RUTH FEDER

FEDER--Ruth M. Ruth M. Feder, died peacefully at home in New York on January 14, 2019.
The eldest child of Harry Musicant, a carpenter, and Esther Rubin Musicant, a homemaker, she grew up in Brooklyn. Ruth graduated from Barnard College at the age of nineteen with a degree in mathematics. In 1947, she met Arthur A Feder, a Columbia College student, and they married in 1949. From then until 1956, when their first child was born, Ruth was an editor of children's books at McGraw Hill and, later, taught second and third grade in New York City's public schools.
After 1956, Ruth devoted most of her time to their family, raising three children, and managing their gracious home. She became a great cook, entertained with style, and enriched the lives of their many friends. She loved their joyous summers on Shelter Island, Sag Harbor, and Martha's Vineyard, and travelling with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She was active with The New York Public Library and a founder of the Friends of the Library. She also served on the boards of The East Harlem Block Nursery Schools, The Archives of American Art, Citizens' Committee for Children, The Victorian Society, and The MacDowell Colony. In addition to her other contributions to them, Ruth helped create spectacular galas for each of these organizations.
Ruth is survived by her husband Arthur; their children, Gwen Feder, Leslie Feder Leonard and her husband Garrick Leonard, and Andrew Feder (his late wife Abigail Jones Feder); their grandchildren, Bliss Leonard, Isaiah Leonard, Andries Feder, So A Ryu, Catalina Feder, Calypso Leonard, Alex Jonathan Ruth Kohn, and Aviva Kohn; and by her sister Marcia Musicant Bernstein and brother Bruce Musicant. A celebration of Ruth's life will be announced. Donations in her memory may be made to the Ruth and Arthur Feder Fund, c/o Development Office, The New York Public Library, 445 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10016 or www.nypl.org/feder.