Ruth T. Wintroub

Ruth Wintroub (née Teitel) died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on June 22, 2021 at the age of 96. Born in Chicago and raised in Marseilles and Paris, France, before returning to Chicago at the outbreak of World War II, Ruth led an extraordinary life and touched so many that were lucky enough to know her. Ruth was born in Chicago on January 16, 1925 to Wolf and Sarah Teitel. She grew up in Marseilles and Paris and was a top student in France and was accepted into the Sorbonne in Paris. Ruth’s studies were cut short as the Nazis rose to power and she was forced to leave France. Ruth left France on August 16, 1939 on the S.S. Georgic with her parents and brother and one suitcase. Her ship, it would turn out, was the last to leave Europe as war broke out two weeks later. Arriving in Chicago speaking only French, Ruth matriculated in high school, graduated from Von Stuben High School in 1941 at 16 years old and began working as a bookkeeper to support her family while studying in night school. Ruth always shared that she learned English by listening to Chicago Cubs broadcasts as a teenager and got caught up in the excitement of the 1945 World Series. Despite the 1945 loss and years of misery, she believed that hope springs eternal and remained a lifelong fan. She was able to attend and celebrate the 2016 Cubs World Series Championship at the age of 91 and savored every minute of it. She met her beshert, Bennett, on a last minute blind date while he was on a short leave from the Army in 1943. The night they met they knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. After years of letter writing, when Bennett returned from the war they reunited and were married in June 1946 in Chicago. This past week, on June 16, they would have been married for 75 years. In 1947 they welcomed their son, Greg, and in 1953 they welcomed their son, Cary. They raised their family in Skokie, Illinois where they were founding members of Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois. Ruth remained a member until her death. Even when money was tight, they never gave up their membership in a synagogue as they shared the view that building community was always paramount. Having left Europe under dire circumstances and losing much of her family, Ruth returned not only to France but became a world traveler. She and Bennett traveled the world for decades and believed that humanity had no boundaries. They made meaningful and lasting relationships wherever they travelled, including on a trip to Istanbul in 1986 where they met what would become their Turkish “family” at Shabbat services at a synagogue. Ruth became a central matriarch to many Turkish Jewish families who she remained close to through four decades and visited Turkey often for simchas. This magnificent lady never missed an opportunity to bring joy to this world and created an infinite number of happy memories across the globe. Ruth and Bennett moved to Northbrook in 1976. Ruth welcomed six grandchildren who in turn married and gave her six more grandchildren. She loved them and formed special bonds with each. Ruth was the center of her large and growing family, but believed there was always room for more at her table. With that philosophy, there was always a seat for anyone who needed one. A pioneer for women’s rights, she was one of the first to put an orange on her Seder plate. Ruth became a bat mitzvah at Beth Emet at the age of 47. Sixteen was Ruth’s lucky number and she was lucky enough to enjoy fourteen years of being a great-grandmother to sixteen great-grandchildren who she saw and spoke to often. For Ruth there were no in-laws – only family. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Bennett Wintroub. She is survived by her sons Greg (Jane Shulman) and Cary (Alene Pielet), her grandchildren Shana, Elan, Noah, Carey, Jeremy, Laura, Abby, David, Jamie, Matt, Jennifer and Ryan. Her sixteen great-grandchildren – Bennett, Jack, Dylan, Rebecca, Spencer, Ian, Lexi, Quinn, Gabe, Chloe, Alex, Harrison, Leo, Cory, Evie, and Charlie – gave her her final and greatest gifts. Ruth always chose to dwell on the good and in doing so she led a life rich of experiences. Being with her family made her the happiest until her last moment.

---

Service Information

Service : Thursday, June 24th at 12:00 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights