Ruth Zali Deming

Deming Ruth Zali (nee Greenwold) Dec. 25, 1945 - Feb. 10, 2026 Died peacefully on February 10, 2026. She was a poet, journalist, mental health activist, single mom, and bohemian bon vivant. Born on Christmas 1945 at Camp Lejeune, Ruth attended Goddard College before graduating from Temple and Hahnemann. Her feature stories for the Philadelphia Inquirer and other papers celebrated the beauty she saw everywhere. After a bipolar diagnosis, Ruth founded New Directions Support Group, a nonprofit which helped thousands over three decades. The family plans a Celebration of Life in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.