Ruthanne Hansen Strong

Ruthanne Hansen Strong passed away unexpectedly on May 15 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 95.



The daughter of James Edward Hansen ("Ed") and Ruth Illula Morrison Hansen, M.D. ("Dr. Lou"), she was raised in Lakewood Ohio and was an honors student at Lakewood High School. After graduation from high school in 1946, she attended the University of Michigan where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She was vice-president of the Women's Athletic Association and, decades later, was awarded a Michigan Block 'M' in recognition of her contribution to women's sports. She thus became just as much a Wolverine as the football lettermen. She was also awarded membership in Mortar Board, the national honorary society "recognizing college seniors for their exemplary scholarship, leadership and service." Ruthanne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1950.



Also at the University of Michigan, Ruthanne met the love of her life, James K. Strong ("Jim") from Tucson, Arizona. Jim had just mustered out of the Army after serving as a junior officer during World War II. As she delighted in recounting, they met when Jim sat himself down next to her in Math 11 when she was a freshman. So far as the family knows, she never dated anyone else. Ruthanne and Jim were married in 1950.



After completing dental school at Michigan, Jim brought his new bride and there first two children back to Tucson in 1954. They eventually had five children: Peter, Steven, Jill, James and Gwen. With Ruthanne and Jim's guidance and support, they were all honor students in high school and excelled in sports, forensics and the performing arts. All the children were college-educated and went on to successful careers in law, the healing arts, commerce and philanthropy.



Despite being a newcomer to Tucson, Ruthanne threw herself into community service. She was a member of the Tucson Medical Center Auxiliary, the Southern Arizona Dental Auxiliary, the Catalina Junior Woman's Club and the Assistance League of Tucson. At the Assistance League, she volunteered to work shifts as a clerk in its Thrift Shop. Ruthanne also participated in the Assistance League's "Operation School Bell," where she helped underprivileged children pick out brand new, free-of-charge clothing and school supplies from the School Bell "store."



In Tucson, Ruthanne was able to reconnect with Chi Omega, first as a member of the alumni group and then as an advisor to the student members at the University of Arizona. Eventually, she was elected to the board of directors of the Chi Omega House Corporation, the entity that owns and operates the Chi Omega House on the University of Arizona campus. Finally, she was elected president of the Corporation, a position she held for decades, retiring only when she was in her eighties.



All of the children participated in age-group swimming competitions, so Ruthanne found herself volunteering to officiate their swim meets. At first it was only a few hours in the evenings for dual meets between teams from the neighborhood pools on the east side of town. Eventually she was working the most demanding jobs at all day long, all weekend long events like the City and County Championships and the Junior Olympics.



With her children more-or-less independent, Ruthanne decided to continue her education. She earned an M.Ed. from the University of Arizona in 1971 and a JD in 1976. As a teacher, one of her fondest memories was of a time she was substitute teaching fourth grade. After she completed her long division lesson, one of the little girls exclaimed, "Now I finally understand."



After graduating from law school and being admitted to the Bar, Ruthanne worked for an experienced lawyer handling a major savings and loan bankruptcy. She then started her own practice, concentrating on family law. She also volunteered as an advocate for minors who needed a "judicial bypass" to obtain reproductive health care. Ruthanne finally retired from the practice of law in 1997 after a successful twenty-year career.



Ruthanne was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of sixty-one years, her sister Barbara and grandson Peter. She is survived by her children Peter, Steven (Connie), Jill McHugh (Charles), James (Shannon) and Gwen; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.



The family offers its profound thanks to the volunteers and staff at the TMC inpatient hospice (Peppi's House) for their skill and devotion in making Ruthanne comfortable in her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Assistance League of Tucson in honor of Ruthanne Strong.