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Ruth Kempe Obituary
KEMPE, RUTH SVIBERGSON Ruth Svibergson Kempe, M.D., Emerita Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine passed away Friday, July 24, 2009 at the age of 87. Her professional life was devoted to practice in child psychiatry and, in partnership with her husband, C. Henry Kempe, MD, to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and is survived by her five daughters, Karin, Annie, Miriam, Allison and Jenny, and sixteen grandchildren. They, and all the children she has worked so hard to help, will miss her dearly. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 31 at 10 AM at the Phipps Tennis Pavilion, 3400 Belcaro Drive, Denver, Co. In lieu of any flowers or gifts the family requests that contributions be made in her honor to clinical programs at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse: online at www.Kempe.org or via mail to 13123 E. 16th Avenue B-390 Aurora, CO 80045.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ruth Kempe
Rob Clyman
July 27, 2010
I have many wonderful memories of Ruth but best of all were the times I shared tea with her and Brandt Steele at Brandt's home. We'd talk about what was happening at the Kempe Center and they would offer their perspectives. She had such a sense of purpose in expressing her ideas, such warmth, such depth of love for children she had never met. So many have gotten so much from her. I hold inside me her great gentle strength, and aspire to it.
brigitte den Hartog
June 13, 2010
In 1974-75 I had a wunderful time at their home as an aupair!
September 30, 2009
arq abelardo laurencio morales de toluca estado de mexico en el pais de mexico saludos realizo investigacion de maltrato infantil y llegue a esta pgina gracias por su investigacion de dra. y dr kempe si ustedes no estaria hasta este punto, m mas sincero pesame.
Michael Burton
September 22, 2009
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Debbie Vance
August 16, 2009
In the late 1970's and early 1980's I had the privilege of working at The National Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, Dept of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, in Denver. It is with great fondness that I remember Dr. Ruth and her warm smile. With their wealth of compassion Dr. Ruth and her husband, Dr. C. Henry Kempe were the quiet giants that changed the lives of the individuals they touched, both professionally and non-professionally. What a legacy she leaves! My heart goes out to her family.
Lucia Williams
August 15, 2009
I am a Professor of Psychology from Brazil and would like to thank Dr. Ruth Kempe for her support of ISPCAN. My professional life would have been very isolated without ISPCAN.
Dr. Lucia C. A. Williams
Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil
LAPREV - Laboratory of Violence Analysis and Prevention
www.ufscar.br/lapre
Dr. Claudia Carroll
August 13, 2009
It is with great sadness that I learned of Dr. Ruth Kempe's passing. I had the special honor of working with Ruth many years at the Kempe Center. She was a wise teacher and mentor, with keen sensitivity and psychiatric expertise, who I will deeply miss.
Ming-Jen Wang
August 5, 2009
We’d like to give our sincere condolences to Dr. Kempe’s family.
Dr. Ruth Kempe was a pioneer in the child abuse prevention work and inspired more people to fight for the same cause. We were quite honored to have translated two of her books, and into traditional Chinese in the past. These books have steered the child abuse prevention and child protection workers in Taiwan until this day.
May her wisdom continue to guide us all along the way.
Ming-Jen Wang
Executive Director
Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (Member of the ChildFund Alliance)
http://www.ccf.org.tw
http://www.childfundalliance.org/
Asociación AFECTO
August 5, 2009
Lamentamos mucho la desaparición de la Dra. Ruth Kempe, pionera junto con el Dr. Henry Kempe, en la defensa de los niños y las niñas víctimas de maltrato infantil.
Hacemos llegar nuestro mensaje de condolencia a sus hijas y familia, con la esperanza de construir un mañana mejor para nuestros niños inspirados en ella.
Asociación Afecto contra el maltrato infantil
(National Partner of ISPCAN in Latin America). http://www.afecto.org.co/noticias.htm?x=20159947
Peter & Moira Szilagyi
August 4, 2009
Our memory of Ruth is meeting her in Sanibel FL while sharing a vacation with Ally and Dugan and Family. She radiated warmth, kindness and humility (and was a very patient and careful shell collector!). Her star will shine brightly for a very long time. Our deepest sympathies,
Annie Kempe
August 1, 2009
My Mom, Dr. Ruth Kempe, was a real lady, brilliant and wise, yet self-effacing, very demonstrative and loving, an EveryMom. The Kempe Girls and grandchildren "lucked out" in our choice of mother and grandmother. I thank all of you for your kind words of support, and hope you will follow her lead by helping voiceless children who experience violence in their daily lives. Please keep Ruth close to you, each in your own way.
lynne seewald
July 31, 2009
No bond is as great as that between a parent and child. My deepest condolences are with you as you grieve.
Andrew Sirotnak, MD
July 31, 2009
When I met Ruth at the Oneida Street Kempe Center home 1992, she radiated a welcoming warmth. At the open house this year at our new Kempe Center in Aurora, she was just as radiant. Her wisdom, experience, and warmth were were given to so many people. Such a life is truly grace personified. Thank you to the Kempe family for the gift of sharing Ruth with the world.
Joe & Áine Ní Dhubhghaill/ Ó Briain
July 30, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with all family and friends on this sad occasion as you also celebrate the life of Ruth.
Joe, Áine and family, Dublin, Ireland.
July 30, 2009
Dr. Ruth Kempe brought so much to the field of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention over the course of many, many years. She has brightened the world and kept children safe in ways that are hard to count. Thank you for sharing your mother. Her compassion for children and families will be missed.
Barbara Shaffer
Prevent Child Abuse America
July 30, 2009
Our thoughts and best wishes are with you,
Karen, Bill, Elena and Macey Dodd
Phyllis Medrano
July 30, 2009
What a huge loss to the children of the world. I work at Prevent Child Abuse America and her support of our mission has been invaluable. She will be sorely missed!
David Kay
July 30, 2009
Mothers of friends hold a special place in our hearts: not having to put up with you all the time and free of any direct responsibility, they can sometimes be more sympathetic and understanding than our own mothers. They can be cool. In that group of mothers in my life, Ruth was the coolest. I know how much Karin, Annie, Miriam, Allison, Jenny and their respective families will miss Ruth and I also know she will be missed by the many others whose lives she touched. I will miss her, too.
Gail Ryan
July 29, 2009
Ruth was a professional mother to hundreds of students and colleagues over the years the Kempe faculty and staff relied on her for her thoughtful curiosity and wisdom. As mentors in the 'Kempe Study Group' Ruth and Brandt Steele contributed to the articulation of the 'Developmental-Contextual Approach' in treatment of sexual abuse which honors the uniqueness of each victim and survivor of abuse. Her quiet demeanor stood out so that her words bore weight in every discussion. The essence of the Kempe Center reflects her maternal instincts and nurturance. She was a gift to us all and will be remembered in all we do. Gail Ryan
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