clay into beautiful platters, cups, bowls and teapots, and worked wonders with yarn, knitting sweaters and hats for babies far and wide. Likewise, she used her huge heart and spirit to create a warm, welcoming home for family and friends.

Ruth Light Strassner died peacefully on November 8th after suffering a subdural hematoma. She was 87 years young. Born Ruth Light in Seattle on March 15th, 1935, to Rose (nee Wasserreich) and Samuel Abraham Light. Predeceased by her sister, Adele, and her beloved older brother Jack who died in 2015.

Ruth is survived by her husband of 51 years, Howard Strassner, and three children from her first marriage: Leslie Shahi (Kaveh Shahi), Steve Ragle and Nancy Ragle (Bret Andrews), five cherished grandchildren who affectionately call her Mutti, Kimia Shahi (Robert Decker), Lydia Shahi, Kessa Andrews, CJ Ragle, Kat Ragle, and her sister-in-law Merna Strassner. Ruthie was a central touchstone not only for our family, but several others who considered her a second mother. Her beloved family and lifelong friends will miss her dearly.

In the early 70’s, she was a single mom with three children and a sheltie named Taavi when she and Howard met on a Sierra Club hike in Marin. That first hike led to seafood dinner dates, romance, more hikes and marriage. The 14-mile loop at Point Reyes Bear Valley trail became their anniversary hike for the next 40-plus years. After many decades of hiking and backpacking adventures together in Grand Canyon (60-mile odyssey), Mt Whitney (near-death experience in storm), Yosemite (bear encounters), the Cascades, and their beloved Sierra including a memorable family pack trip to Lake Ediza with grandchildren in tow, Ruth and Howard continued to walk in the Greater Bay Area, and in the neighborhoods of the City on a near daily basis.

In addition to hiking, she and Howard raced sailboats in the San Francisco Bay for many years as members of the Golden Gate Yacht Club and team racing in Oahu, HI (Kaneohe Yacht Club) which led to much spirited carousing with their sailing friends.

Over her life, Ruth lived in several cities, among them Palo Alto and Amherst but mostly she was a San Francisco gal. She earned a BA degree at Washington State (Pullman) and a Teaching Credential at SF State, and worked for a short time as an elementary teacher at Old Mill School in Mill Valley. But her passion was pottery, a vocation she found at age 39 in a class at the deYoung. She and six others started Pottery 7 on Ninth Avenue in the Inner Sunset to create, sell and teach ceramics. When they lost their lease after 25 years, the tight-knit group disbanded and Ruth ended up volunteering at Sharon Art Studio in Golden Gate Park where she met a whole new crew of talented potters who enjoyed delightful potlucks together.

Ruth was an adventurer who traveled widely from Krakow, Poland to rural China. She loved languages and connecting with cultures and people around the globe. She also loved home. Her rooms were filled with art and family photos, her kitchen with the aroma of her delicious cooking and fruit cobblers. One of her favorite things was bringing family and friends together around a bountiful table.

She adored children, animals and nature, and was a warm, gracious and statuesque woman who brought joy and comfort to many. She was passionate about the arts and she and Howard fully partook of the cultural abundance of their beloved City. She was a member of OWL, a student at FROMM, and was in two book groups at one point, never wanting to miss a session.

Ruth was kind and wise, gentle yet tenacious, and resilient in the face of adversity. She loved and was deeply loved, and often said “my cup runneth over.” We love you, Mutti, and will miss you always.

To honor her, please make memorial gifts to SF-Marin Foodbank or a charity of your choice.