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Ted Ruskin
1943 - 2020
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Geof Jones posted a condolence
Monday, April 20, 2020
I guess I met Ted about 20 years ago, we clicked right away. I have other blind friends and my heart goes out to them. We shared a lot of good times and many great meals together. What a great sense of humor! I will miss my highly intelligent friend.
J
Joel posted a condolence
Monday, April 13, 2020
I first med Ted @ 20 years ago when I officially ‘came out’ He actually performed my first and only commitment ceremony at the time. He did a wonderful job. Unfortunately the relationship ended after 3 years but it was still a pleasure to get to know Ted. I reconnected with him at the Prime TImers luncheon recently.
He definitely qualifies as a ‘mensch’ He had a wonderful personality and a great sense of humor. We will all miss Ted!
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Chuck Sherrod posted a condolence
Monday, April 13, 2020
Ted and I became friends about a year ago. We rode to the Nooners lunch together many times. Ted was making a valiant effort to adjust to his vision changes and showed great courage with this. We had some very serious conversations about it. And, of course, he always had a corny joke for me every time we met. Ted liked opera, me, I am more of a Broadway guy but we connected on both some how. Ted was a nice friend. I will miss him.
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Sara Wilcoxson lit a candle
Monday, April 13, 2020
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Ted was such a special person.His humor and concern for others was really something.l was most fortunate to have known him.
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Frances Goodfriend posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
I'm very sad that Ted has died. Although I didn't know him very well and most of that was through his work, I found him a delightful man who touched my heart with his stories. Every time that we spoke I thought about him for hours afterwards.
Frances Goodfriend, Temple Emanuel
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Brenda posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Ted was one of my favorite patients he always had a smile and joke for all of us girls and a hug to spare he will be missed so much the world has lost a bright light rest easy teddy we love you
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randisisti@yahoo.com posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Only fond memories fill my mind today of my uncle. He will be missed. He always had my best interest at heart and showed that in action and deed. He outdid himself in his giving to the temple(s),community, family and friends. He was a blessing simply put just a blessing.
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Libby Gershansky posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
From Deanna Leino
I first met Ted Ruskin either in 1969 or the early 1970s. A new concept in education was community colleges. Ted and I both taught evenings at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado. We taught general business classes as well as business machines and typewriting. I remember Ted as this cute young kid with black curly hair. He nicknamed himself “sensuous Ted.” He was always very happy, loved to tease, and had at least one new cute, clean joke (with a surprise ending) every single day. So he kept us laughing and in good spirits all the time. He was a very good teacher, and the students loved him and learned a lot from him. He left Red Rocks and went to teach at the Federal Medium-Security prison on Quincy just west of Wadsworth. He always made jokes about “being a prisoner at work.”
He headed the vocational business education program at the prison teaching general business classes and typewriting. He was required to have an advisory committee so I served on that committee and went to the prison for monthly meetings. Ted said that he had to have ten eyes in the classroom watching to make sure nothing was stolen. His telephone was kept in a wooden box with a padlock. The typewriters (electrics and then Selectrics) were on tables that had fold-down wooden covers and had to be padlocked before class started and then locked up again at the end of class. Ted had to check each typewriter at the end of class, and the prisoners were not allowed to leave the room until each typewriter was checked because the prisoners would open up the typewriters and try to take out the parts inside (especially the metal) to make various knives or other weapons. When computers first became the rage, all the typewriters were taken out and replaced with computers. So as business educators we had to do a lot of relearning and were now teaching keyboarding instead of typing. The computers didn’t have quite so many parts, but still had to be checked at the beginning and ending of each class and were still locked in the cases. Ted got along very well with all of the prisoners. They really liked his happy, positive attitude. But, I remember one story that Ted had to tell about being held as a hostage during a prison riot. Can’t remember all of the details but it was scary.
