One of my happiest memories was the night we played glow in the dark golf with Ruth, it always brings me joy to think of that experience.

I still remember the brilliant and talented Ruth Leistensnider, when the City of Albany hired Nixon Peabody as its environmental lawyers.  Miss her all the time. I was amazed at how many balls she juggled at once;  personally and professionally. She was gone before I knew what happened. 

I too just learned of Ruth's passing, which is truly sad. I was one of two attorneys who hired Ruth as a law clerk at our law firm when she was a law student.  Ruth and I then worked together daily on many matters, including after she was admitted to the bar. Ruth was a terrific lawyer and person. She was so easy and pleasant to interact with, no matter the topic or situation.  She was also a lawyer with extraordinary work and legal ethics, and a very devoted daughter to her mom.  Ruth will be remembered with respect and warmth. 

I just learned of Ruth's passing from a friend and colleague.  I worked with her when I was with the City of Albany. Once I took in her mail. Facebook friend. A brighter and a good person you could not find. I am shocked,  yet honored to have known Ruth. Rest my friend. You deserve it.

The NYSEIA board of directors is deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and fellow board member Ruth E. Leistensnider.

Ruth joined our board in 2010 and served as Treasurer for seven years from 2012–2019, providing keen oversight and guidance for the organization during a critical period of evolution and growth. 

NYSEIA staff and colleagues who worked with her over the years universally described Ruth as dedicated and diligent in everything she did, consistently volunteering her time without being asked. She not only helped to manage the day-in, day-out administrative affairs of NYSEIA but also served as a useful legal and ethical check on all our work. We owe her a great deal.

NYSEIA and the New York solar community will greatly miss Ruth and the professionalism she brought to our board and operations. May she rest in peace.

Ruth and I became partners in the same year and worked together on a number of matters over the past 20+ years.   She was a "lawyer's lawyer" and a valued colleague and friend over these many years.  Her expertise, particularly in the New York energy regulatory world, was invaluable to our clients, but her warmth, energy and approachability were equally valued.    She will be greatly missed. 

I am so sorry to hear about Ruth.  One of my favorite memories is the time when I played night golf with Ruth at Colonie Country Club.  She had our entire team laughing the entire time.   I will always remember that night.

Ruth was our next door neighbor at the Terramere Homeowners Association in Slingerlands, New York. She was President of the Association at one time and a consummate driver to accomplish goals to make the community a better place to live and appreciate the surroundings. We knew Ruth for her love of the New York Yankees and the game of golf. We marveled at her constant weekend travel to the Cape to care for her mom. We shall miss our neighbor.

Ruth was a friend for many years, and I will miss our almost daily discussions about law and life in our building parking lot in Albany, NY.  The law lost a fine lawyer, and we all lost a great person.  

Ruth was a great colleague at Nixon Peabody for over 3 decades.  No one was more giving of her time and attention to whatever you needed.  I will miss her.

Ruth was a partner and  founding member of Nixon Peabody’s Albany office.  She was a valued member of Nixon Peabody’s energy and environment practice for many years, starting as a summer associate in our Rochester office. She later became a first-year associate and, eventually, a firm partner. Her areas of focus included permitting and regulation of complex infrastructure facilities, such as fossil fuel and renewable power plants, landfills, and electric and gas transmission lines. She was also the “go to” lawyer for State Environmental Quality Review Act issues. For more than a decade, she played a key management role as steward of the energy and environment practice’s budget (a.k.a. the “budget czarina”). 
 
She was also one of the firm’s most knowledgeable practitioners on administrative and court challenges to governmental and agency decision-making. Ruth demonstrated an insatiable appetite for information relevant to her practice and had a unique ability to put that knowledge to work for her clients and the firm. Ruth’s colleagues always regarded her as a critical resource—able to cite any fact from the record when needed to support a legal argument. Her notable appellate victories include the successful defense of a state power plant siting certification for a large generating facility, and a recent decision requiring the issuance of a major air quality permit for a power plant.

Ruth had a collegial, generous personality to match her exceptional legal skills. She was a key part of the Albany team, always contributing to office celebrations and sharing her delicious baked goods with her colleagues. She will be sorely missed.


Ruth was an incredibly dedicated attorney, trusted advisor and a true friend to our company.  As a female partner at an international law firm, she was also a role model.  Ruth was always available to share her wealth of experience and guide us steadfastly through any situation we called on her for advice.  No matter the circumstances, Ruth would never lose her often self-deprecating sense of humor.  We are deeply saddened by her sudden death and we will miss her tremendously.  

Sincerely,
The Beowulf Energy team

OBITUARY

Ruth Ellen Leistensnider

November 4, 1961 – December 23, 2019

Nickerson Funeral Home

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