Ruth Neiger Paller, 1920 - 1976

Ruth Neiger Paller, a life-long Clevelander, born on 3 January 1920, was confirmed by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver at The Temple in 1935, and graduated from John Adams High School in 1938. She took business classes from Cleveland College and afterward worked for her father, Arthur A. Neiger, as legal secretary. Later, she worked in the same capacity for Lloyd Schwenger, and finally for the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in downtown Cleveland. She married in 1944, and raised three sons before being granted a divorce in 1964.

Returning to the labor market in September, 1964, she served Cuyahoga Community College, first as clerk-typist in its Nursing Department and then as Secretary to the Dean of Community Services. During this time she contributed to periodic reports of the College's Progress for the Association of Junior Colleges.

Mrs. Paller contracted esophageal cancer in the spring of 1974 and remained at work almost to the end before dying on January 5th, 1976, at age 56. During her last few weeks, she authored a small journal, Thoughts on Dying, privately printed and copyrighted after her death.

Mrs. Paller was trained as a pianist, also created many finely knot sweaters and pettipoint designs. She loved the music of Brahms and Debussy and enjoyed reading biographies and, during her last years, new techniques in behavioral therapy.

To date, she is survived by three sons, five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters, all of whom have grown to adulthood with thoughts of her warmth and humanity.

-- Michael Paller, 16 June, 2005