After many years at the prison, Ted retired and went to work for a memorial company selling gravestones. He gave himself a new nickname- “Tombstone Ted.” He did quite well until his eyesight started to fail. The company then fired him. So Ted started his own company. Ted Ruskin Memorials, LLC and he specialized in selling gravestones to Jewish people. The stones required meticulous carvings in Hebrew. He did quite well with his business and just recently started to cut back little by little because of the increased loss of eyesight. It got to the point that he was able to only see blurry outlines but couldn’t make out facial features so started recognizing people more by voice rather than sight. It was a very frustrating time for him. I think I was his sounding board because we talked on the phone every other day. I have a bookkeeping and tax service, so I did all of Ted’s books and taxes, but mostly we just have been really good and lifelong friends.
Ted was responsible for starting the rejuvenation of the historic Golden Hill Jewish cemetery in Golden, Colorado. He put much time, effort, and money into landscaping and making the cemetery a beautiful place once again. He also did the same for Rosehill and Mt. Nebo. He was very active in his Jewish community—Chabad, the Chavarrah (not sure of spelling) group, Mt. Sinai Temple. He joined a social group called Prime Timers which met for breakfast about once a month.
I don’t remember what year it was when Ted “came out.” I was visiting when he said, “Dee, I have something to tell you, and I hope that you will still be my friend. I am gay.” I said that I had known for several years that he was gay and that I was still going to remain his friend forever. I then met Gary Bobb (Ted’s partner). There is a saying that opposites attract—that certainly was true of that partnership. Gary liked pop music like the Beatles, Tangerine, etc. Ted loved classical music—the symphony and especially the opera. Gary loved plants; Ted thought plants were a nuisance. So when Gary moved in with Ted, the place was filled with plants and pop music as well as the classical music that was on 24/7. But their partnership was a beautiful one. They loved each other very much and were devoted to each other. They both enjoyed cooking, good food and entertaining. They both loved animals and had dogs or cats When Gary died of AIDS it devastated Ted. He kept all the plants and got even more in memory of Gary. He eventually had an entire room just for plants and especially exotic cactus plants.
He had a house in Littleton and then moved to another house in Highlands Ranch. He loved his house but everyone talked him into moving to an independent living facility so he begrudgingly sold his house and he and his cat “Baby” moved to Brookdale. Baby was good company for Ted. After Ted went into the hospital Baby was taken to a friend’s house (Louise Barish). Louise said that the night and early morning that Ted died, Baby went crazy—was up all night wandering around the house not staying still for even a moment. So Baby must have sensed that something happened to Ted.
His love of classical music was evident as music filled his house all of his waking hours. He attended the concerts of the Colorado Symphony but his favorite was chamber music. So he attended many chamber music concerts both in Denver and in Santa Fe. He also was an avid opera lover. He went to the “Live from the Met” screenings at the movie theaters. He had season tickets for Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, and the Santa Fe Opera. Every year he made a trip to Santa Fe both for the opera and chamber concerts and to purchase Native American jewelry and art objects.
One day when I was talking to Ted he kept coughing. I tried to get him to call the doctor but he said that it was just a little cough. I was worried. A couple of days later, he said the cough was gone, but that he was having trouble breathing. I suspected it might be the Corona virus. A few days later he developed a very high fever, but said it went back down after taking Tylenol. Again I told him to call the doctor. He thought he had a UTI; he said that someone came to the house and took an Xray as well as a blood sample, but didn’t have a container to take a urine specimen. A few days later I called and called, but no answer. So I called his cell phone (which didn’t work very well in the hospital). He told me that he had gone to the kitchen and that his legs and arms were like rubber. He collapsed on the kitchen floor so called 911; they came and took him to the hospital. He wanted to go to Anschutz, but they said they were required to go to the closest hospital which was Aurora Central. They weren’t sure what was wrong with him, but it was all downhill from then on. It was the Corona virus. He was put on a ventilator for many days; the breathing was tedious and his heart couldn’t take it any more. The world lost a great teacher, a very kind, gentle and loving man who loved people, animals and classical music; loved telling funny jokes and stories; and loved making people laugh and feel good.
