RUTH HOUGHTON

HOUGHTON--Ruth. Ruth West Houghton, 92, of New York City, died on December 28, 2020, from injuries sustained in a car crash in Great Barrington, MA. A devoted supporter of arts and culture in New York, Ruth was active in leadership roles at some of the country's most impactful institutions. She was Vice Chair of the Foundation for the Joffrey Ballet as well as an active trustee and trustee emerita of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York Shakespeare Festival, and The Public Theater. She was appointed to the New York State Council of the Arts in 1979, also serving as a trustee to the American Arts Alliance, and the National Corporate Fund for Dance, which she co-founded in 1992. She was appointed to a Presidential Task Force on the Arts and Humanities in 1982. A longtime trustee of the Fresh Air Fund and Chairman of its Friendly Town Committee, she served on the boards of International House, the New York State Mental Health Association, the American Cancer Society, the Cancer Research Institute, and Alfred University. Ruth Frances West was born in New York City on December 1, 1928. She attended the Brearley School and the Shipley School, and received an AA from Bradford Junior College. She married Amory Houghton, Jr. in June 1950. They moved to Corning, NY where they raised their children and her husband ultimately became CEO of Corning Glass Works and, later, a U.S. Congressman. The couple divorced in 1988. Mr. Houghton predeceased her in March 2020. Following her divorce, Ruth moved to New York City and continued her active membership at the Colony Club. She bought a home in Great Barrington, MA, joined the Stockbridge Golf Club and began supporting many local arts organizations. She is remembered as a passionate gardener, an adoring mother and grandmother, and a steadfast, loyal friend. She is survived by a sister, Maude; her children: Amory III, Robert, Sarah and Quincy; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Messages may be sent to 9 Hillcrest Court, South Salem NY 10590. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name can be made to the Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third Avenue, 14th Fl., New York, NY 10017.