Ruth Nadel: A Celebration of Life

Ruth Nadel: A Celebration of Life

LA Times Article on Ruth Nadel
Type: 
News

Dear League Members,

On May 20th Ruth Nadel, who was President of the Torrance LWV in it's inaugural years, 1962-63, died in her sleep at her home in San Diego.  To those of us who remember her, Ruth was a demanding and dedicated leader who set a high standard for all of our members to follow.  Over the years she also became a valued personal friend.

During the 1950s, 60s and 70s the City of Torrance was experiencing an explosion of expansion   Most of the city's housing tracts were built; the city grew by annexation; and, commercial and industrial land was developed.  During those early years of the 60s and 70s our local league studies dealt with various areas of city planning and Ruth set the tone of rigorous study leading to action before city commissions and the city council.    

After Ruth's term as president, she returned to UCLA and earned an advanced degree in City Planning; took a job in the Beverly Hills Planning Department; and, for many years served as the City of Beverly Hills Planning Director.  Some years after she retired in the 1990s Ruth moved to San Diego County to be closer to her son and his wife.  However, her heart stayed here with her many friends and neighbors as it always had through the years she worked in Beverly Hills.

MARILYN VAN OPPENjmvo12 [at] msn.com

Published in the Los Angeles Times from June 7 to June 9, 2019

May 18, 1931 - May 21, 2019:  Ruth was born in Manhattan, NY, to Louis and Rebecca Adicoff. Ruth was working at the family bar/deli by the age of 7. Nicknamed "Bucket of Blood," it was popular with cops, mobsters, and entertainers. This made her accepting of people of all types – a hallmark of her personality. Ruth had ulcerative colitis, and her life was saved when her MD brought back the first sulfa drugs from Europe. In 1946 the family suddenly moved to LA. Ruth spent one year at Hamilton High, and entered UCLA at the age of 16. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English.
 
Ruth worked for several years at KNX radio with Ralph Story. In 1953 she married Albert Nadel, and somehow remained married until Albert's death in 1993. While raising one child (Zach Nadel) and many pets, Ruth was active in local politics – she was the initial President of the League of Women Voters in Torrance. In 1970, Ruth went back to UCLA for her Master's in Architecture, and worked for the City of Beverly Hills, where she was the Director of Planning. She was a pioneering woman in her field.
 
Ruth loved the arts, and it would be hard to find an event in LA (or NY) that she did not attend. In 2013 she moved to La Mesa to be closer to Zach and Ingrid. She is survived by Zach, Ingrid, sisters Sylvia Fox and Annette Logan, and dog Louie.
League to which this content belongs: 
Torrance Area