Highlighting the life of Ms. Spataro
By: Paul Koepp
Friends and acquaintances remember Ruth Spataro as a woman who went beyond her profession as an educator to explore issues that affected everyone in South Brunswick.
"I’ve talked to a few people in the last couple days, and we all felt the same way. She was a great, elegant lady," said Frank Chrinko, who served with Ms. Spataro’s husband of 61 years, Joe, on the Township Committee in the 1960s.
Ms. Spataro, a lifelong resident of Monmouth Junction, died Sunday at the age of 93.
She graduated from the New Jersey State Normal School of Trenton (now The College of New Jersey) and later from Rutgers University with advanced degrees. She worked in the South Brunswick school district for many years as teacher, curriculum supervisor and resource teacher.
As long as her health allowed, Ms. Spataro also attended township meetings to keep tabs on issues of concern to residents, and her intense study of those issues was well known. She was one of the organizers of the township residents’ watchdog group Common Sense.
"She was always concerned with what was going on in the township, and she contributed a great deal to the township," said John Freda, who also served on the Township Committee with Mr. Spataro.
"She left her mark in so many different areas," Mr. Chrinko said Tuesday. "She kept an eye on things and she did her research, just like an investigative reporter."
Mr. Chrinko said one of his daughters who knew Ms. Spataro when she was a school administrator remembered her as "an absolutely wonderful, articulate, vibrant woman."
Frank Brennan, who worked with Ms. Spataro during her time with the school district, said in an e-mail that she was "an outstanding teacher and an elementary curriculum specialist who was responsible for the many positive innovations in the South Brunswick schools as they were growing. She was a highly respected member of the district staff and both new and experienced teachers looked to her for guidance and leadership."
Her friends also recalled Ms. Spataro’s kindness and generosity, as well as her devotion to her family.
"She was intelligent and extremely warm," Mr. Chrinko said. "She was also a totally family-oriented person. I had a great deal of admiration for her."
The Rev. John Maltby, of Miller Memorial Presbyterian Church, remembered the hard work and dedication of Ms. Spataro, whom he called a "gracious lady."
"She was always looking out for the well-being and improvement of the community," he said.
Services for Ms. Spataro’s immediate family were held Tuesday at the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home in Monmouth Junction. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Miller Memorial Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 460, Monmouth Junction, N.J. 08852.

