Ruth G. Bricklin

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ruth Galter Bricklin on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the age of 98, after a long battle with dementia.

Ruth inspired people with her kind heart and her love of family. She was an amazing, supportive mother to her three children Daniel, Sarah, and Jonathan. They were her source of endless pride, as were her daughters- and son-in law, Carol, Alexandra, and Erwin. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for all of them. She was very close to her six grandchildren and happily shared her home at various points with some of them, even in
her late 80's. She had a special relationship with her sister Gerda, and all of her sisters-in-law, and her many nieces and nephews. Loved by family and special friends, she always looked for ways to be supportive. She enjoyed the company of people of all ages, always fitting in well.

Ruth was very generous and welcoming, hosting and cooking for holiday get-togethers and other family simchas. She was creative and good with her hands, doing needlepoints and making many beautiful, original stained-glass window hangings that she often gave out as gifts.

Though starting out very shy, Ruth was always determined and moving forward despite hardships and setbacks, finding purpose and meaning in life. She was an active member of synagogues and minyanim, and a dedicated educator.

Ruth grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of David J. Galter, editor of the Jewish Exponent, and his wife, Minnie. She graduated from Temple University as well as Gratz College, where she met her husband, Baruch Bricklin, the love of her life, at the Hanukkah Latka Hop. They lived in the same Philadelphia home for 47 years not too far from her son Jonathan. One of the joys of her life was teaching at Akiba Hebrew Academy (now Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy) for 25 years. Starting in 1964, she taught Junior High Science, rising to head of the department, and then served as principal of the Middle School until 2002.

In 1990, her life was changed in a second when Baruch was severely injured in a car accident that also left Ruth with a broken neck. She cared for him at home for 12 years and then moved near her son Daniel in the Boston, Massachusetts, area where Baruch was cared for at Hebrew Senior Life. In Boston, Ruth made a new life for herself keeping active and visiting Baruch each day. Shortly after Baruch died in 2010, she moved to Akron, Ohio, and lived near and with her daughter Sarah and her husband Erwin. Again she made a new life for herself, surrounded by a loving family, but sadly with the challenges of dementia.

Ruth is survived by her children Daniel Singer Bricklin (Carol), Sarah Greenblatt (Erwin), and Jonathan Bricklin (Alexandra), her grandchildren Rachel (Matt), Michael (Leah), Josh (Katie), Adina (Alex), Leora (Nathan), and Rebecca, and Erwin's children Leah (Lee), Sharon, Janice (Paul), and her great-grandchildren Nora, Noam, Theia, Bryce, Oren, and Lev, and also Eva, Benjamin, Joseph, David, Lizzie, Annabelle, and Rosie.

The funeral will be at 1:30pm on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Temple Emanuel Newton, 385 Ward Street, Newton MA. It will be livestreamed here https://www.templeemanuel.com/livestream-links/

Daniel will be sitting Shiva at his home in Newton Highlands, MA, Thursday, and Saturday nights at 7:00pm with services at 7:30pm. Additional visitation hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday 2-4:30pm, and Friday 1-3pm. Jonathan and Sarah will be returning to their homes to continue the mourning period.

Donations in her memory may be made to charities for Alzheimer's as well as to the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, PA.