Memorial Service Planned For Former Albany Mayor

ALBANY, CA: Ruth Margaret Jackson Ganong, 91, of Albany, CA passed away peacefully on the morning of December 22, 2015 surrounded by her children in the home she designed and built in 1965.

Born on January 9, 1924 and raised in Winnetka, IL. Ruth attended New Trier High School, and Smith College, then went on to be the first woman to graduate from Boston Architectural College. On February 22, 1948 she married William Francis Ganong, and raised four children. She loved to entertain, paint, build things, play Scrabble, travel the world and cook exotic foods. Despite being told she would never walk without a brace after having polio as a child, she never let it slow her down and also enjoyed jogging, bicycling, backpacking and sailing.

Ruth Ganong dedicated her life to public service, serving in many roles including eight years on Albany Unified School District's Board of Education including as President for two terms, twice Mayor of Albany, eight years on Albany City Council, and on the Boards of the Albany YMCA and AC Transit where she served one term as president. She was involved for many years in protecting San Francisco Bay and improving education in Albany.

She also served on the Alameda County Manpower Council, California Vocational Training Council, American Heart Association as vice-president, League of California Cities Public Safety Committee, League of California Cities Transportation Committee, East Shore Conservation Group, March of Dimes Executive Board, California School Boards Association, as a Delegate to the State Whitehouse Council on Aging, League of Women Voters, Commission on Status of Women, Save the Bay, County Library Advisory Board, Waste Management Board, Save Albany Hill, Friends of the Albany Library, and on the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.

Throughout her life, she gracefully demonstrated that service, compassion, and commitment to one's community and friends can coexist with loving and caring for one's family.

She survived her late husband, William Francis Ganong and leaves behind her children and their spouses, Francis Ganong and Marilyn Newman, Susan and Howard Hardie, Anna and Ginny Hobbet, and James Ganong and Cynthia Lorence, 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind a great community of life-long friends in Albany.

Donations in her honor can be made in lieu of flowers to The Albany Education Foundation (1320 Solano Avenue, Suite 203 Albany, CA 94706) or to the Albany YMCA (921 Kains Avenue Albany, CA 94706).

A memorial service to honor her life and legacy will be held on Sunday April 3, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall in Albany.

Submitted by Stephanie Sala

Photo via Shutterstock