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Ruth Bolotin Obituary

Ruth Greenfield BOLOTIN Ruth Greenfield Bolotin, age 93, died March 15, 2011. Born in 1917 in the Siberian village of Barguzin, Ruth moved with her family to Chita, a larger Siberian town, when she was five, and to China when she was eight (first Harbin, then Tianjin). When Ruth was eleven, the family's U.S. visa finally came through and they came to Seattle. Ruth graduated from Garfield high school in 1935 and then went to the University of Washington. While there, she married fellow Garfield graduate and University student George Bolotin. Although she focused most of her efforts on raising her two daughters, she was also was a talented amateur photographer who developed her own pictures and a prolific writer who won first prize in a writing contest for an article that was later published in the Saturday Evening Post - an accomplish ment that meant a lot to her. But the accomplishment of which she was most proud was the active role that she and her husband played in the founding of Group Health, as representatives of the West Seattle district. Ruth was an active supporter of many Jewish, social, and envi ronmental causes, and a great supporter of Israel. In recent years, what gave her the most joy was visiting with her grand daughter Tammy and her great- grandson, Nate, who was the de light of her life. Ruth is survived by her daugh ters, Suzie Bolotin and Carol Watts (and son-in-law Dave Watts); her granddaughter, Tam my Watts (and grandson-in-law Paul Mobley); and her great- grandson, Nate Mobley. Ruth was much loved by all who knew her, and will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be sent to one of Ruth's favorite charities: the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Doctors Without Borders USA, or Northwest Harvest.

Published by The Seattle Times on Mar. 18, 2011.
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3 Entries

I was lucky enough to be Ruth's local grocery boy and will never forget the many nights that I was blessed with her presence. Although we had many small interactions, they left a big impact on me. She will be missed

Kevin Byers

April 3, 2011

I was lucky enough to work as a errand boy for Ruth while I went to UW a few years ago. It was always a pleasure to work for her, listen to her stories of growing up in Tianjin, and her views on the current events of the day. She was realistic about getting older, but never cynical.

Tom Worker-Braddock

March 27, 2011

My beloved and loyal friend of some 28 years...I never believed you were "old"...and never believed you would die. I realize you lived a wonderfully full and extremely long life, your intellect as lively and compassionate at the end as at the beginning...but I am devastated by your loss, nonetheless. I will always be deeply grateful for the rich correspondence and lively conversations we shared for so long...and will never forget your encouragement, inspiration and...humor. Shalom, dear Ruth. Say hi to Mom for me...she loved you, too.

Mindi Reid

March 19, 2011

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