Ruth Debra High Altschul

Ruth Debra  High Altschul, 82, is survived by her son Douglass Altschul his wife Breanne, daughter Edith, her Brother Douglass G. High, and extended family members.

Visitation and Funeral Service will be held on Monday, December 9, 2024 at St. James the Less Episcopal Church, 550 Sunset Ridge Road, Northfield, IL 60093. Visitation starts 10 a.m. until time of funeral service. Funeral Service starts at 11 a.m. 

Interment will be private. 

The Remarkable Life of Ruth Debra High Altschul “Debbie”

Ruth Debra High Altschul, known to all as Debbie, was born on September 18, 1942, at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up as the daughter of Douglass Grandin High, a prominent real estate developer who served as president of the Ohio Real Estate Association in 1945, and Ruth High. Debbie’s childhood was filled with the joys and challenges of life in both Ohio and Florida, alongside her older brother, Doug, and half-sister, Mary.

Early Childhood: At just ten years old, Debbie faced a profound loss when her father passed away, a moment that would forever shape her life. Her family fractured in the wake of this tragedy, with Debbie and her siblings eventually heading in different directions. Life threw more hardships her way when her mother remarried, and Debbie encountered personal struggles being abused that tested her resilience and altered her life’s path.Education and Early Ambitions: Determined to persevere, Debbie left home early, attending schools like Brown County and the Grier School in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. She ultimately graduated from Withrow High School in Ohio near her home, where her competitive spirit shone. Debbie thrived in sports, excelling in swimming, field hockey, skiing, and sailing, but her true passion was horseback riding. As a member of the Post and Rail Club, she competed in numerous equestrian events throughout her youth.Outside of athletics, Debbie nurtured interests in real estate, performing arts,  radio & broadcasting, TV- production,  and advertising—fields that would later define her career. Academic and Professional Pursuits: After high school, Debbie pursued higher education  studying radio and television production at Stephens College, earning her Associate of Arts degree in 1960. She further broadened her horizons by studying at Stanford University during the summer of 1962 and later at Ohio State University.

Professional Journey and Personal Challenges:Debbie began her professional journey at WLW C-TV in Columbus, Ohio, as a service manager. Her ambitions led her to New York City in the early 1960s, where she joined NBC as a Spot Sales and Traffic Assistant before advancing to News and Production Assistant roles for the NBC Exploring program. During this time, Debbie faced another significant challenge: she became a young mother, giving birth to a baby girl she named Debra. Due to the pressures of the era and her previous abusive family circumstances, she made the heartbreaking decision to place her daughter for adoption, a moment that left a lasting void in her heart. This period brought immense pain, but Debbie’s strength and determination carried her forward. Chicago, Marriage, and Family: Debbie’s career eventually took her to Chicago, where she embraced new opportunities in advertising and eventually real estate. It was here that she met Louis “Bud” Traxler Altschul. The couple married and welcomed a son, Douglass Traxler Altschul, into the world. Debbie and Bud’s marriage lasted over 20 plus years until 1992, and Bud passed away in1996. Over the years Deb continually loved and celebrated all of her family including  grandchildren, nieces,  nephews and all their children. She always made a point to stay in touch and took great pride in all their achievements.  Career: Deb’s career was marked by versatility and achievement across radio, broadcasting, television production, advertising, publishing and real estate. Radio, Broadcasting, Television: She began her journey as a Service Manager at WLW C-TV in Columbus, later advancing to NBC in New York City, where she excelled as a Spot Sales Assistant, Traffic Assistant, and Production Assistant for the NBC Exploring program (1963–1965). Advertising: Transitioning to the advertising industry, Deb worked for notable firms like Grays Advertising, Walter J. Thompson, Arthur Meyerhoff, and Ruben H. Donnelley between 1966 and 1973, managing accounts and leading marketing campaigns.  Entrepreneurship: From 1974 to 1979, Deb applied her expertise in family businesses, Traxler Advertising and Altschul Marketing, developing creative strategies for various clients.Publishing and Marketing: She expanded into editing and community-oriented projects at Highcom Ltd., editing the Hug the Bear Shopper for the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, and contributing to the Lincolnshire Resident Directory (1984–1990). Real Estate: Deb seamlessly transitioned to  property management and sales, leveraging her organizational and market skills from 1985 to 1990. Deb  continued real estate sales until 2016. Across all her roles, Deb demonstrated adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to people and excellence, leaving a lasting impact on each field she entered. As Deb aged her entrepreneurial spirit continued to thrive as she kept herself busy starting a dog walking and shuttle business until 2019 until she was unable to continue. 