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Libby Gershansky posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Condolence message from Martin & Iris Bobb (Ted’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law):
Devoted partner to Gary Bobb (deceased). He is survived by his brother & sister-in-law Martin & Iris Bobb, Uncle to Melissa Bell & Corey Bobb and Great Uncle to Holden Griffin Bell.
Ted devoted much of his time and energy to the Jewish Historical Society. He was well respected and very active both in the founding of Temple Sinai and later a member of Chabad of Lone Tree.
His interests included opera, traveling, cooking and growing cactus. He made friends wherever he went and always had a joke to lift your spirits. He will truly be missed by all who loved him.
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Libby Gershansky posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Condolence message from Craig Kamen:
Chazen (Cantor) Ted Ruskin was a pillar of the Metro Denver Jewish Community .A member of multiple synagogues, Ted would participate in services, activities and events at his synagogues. A really true mensch.
J
Jackie Yost posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Ted, you will be missed. I have fond memories of Ted in the early years of B’nai Chaim and more recently seeing him at Temple for Brian’s adult ed classes. He was always so kind and happy to be there.
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Libby Gershansky posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Condolence message from Temple Sinai:
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of long time Temple Sinai member Ted Ruskin late on April 7. Zikhrono l’vrakhah, may he be remembered as a blessing.
“As Rabbi Zwerim remembers it, “Ted was singly responsible for getting Temple Sinai to have its own cemetery. He pushed until Rabbi Wagner (BMH) agreed to meet with him and me to discuss the halachic issues involved. Rabbi Wagner ultimately agreed that the senior rabbi of TS will be solely responsible for determining who is a Jew for purposes of burial at Mt. Nebo and signed an agreement to that effect. Financial issues followed between the boards of the congregations once we resolved that issue. Ted was doggedly determined in pushing the cemetery issue to the top of everyone's agenda until it was finalized. Then, before the ink was dry, he bought the first plots.”
Ted was a beloved member of the Education Chavurah, he ran our Cemetery committee for many years and also volunteered in our Sinai Choir.
There will be a private gravesite funeral on Monday.
As Ted will be missed by so many wonderful friends in the Temple Sinai community and throughout Denver, we express our sympathy to all by saying:
HaMakom yenachem etkhem b’tokh sh’ar aveilei Tzion viYerushalayim.
May God comfort you along with all who mourn in Zion and Jerusalem.
L
Libby Gershansky lit a candle
Sunday, April 12, 2020
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Eulogy for Ted Ruskin
I am Libby Gershansky, Ted’s cousin. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Paul for reading these words on my behalf and for everything that both he and his daughter, Debbie, have devotedly done. I would also like to thank everyone who is participating in today’s services.
Ted was born on July 15, 1943 to Goldie and Abraham Ruskin. Ted’s mother, and my mother, Sarah, were sisters. I have so many memories of growing up in Brooklyn with Ted. He was like an older brother to me. Many of the things that I remember will resonate with you because they demonstrate qualities that many of you have written and spoken about and admired Ted for.
Ted loved my parents and spent a lot of time with us in our little three room Brooklyn apartment. My dad helped him survive geometry. My mother and Ted shared an interest in cooking and in early American colonial style furniture. My parents enjoyed classical music and Ted often brought his friends to our house to listen to recordings on my parents’ newly acquired stereo system. Joan Sutherland, singing Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, was a particular favorite of theirs.
My mother would always make my birthday parties in our apartment and Ted always helped out- supervising the games and walking my friends home to their respective apartment buildings. I think that I was around six years old when my mother had some surgery. I slept at Goldie and Abe’s and shared a bedroom with Roberta, Ted’s sister. Roberta, was already working, so Ted was the one who looked after me. He made sure that our schedule included going to the local candy store to get a different flavored milkshake every day!! At that time, Ted adopted and fed a stray cat who he named McTavish. My aunt wouldn’t allow McTavish in the house, so Ted took care of him and fed him on the street.
