MONICA RUTHIZER

1947 - 2022

RUTHIZER--Monica Emily, of Delray Beach, FL, died unexpectedly on December 9, 2022, one day shy of her 75th. Formerly of New York City and Westchester County, New York she resided in Florida since 2009. The daughter of Sidonia (Bein) and Fred Heilbrunn, she was born December 10, 1947 in Bradford, England and emigrated with her family on the Queen Elizabeth as a young girl to the US where she grew up first in North Carolina before the family's move to New York. Her father's family in Germany before WWII once owned one of Europe's largest textile mills. Loving wife to Jeffrey, to whom she was married for 46 years and who survives her along with their two sons, she was a devoted mother to Josh (Diana) of New York City and Alex (Marta) of San Juan, PR, cherished grandmother to Frederick (Alex and Marta) and William (Josh and Diana), loyal sister to Barbara Waldman, beloved sister-in-law to Ted and Jane Ruthizer, Grant and Mimi Ruthizer, and Allen Greenberg, wonderful cousin, and a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews. Friend to countless others who returned her love, she was graduated from Simmons College in 1968 and earned her Master's in History from NYU before embarking on a high school teaching career that was paused when Josh and Alex were born. Later in life she resumed teaching history before earning her principal's certificate. Educator, historian, world-class chef (and one-time restaurant owner), connoisseur of fine foods and awardwinning restaurants, successful writer and published novelist ("Carson's Tree"), she loved traveling the world with her husband on their visits to 80 countries, appreciated good drama, and devoured a book or two a week. Monica was an avid fan of the Miami Ballet, the 1980s Mets of Daryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson fame (both of whom she met), and University of Michigan football. She stood shoulder to shoulder with activists protesting the Vietnam War, racial injustice, evil politicians, and Putin's war against the innocent Ukrainian people. Monica was buried at Mount Ararat Cemetery on Long Island on December 13, 2022 after funeral services in Delray Beach on December 11. Contributions in her memory can be made to the Ukrainian Red Cross or the International Rescue Committee of the Red Cross for the Ukraine.