In memoriam: Ruth Goldbloom

The Dalhousie community is deeply saddened by the passing of Ruth Goldbloom, a beloved friend of the institution, past chair of our Alumni Fund, and former chancellor of the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS), which today constitutes Dal's Sexton Campus.

The 88-year old powerhouse of charity and volunteerism died peacefully yesterday in her family cottage in Second Peninsula, N.S. after a short struggle with cancer.

Ruth will perhaps best be remembered as the driving force behind the creation of Pier 21, a national museum to honour all immigrants to Canada. She worked with great passion and determination to take Pier 21 from a dream to one of only two national museums outside of Ottawa.

Ruth was an active fundraiser and supporter of Dalhousie alongside her husband Richard, who served as Dal’s fifth chancellor. She was past chair of our Annual Fund, supported the Medical Alumni Association and was a Bold Ambitions volunteer. She continued to actively raise funds for Dalhousie's Chair in Jewish Studies until just before her passing.

Her commitment to education was recognized with honourary degrees from Dalhousie and six other post secondary institutions.  

Ruth’s energy and outlook on life was an inspiration, especially for young women who looked up to her as a mentor. She was the first woman to chair the United Way campaign for Halifax and the first Jewish Chair of the Board of Mount Saint Vincent University, a Catholic women’s institution.

Ruth is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Richard, three children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 31 at 2 p.m. at The Cunard Centre (961 Marginal Road, Halifax) with a reception to follow at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (1055 Marginal Road).