Writer, lecturer ready to make another connection

Ruth Marcus Patt, 83,
continues career in local service, volunteerism

By tara petersen
Staff Writer

Ruth Marcus Patt, 83,
continues career in local service, volunteerism
By tara petersen
Staff Writer


Ruth Marcus PattRuth Marcus Patt

MONROE — A humanitarian award-lined wall in Ruth Marcus Patt’s home tells a part of the philanthropic life she has led. A few minutes with her reveals much more.

Twenty-five years ago, Patt, a Greenbriar at Whittingham resident, invited 25 people, including "old-timers in New Brunswick, history professors and history buffs — all Jewish," for the purpose of establishing a historical society.

"I didn’t anticipate an organized group, but they all wanted to continue [meeting]," Patt said.

The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey has since grown to around 300 active members, according to Patt, who served as its president for nine years.

"I am the founder, archivist and principal writer. The archives started out in my closet," Patt said.

Patt organized an annual lecture series six years ago, and makes sure to deliver one speech in each set, as well as to find other speakers for the programs.

The next lecture, scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at the Monroe Township Jewish Center, Congregation Etz Chaim, Cornell Avenue, is titled, "Jewish Connections." For more information on that event, call (732) 249-4894.

Patt has published four books, the first of which was written in 1979, titled, The Jewish Scene in New Jersey Raritan Valley. Patt donated all proceeds to her newly formed society.

"Parents would send copies to their children who had moved away (from New Jersey). I got letters from them thanking me for reminding them of their Jewish background," Patt said.

Being a published author and society-founder is a scratch on the surface of the many major accomplishments Patt has racked up in her 83 years.

Though she began her career in 1940 as a psychiatric social worker after receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Douglas College of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, she soon found her calling in non-profit work.

"I have been involved in volunteer work all my life, both secular and religious," she said.

When her two sons were young, she served as a Scout leader and a PTA president.

Patt was born in New Brunswick, where here parents immigrated in the late 1800’s, but moved to Monroe Township after her husband passed away 10 years ago, to live near three of her sisters. For years, she had served on New Brunswick’s recreation committee.

Patt was a natural pick to help with New Brunswick’s 300th birthday celebrations in 1980, and was asked in 1979 to chair the tercentennial committee, which resulted in planning, organizing and overseeing 130 events throughout the following year.

"One of the things I was proudest of was that I developed tercentennial lectures, which took place in the oldest synagogues and churches in New Brunswick. It was standing room only every time," Patt said.

The talks included subject matter on the history of the city as a port, and the stories of pioneer women in New Brunswick.

"It was so successful, we developed a second [series] on all the ethnic communities in the area," she said.

The series expanded again to a third set on the area’s past industries.

Patt subsequently wrote a book detailing the lectures from the series, and another book, titled, The Jewish Exper-ience at Rutgers.

The tercentennial celebrations also included the Raritan River Festival and the Fourth of July parade, which continues to this day.

Patt was named New Brunswick’s 1981 Citizen of the Year for her dedication.

Patt is also active in Hadassah, a women’s Zionist organization that was founded before the formation of the state of Israel in 1947.

She has served as president of the organization’s local chapter for four years.

Patt also gave back to her alma mater, and was awarded "the highest honor conferred by Rutgers University upon an individual for dedicated service to the university."

The Raritan Valley Jewish Federation named her Woman of the Year in 1980.

Other notable awards were the Herbert Lehman award for buying Israel bonds, the Torch of Liberty award for volunteerism, and the proclaiming of June 11, 2001, as "Ruth Marcus Patt Day" by New Brunswick’s mayor.

Patt also has a long history of involvement at the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, where her mother once belonged years ago.

"I was one of the first women to serve on the Board of Trustees. The temple has been a blessing to me," she said.

"My parents and grandfather were always active in the community, and I really continued their interests," Patt said. "My grandfather started the first free Hebrew school in New Brunswick."

Her parents were both of Russian Jewish decent. Her uncle was very successful in the rubber reclaiming business, but Patt was able to turn that into charitable work as well.

She and her twin sister are the trustees of his foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, which donates to educational, social service, senior and Jewish organizations.

Patt said she is very close to her four sisters.

"Two live in Concordia, my twin is in Rossmoor, and my other sister lives in Florida," she said. Patt lives in Florida during the winter months as well, and sees her sister then.

"We have a very close-knit family, and I’ve always felt obligated to keep them to­gether," she said.

Patt is currently working on next year’s lecture for the historical society series, re­lated to the slave trade.

"Lecture is my middle name, and I love research," Patt said. "I spend hours in the library wherever I go; I spend hours in the book store wherever I go."