Ruth Jaffa Albert

DATELINE: WARWICK

Jaffa-Albert, Ruth (Saltzman), 87, died on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Kent Hospital. She was born in Providence on December 10, 1933 to Sadie (Abrams) Saltzman and Sigmund Saltzman.  She graduated 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 of RI College in training teachers of reading.

She resided in Tamarisk Assisted Living since 2012, where she was part of their Welcoming Committee, ran the library and volunteered with Friday night services in the Memory Unit.  A previous resident of Naples, FL for 22 years, she has taught in the religious school of Temple Shalom and has been 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 CA, and a nephew, Eric Saltzman, of CO 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 step grandson, Adam Schonberg and his wife, Susan Hadinger, and their son, Drew Schonberg.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may send donations in her memory to RI Hadassah, 17 Pocahontas Dr., Middletown, RI 02842 or Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston, RI 02920.

Funeral services were held Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 9:30am via Zoom. To view the recording, please click here.

17 Comments

  1. Phyllis B. Solod
    Feb 17, 2021

    Sorry to learn of your loss. May your mother Rest In Peace.
    Remember the good times.
    Phyllis B. Solod

  2. Harriet Saltzman Halsband
    Feb 17, 2021

    So sorry for your loss

    With love,
    Harriet

  3. Ellen Gourse
    Feb 17, 2021

    Sorry for your loss. My your memories help during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

    Ellen Gourse

  4. Deborah Johnson
    Feb 17, 2021

    I will miss Ruth enormously — her wit, her intelligence, and her spirit! Zichronam livrachah.
    Cantor

  5. Holly Baron Elkins
    Feb 18, 2021

    What a beautiful person loved by many im sure. Way ahead of her time!
    May your Mom Rest in peace and may her memory be a blessing.

  6. Amy Peterman Schneider
    Feb 18, 2021

    I have warm memories of Cousin Ruthie from my early childhood. She was always a natural teacher There is a story in our family folklore that my mother tells. When I was a toddler Ruth taught me how to pronounce words beginning with consonant blends like “spoon”. Apparently my mother spoke rapidly so even though I was an early speaker I pronounced it as “poon”. Ruth sat me down with my favorite snack and showed me how to break the word into 2 parts: “ssss” then “poon”. Then she and I practiced blending the two parts together until I could easily say “spoon”. She made it like a game.

    This is a story that my mother has passed down to me but my own memory of Ruth is of a loving woman who saw and listened to me and gave me confidence to learn something new.

  7. Rosalind Colon
    Feb 18, 2021

    Dearest Nancy ,
    My Sincere Condolences to You and your entire family . May your Mother Rest In Peace

  8. Sheila Land
    Feb 18, 2021

    Sincere condolences. I will always remember this lovely lady with a quick smile.

  9. MIKE COTTI
    Feb 18, 2021

    Mike and family.
    my sincere condolences to you and your family. May your mother rest in peace

  10. Lisa Pisaturo
    Feb 18, 2021

    Sincerest condolences to all of Ruthie’s family! xoxo

  11. Ron Freeman
    Feb 18, 2021

    Nancy and family my condolences. I have memories of visiting my mom at Tamarisk and seeing Ruth and always being greeted with a smile.

  12. Birgitta Whited
    Feb 18, 2021

    Such a beautiful smile!
    I sang in the choir at Temple Sinai for many years, and remember Ruth very well. So sad to read this today.. May all the good memories help you during this difficult time.

  13. Barbara
    Feb 18, 2021

    My sincere condolences, Ruth was a special lady.
    We had many conversations at Tamarisk when she would take her beloved Tootsie out for a walk. Rip Ruth!

  14. Susan Rice
    Feb 19, 2021

    Nancy and family.
    So very sorry to hear of Ruth’s passing.
    She will be missed.

  15. Harriet Wasser
    Feb 20, 2021

    I was so sorry to hear about Ruth’s passing. I always enjoyed talking with her at Temple Sinai Sisterhood gatherings.

    May she Rest In Peace. My condolences to her family.

  16. Jamie Leach
    Feb 21, 2021

    May Ruth RIP Always
    She was a lovely woman, with a warm smile. She was always very special to me and my Mom in Tamarisk Memory Unit.
    Prayers and Hugs to the family

  17. Cheryl Miller
    Feb 21, 2021

    Cousin Ruthie was a lovely woman who always made a special effort to keep in touch with family members no matter the distance. Her father and my grandfather Jack were brothers. I will remember her fondly.
    “May Her Memory be for a Blessing”

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