Ruth Ungar Marx died peacefully on Sept. 1, 2015 at the Madison Avenue Retirement Center.

She moved there in December 2012 and celebrated her 100th birthday on Bainbridge. She epitomized James Joyce’s admonition that it is better to “pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age.”

Ruth was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 26, 1913. She grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Palm Springs in 1957.

She was active in Palm Springs community and civic affairs and founded Community Concerts, the Desert Mental Health Association and a UNICEF chapter.

In 1981 she moved to Coronado, California and was a founding member of Brandeis University Outreach, the Mandelbaum Lecture Series, the Shores Readers Book Club, the Coronado Democratic Club, and opera, film discussion and water aerobics groups. She gave public book reviews and organized book clubs and was a strong supporter of the Coronado Public Library.

Ruth had a radiant, billion-dollar smile. She was an outgoing, upbeat, optimistic, person and a masterful communicator with a lively interest in, and curiosity about, the affairs of the world and other people. She was a uniquely vibrant and independent force. The memories of her bountiful and loving life, which uplifted and endeared so many people, help overcome the enormity of our sadness at her loss. We shall forever “count our blessings,” as she would wish.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald F. Marx (1992) and parents and siblings. She is survived by her children, Gary T. Marx (Bainbridge Island) and his fiancee Miriam Grace and Nicki D. Marx (Taos, New Mexico); grandchildren Joshua and Benjamin and their wives Stacey and Cori; and four great-grandchildren.

Donations in memory of Ruth can be sent to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care, Box 1502, Tacoma, WA 98401-9836.

Additional information and a video is available at http://whatdoino-steve.blogspot.com/2015/09/goodbye-ruth-marx-may-26-1913-september.html.