Obituaries
Ruth S. Jacobus, 89
Ruth S. Jacobus, 89, of Lancaster, PA, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2011.
Born in Leola, she was the daughter of the late John M. and Gertrude Groff Steffy.
She is survived by her son, Phillip O. (Jacobus) Iacobucci, married to Tricia, and by her one and only beloved grandson, Marc Iacobucci. Also surviving, are her 5 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard E. Steffy.
Ruth attended East Lampeter Elementary School and graduated from East Lampeter High School. She went on to graduate in 1943 from the Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing. Ruth then served 3 years in the US Navy, being accepted in the Officer Nursing Training Corps, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. During her service, she was stationed at Camp Perry, Virginia, where she treated returning wounded US soldiers as well as German Prisoners of War. At the end of World War II, Ruth worked with the American Red Cross in Hibbing, Minnesota from 1945 to 1946 during the polio epidemic, followed by a 6 month stint at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in their Lung Surgical Department. She then studied at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health in 1949. Ruth then worked at various hospitals in the Philadelphia area, before returning to Lancaster.
Ruth was one of the original organizers of the Lancaster Head Start Program, where she formed their health component. Her years of service were from 1967, until her retirement in 1994. She was later honored for her 27 years of distinguished service by Head Start, with a building dedicated in her name at their South Lime St. facilities.
Ruth had a great love for the game of tennis, being an original member, founding officer, and lifetime member of the Lancaster Tennis and Riding Club. She was a nationally ranked senior player and, in April 2005, she was inducted into the Lancaster County Tennis Hall of Fame. She was also an accomplished bridge player, playing in several clubs, attaining the status of Duplicate Bridge Player. She lived by the phrase that “Tennis is for my movement, bridge is for my mental agility”. Ruth’s other love was for her four-legged daughter, “Bella”, her beloved English Springer Spaniel.
She is the former wife of the late Dr. Aldo F. P. Jacobus, who died in 2001.
Friends will be received on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 from 5-7PM at the Charles F. Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. Interment services will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Ruth’s memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 hospiceoflancaster.org or to the Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Hwy East. ,Lancaster, PA 17602. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr Funeral Home & Crematory 560-5100
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As I sit here in tears over Ruth’s death, I realize that her life was full and that I should remember her unique sense of humor and her spunk, both on and off the temmis court.
She’s the only person I know who had the nerve to tell me how "aweful" my new experimental hair color was, and she was right.
Ruth and I shared our birth day and we were in touch ever year on that day, thinking of each other.
I will miss her.
My sympathy to Ruth’s family.
Nada Reese
Dear Phillip and Ruth’s extended Family,
The world lost a very kind person; Ruthie was as kind and as considerate a person as I ever met. She was always thinking about what she could do for other people and never dwelled on her own problems or health issues. I will miss her.
Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Lucy and George Meissner
WHAT A SPECIAL LADY. She brought joy to everyone whose lives she touched. I will always remember when I started playing tennis, how she loved to torment me with her drop shot. However, she was just telling me, get better young one, and I did. Her smile will always be there. We sat on the porch just a month ago talking about how we were going to celebrate her 90th birthday in April. She was so full of life. I am sure she is up there playing tennis with Pete Honaman and loving every minute!!
Love you Ruthie
She would not want us to mourn.
A toast to you Ruthie,
Lucy Longo
The last of a dying breed of women.They dont make them like you any more Ruthie- you were never a wimp in life ; I so admired your courage and determination in life.
God bless
Lyn and Brian Dearden.
Phillip, Trish and Marc,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Ruthie was a very special lady! Beautiful inside and out! She had a wonderful outlook on life and knew how to live and have fun. I got to know her through tennis many years ago when I was just learning the game. She became my idol both on and off the court. Over the years she became a loving member of our family sharing in our Holiday dinners and birthday celebrations. She was a very dear friend and definitely my "buddy!" Her passing is truly a great loss and leaves a definite void in our lives. We loved her and will miss her. She will be truly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
God bless and keep her.
The Hodsons – Tom, Thelma and Shelley
We can all remember special people who, when we needed them, touched our lives in a unique way. Ruthie was one of those people for me. She always wanted "to go" playing tennis. I can remember her telling those of us who were members of one of her many tennis teams that, "When I go I want to go playing tennis. If I fall over dead, for God’s sake don’t stop the point!" And she meant it. I have no doubt that she will find a way to play again. Blessing, Ruthie. You were one of a kind.
Diane & Tom Quinn
Las Vegas, NV
Ruthie was a very special lady. She loved life, good friends, tennis and bridge. When we played tennis and there was a short ball, I would say "Ruthie, you got it," and sure enough, she did. I was so glad that I got to see her at LT&Y a few weeks ago when Phillip and Marc were here. She was the same old Ruthie that we will always remember. Our sympathy to her family.
Joyce and Jere Baker
