Ruth Steinberg Mutchnik

Ruth Mutchnik, 86, of Naples, FL, and Lafayette Hill, PA, passed away on February 1 in Naples. She was born in Philadelphia, PA to Nat and Naomi Steinberg on December 22, 1937. Ruth married Ronald Mutchnik on December 19, 1976, in Philadelphia. She is survived by her husband Ron, stepdaughter Katherine Mutchnik, stepson David Mutchnik (Melissa), sister Joyce Lempert (Robert), step-grandchildren Grant Mutchnik, Grace Mutchnik, and Faith Morton (Collin), nephew Larry Lempert (Jodi) and niece Randi Viola (Nicholas), great nephew Joseph Viola and great niece Naomi Viola.

Ruth attended Olney and Lincoln High Schools in Philadelphia; graduated from Penn State University with an education degree; Temple University with a Master’s Degree in Education; and the University of Pennsylvania where she gained supervisory certification. During her celebrated 39-year career as an educator in Springfield Township School District, Montgomery County, PA, Ruth taught 4th grade, was an ESEA Title I Language Arts Teacher, and spent more than two decades as a Reading Teacher. Even in retirement, she was brought back as the Head Teacher of Erdenheim Elementary School for the better part of a school year until a new Principal was found, then asked to stay on as a consultant in the development of educational standards for the whole district.

Beginning her teaching career in the early '60s, Ruth was beloved by her 4th-grade students, so much so that some, with her as a model, became teachers themselves. In retirement, Ruth reconnected with several of them for lunches. They always brought her flowers. She even had the opportunity to celebrate some of their retirements. "A teacher affects eternity; she can never tell where her influence stops."

Because of her success as a classroom teacher, in the late '60s, Ruth was selected to be an ESEA Title I Language Arts Teacher, serving public elementary schools and parochial schools within the Springfield District. She was like a Mary Poppins, traveling around with her satchels of motivating activities to encourage students who weren't progressing as rapidly as others.

In the mid-'70s, Ruth was asked to become a Reading Teacher and was assigned to Penn Manor and then Erdenheim Elementary School. She quickly became a valuable resource to her fellow teachers on curriculum, teaching techniques, and classroom management. Ever the Language Arts teacher, writing, speaking, and listening skills were always part of her bag of tricks. In addition to putting on plays for the whole school, Ruth began to envision a publishing center where children could write their own books, get them printed and bound, and then have them placed in the school library for other children to read. The experience became so popular among all the school’s children that she was given a separate schoolroom to house the project. A formal ceremony was held to name that room the Ruth Mutchnik Publishing Center.

As creative as Ruth was in her approach to educating children, creativity was a large part of her life outside school. Her artistic endeavors included sculpting, ceramics, calligraphy, crafting beaded necklaces, and creating paintings on canvas and glass. Her homes were adorned with her own artwork as well as pieces she loved from other artists.

Above all her many talents, however, was Ruth’s ability to relate to both adults and children. Her listening skills and kindness made everyone feel supported and valued. She was a gift to children, teachers, friends, and relatives.

Ruth will be laid to rest in a family plot in Jenkintown, PA, with a celebration of her life planned for spring in Naples, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.