Passion for Community, Chuch, and Ice Hockey: Debbie’s love for people was evident in her dedication to community service anywhere she could help. She gave generously what she could to her church including St. Davids, St James, and would also frequent others like OLPH and St Norberts. She also championed local schools, park districts, and amateur programs including ice hockey. Deb cherished supporting her son’s  teams like the Glenview Stars, Deerfield Falcons, Team Illinois, and Chicago Young Americans. As a proud sports and hockey mom, Debbie was always deeply involved  to help and support wherever needed. To help continue growing hockey in Illinois  later she joined the Glenbrook South High School Booster Club Board and the Chicago Showcase National High School Hockey Tournament Board from 1988 to 1996. Her passion for the sport endured long after her son’s playing days, and she was a familiar, cheerful presence at Heartland Ice Arena, where she proudly watched games and connected with friends and families.Debbie’s Spirit: Debbie was a force of nature with no fear, known for her vibrant personality, competitive streak, and boundless energy.  If you were lucky to have her cheering for your team in any competitive situation the opposing team felt her energy for sure. This competitive spirit was never more evident than with her siblings, mainly her older brother (Doug) often joked that she could “talk down an oak tree without an axe.” She was also fiercely competitive as she again demonstrated in college to start taking flying lessons, simply to match her brother’s accomplishments as a pilot heading into the  military which her mother decided  was not enough of a reason at the time.  If her brother ever put an estimated time stamp on any task Deb would try to beat it.Acknowledging difficult times: In her later years, Debbie reflected on her journey with humility, acknowledging difficult events, her missteps, but always striving to grow. Deb’s was always a true survivor for change! The reality of her childhood caused her to suffer but later served as inspiration  to continually research how to help herself and others overcome challenging situations like she faced. Family Friends community: She cherished her family, friends, church community, her hockey family, and the many relationships she built through her work and social circles, including real estate and all her time at Valley Lo, Wilmot Ski School and other social circles. Over time Deb eventually developed diabetes and neuropathy which drastically slowed her natural pace.  Still  very determined to keep going, Deb moved into assisted living in Niles and eventually a nursing facility in Chicago until she was able to continue most activities. She celebrated every last visit with her family friends and especially with her son Doug, Wife Bre and granddaughter Edith.  Legacy: Debbie’s life was one of resilience, passion, and an unyielding love for her family and people. She was a true connector that worked tirelessly to better herself and those around her, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, generosity.  One of her favorite past times was simply sitting and listening and talking to others about their lives and families in any environment. If you were one of the people walking in or out of any ice rink in North America from 1978 on  and especially Heartland Ice Arena from 1996- 2017 Deb you most likely shared a hello, good bye or a caring conversation. Deb simply enjoyed people and loved the game!  Whether she was cheering at a rink or sharing stories in the lobby, Debbie’s presence was unforgettable. She was very imperfect in a tough world making many mistakes but always learning and embracing life fully, inspiring everyone fortunate enough to know her. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to Survivors for Change in Ruth's Memory.

To Remember Me - I will live forever  Robert N. Test

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital; busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.  When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives. 

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman. 

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain. 

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play. 

Give my kidneys to the one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week. 

Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk. 

Explore every corner of my brain.  Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday, a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.  Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.  If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudice against my fellow man.  Give my sins to the devil. 

Give my soul to God.If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever. 

Robert N. Test