Obituary of Ruth K. Ungerer

WESTPORT, CONN Ruth Kalla Ungerer, 76, of Westport, passed away on Oct. 15, 2024, surrounded by love from her family, in her home on Bayberry Lane. Ruth was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Milton (Miklos) and Marion Kalla (née Grossman-Goldstein). She graduated from Bethel Park High School and earned a bachelor of fine arts, magna cum laude, in sculpture from Drew University after first attending Pennsylvania State University. After some years of artistic practice and raising her two children, Erika and Heather, Ruth began a new career in nonprofit work as the director of the 1990 Decennial Census operations for municipalities in the northern New Jersey. She next spent more than 10 years at the Committee for Economic Development. She continued a highly successful career in development leadership with various nonprofit organizations and universities in the New York City region, including Literacy Volunteers of America (now Literacy Partners), Montclair State University, the New School University, and the Population Council. She had particular expertise in strategic planning, corporate and foundation grantsmanship and major individual donor solicitation, and used her considerable skill to support life-changing research and work in various important areas. Throughout her development career, Ruth continued her affinity for creative endeavors. Upon retiring from development work, she resumed her artistic career with a focus on printmaking. Ruth worked independently and with fellow artists at the Center for Contemporary Printing in Norwalk, as well as with Milestone Graphics in Bridgeport (now in New Haven), where she worked alongside printmaker James Reed. While accompanying her husband Richard on business trips to China, Ruth had the opportunity to work in the studio with Zhang Dongmin and meet with numerous artists, including Fan Li Jun, one of China’s most renowned artists, experiences that thrilled her to no end. She deeply explored the world of printmaking and its many traditional and contemporary techniques, both in Westport and while traveling in her beloved France. In particular, Ruth pursued her love of the line and a feminist approach to the female form. Her body of work was shown in various galleries and exhibitions across Connecticut and in Brooklyn, N.Y. Ruth believed passionately in the work of mission-driven nonprofits and the creative arts. She received numerous awards and honors, and was actively involved in the Artists Collective of Westport and in the Center for Contemporary Printmaking as a board member. In addition, Ruth, along with her husband Richard, became an advocate for quality Montessori education around the world. Ruth perhaps foremost wished to be remembered as someone who cherished her children above all else and tried through her nonprofit work and arts engagement to underscore the importance of the creative spirit in enhancing the understanding of life’s complexities as well as its wonders. Ruth is survived by her husband, Richard Ungerer, of Westport; her two children, Erika Grossman (and her wife, Claire Psarouthakis), of Minneapolis, Minn., and Heather Grossman, of Urbana, Ill., as well as her older brother, Ronald Kalla. She was predeceased by her parents and her younger brother, Alec Kalla. Her family wishes to extend their gratitude to the medical staff at Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital and elsewhere and to the many dedicated caregivers who supported her, especially during her final months and days. A graveside funeral service will be held on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport. Shiva will be observed in her home at 330 Bayberry Lane later that day from noon to 6 p.m.