When I was ten, my mother had colon cancer surgery and ultimately passed away. She was in the hospital for quite a while and Ted slept in our apartment, cooked dinner for us and made sure that I got to and from school safely.
When Ted moved to Denver, I really missed him, but we spoke all the time and saw one another when we could. I think that Ted realized that his life needed a “re-boot” and that he would never be able to fully express himself while living in Brooklyn, so he enrolled in Denver University and restarted his life in Colorado. His brother-in-law, Bob Schwartzwald, shared with me that he thought that this was an incredibly brave thing to do- starting your life all over again in a place where you didn’t know anyone- and I agree. However, Ted made friends quickly (as evidenced by all of the people reaching out on this very sad occasion) and before long he was part of the fabric of the Denver community and the Denver Jewish community. At different times in his life, he was a member of Temple Sinai, Temple Emanuel and Chabad Jewish Center South Metro Denver. Of course when he met Gary, his life was perfect. I think that he struggled to tell me that he was “gay”, but when he finally did tell me, of course it made no difference to me.
In 1998 my husband, Ira, my daughter, Sarah, and I met Ted in Santa Fe. We took a road trip throughout the Southwest, drove 1,976 miles and he shared with us his love for the beauty of this part of the country. We were fortunate that Ted was able to come to New York for our daughter’s bat mitzvah and again for her wedding. Six years ago my husband and I went to Denver so that we could celebrate my 60th birthday and Ted’s 70th. Ted’s niece, Randi, shared with me that she and her husband, Vinny, visited Ted in Denver about three years ago and said that it was the best vacation that they ever had. Ted shared his favorite Rocky Mountain spots with them, as well as sites that he had an important involvement with, like the Babi Yar memorial.
Ted had a very strong sense of family. Whenever I spoke with him, he always told me who in the family he spoke with, including Gary’s family. He was devoted to making sure that our family members had appropriate gravestones and appropriately cared for gravesites.
Everyone, of course, has mentioned Ted’s sense of humor. His niece, Stacey, said, “I just love the fact that no matter what he was going through, he always managed to come up with a joke.”
Paul shared with me that even at the end, when they transferred Ted to ICU because his illness had become so serious, the nurses reported that he was joking with them.
Ted lived up to one of the highest values in Judaism- Tikkun Olam- which means repairing the world and taking responsibility for the welfare of others. Many assembled here- whether physically or virtually- have mentioned his good works- his involvement in the Babi Yar memorial in Denver, collections to help Soviet Jews relocating to the Denver area, rejuvenating and cleaning Golden Hill Cemetery as well as Rosehill and Mt. Nebo, through back-breaking physical work and relentless fundraising, just to mention a few examples.
Ted taught business at the Federal Medium Security Prison in an extremely tough environment and gave new skills to inmates. When he took a medical retirement due to his failing eyesight, he worked for a monument company in Denver in an attempt to serve the needs of the Jewish population, and he eventually went into business for himself. Ted brought great comfort to many bereaved families with his advice and tombstone memorial suggestions.
Ted faced may challenges in his life- the loss of his sister, Roberta to breast cancer, the loss of his beloved Gary to AIDS, the gradual loss of his vision, leading to total blindness and this final challenge of COVID-19 which he was not able to overcome. Ted Ruskin was a “mensch”- a good person- a human being of the highest standing. He was a blessing to all who knew him. May his memory serve as a blessing to all of us and may he rest in peace.
