Ruth Jaffa-Albert, 87

Posted

WARWICK, R.I. – Ruth (Saltzman) Jaffa-Albert died on Feb. 16 at Kent Hospital. She was born in Providence on Dec. 10, 1933, to Sadie (Abrams) Saltzman and Sigmund Saltzman.  She graduated from Hope High School in 1951 and Brandeis University in 1955. She received a master’s degree in elementary education from Rhode Island College in 1968. 

Ruth taught in the Providence schools for over 30 years, mostly as a reading specialist, and received grants for innovative incentive-based reading initiatives.  She also served on the adjunct faculty at RIC, training reading teachers. 

Since 2012, she resided at Tamarisk Assisted Living, where she was part of the welcoming committee, ran the library and volunteered with Friday night services in the memory unit.  A previous resident of Naples, Florida, for 22 years, she taught in the religious school of Temple Shalom and was an active member of Hadassah and other charitable organizations and study groups. 

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Harry Saltzman, and her husbands, Sidney “Sonny” Jaffa in 1998 and Leon Albert in 2011.  She is survived by her children, Nancy Olevson, Sara Marino and Michael Jaffa, daughter-in-law, Helena Jaffa, grandchildren, Jennifer Jennings and Crystal Young, and great-grandchildren, Angelina Jennings and Jewel and Jameson Young, all in the Rhode Island area. Ruth also leaves a niece, Karen Sacherman, of California, and a nephew, Eric Saltzman, of Colorado and three great-nephews and one great-niece.  In addition, she was close to her stepson, Dr. Lawrence Albert and his wife, Tracey, of Naples and their children, Bryce and Grayson Albert, and to her stepgrandson, Adam Schonberg and his wife, Susan Hadinger, and their son, Drew Schonberg. 

Friends and family may send donations in her memory to Hadassah Rhode Island, 17 Pocahontas Dr., Middletown, RI 02842 or Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston, RI 02920.

obituary, Ruth Jaffa-Alpert