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Deanna Rose Leino posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
I remember Ted as kind, funny, always had a joke or two to tell, very likeable, and a good friend since the late 60s/early 70s. I will miss his phone calls--we talked about three or four times a week. I will certainly miss him a lot. Deanna Leino
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Joseph Hiller lit a candle
Sunday, April 12, 2020
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Thank you Ted for your kindness, your warmth, your humor, for all you did for the Jewish community, and for all your help with designing a worthy and fitting headstone for my beloved wife of blessed memory. May G-d bless you and keep you.
Best regards and very sincerely,
Joseph Hiller
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Joan Nestor-Roses posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
My deepest sympathy to Ted's family/Paul & Family.
God Bless Ted & Kitty - Always in the Light,
Sincerely,
Joan Nestor-Roses
Was Ted's personal assistant since 2005
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Dana Krafchick posted a condolence
Sunday, April 12, 2020
My daughter, Sarah, and I remember Ted from when we joined B'nai Chaim in 1998. As the lay cantor, he always made us feel welcome and part of the community. We will miss him.
Dana Krafchick
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Tom & Jane Ramsberger lit a candle
Saturday, April 11, 2020
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I met Ted in September 1967 when I checked into Johnson/McFarland Dormitory at the University of Denver. We have been friends ever since and my wife and I are distraught over the news of his passing. It is impossible to describe what a wonderful guy Ted was, funny, intelligent and giving. He stood with my wife and I at Evans Chapel when we married on August 26, 1972, and while I was going through a career change he allowed us to move into the lower level of his condominium on West Ponds Circle. We lived there for a year prior to relocating to San Antonio, Texas. We would visit as often as possible whether it was in Missouri, Texas or Arizona, always having a wonderful time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends over this awful loss.
Tom & Jane Ramsberger
trf649@Iaol.com
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Howard Barbanell posted a condolence
Saturday, April 11, 2020
For Reb Tuvia, the blind man who named his cane Abel. “Rage, rage, against the dying of the light!” For all of us who had the privilege of knowing Ted, the light has gone out, the music (Opera) has stopped. “ I raise my eyes upon the mountains; from whence will come my help? My help is from Hashem, maker of heaven and earth.”
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Lisa Binder posted a symbolic gesture
Saturday, April 11, 2020
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I remember Ted from when I first started going to B'nai Chaim. His warm personality and lovely spiritual singing made me want to belong to B'nai Chaim. It was also a joy to see him when he would come to B'nai for classes. I loved his sense of humor, compassion, and overall sweetness. I will miss him. Condolences to his family and to everyone who knew him.
D
Doris C Gundersen MD lit a candle
Saturday, April 11, 2020
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My heart is filled with sadness to learn that Ted Ruskin has passed. He was a delightful human being in every way. I will miss his humor, compassion, thoughtfulness, generosity and big heart. May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family and friends for this difficult loss.
Doris C. Gundersen MD
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Susan Bergkamp posted a condolence
Saturday, April 11, 2020
My first memory of Ted is the reason I became a member of Congregation B'nai Chaim. I attended a summer Friday night Shabbat service that he was conducting. It turned out to be a simulation of a camp service with us sitting in a circle and singing many of the songs we remembered from attending religious summer camps. He was so warm and inviting and I was sure I had found my spiritual home.
Other memories of Ted include his participation as the lay Cantor for the congregation and his funny commentary at times. I deeply value and remember his being the Cantor at my sons' Bar Mitzvah services which added so much to the beautiful events.
More recently, a memory I will treasure and share with my oldest son David, was when we were visiting the Denver Art Museum and ran into Ted who we hadn't seen in a long time. He was waiting to begin a private tour with a museum docent. He invited us to join him and it was an extraordinary experience hearing the docent's explanations of the artwork and Ted's questions from the perspective of being legally blind. It was so generous and kind of him as was always true to his nature.
--Susan Bergkamp
Sunday
12
April
Service Information
10:00 am
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Mount Nebo Memorial Park
11701 E. 13th Avenue
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Interment Information
Mount Nebo Memorial Park
11701 E. 13th Avenue
Aurora, Colorado, United States
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