Ruth with ISPA Medical Advisor Dr. Brent Bauer.
Ruth was a fixture at the annual ISPA Foundation
Live Auction.
Her international work included
supporting a youth group that aspires
and works to achieve global peace,
where the organization leads peacebuilding
summits around the world
with youth members representing 18
countries.
Ruth also worked to advance integrative
medicine with noted institutions
to fully integrate complementary
principles and practices into schools of
medicine and public health. She sponsored
a mind-body lecture series for
more than three decades, bringing
“soul and science” together.
Ruth and Bruce supported local hospitals
to promote mental health and
addiction services, established a neurological
care center and supported heart
health research, women’s heart health
initiatives, vascular care and internship
“Often, we would have
late night calls to
discuss an article she
was passionate about,
a hot topic at the time
like joy or flow, and
many times she would
mentor me on leadership
and our capacity
to give back.”
programs. They were founders of a community
of leading philanthropists who
work together to transform healthcare
and improve the health of the public
through integrative medicine.
Beyond science and health, Ruth
and Bruce have given generously to the
arts, donating more than 2,000 works of
art to the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Ruth’s work in the arts extended to
film as well. She funded the production
of several independent short films that
seek to inspire and uplift in the face of
life’s harsh realities. One film Ruth
funded that most comes to mind for
me is The Flow, a full-length documentary
(not yet released) which features
Tai Chi Master Chungliang Al Huang.
The Flow reveals the art of aligning
with nature’s essential force and, in
contrast with westernized culture,
offers hope that mankind can return to
harmonic balance.
I first saw a preview of this film during
the ISPA Conference where Ruth
Stricker hosted Wise Voices. Part of the
film follows street artist Ricardo Richey,
aka “The Apexer,” who discussed how
mindfulness enabled him to engage in
his art and get into “the flow” to create
balance in his work, and in himself.
Early the following year I was invited
to The Marsh, where Ruth asked
me, “What are you passionate about?”
Our discussion centered around the socioeconomic
and racial divides across
the US, and I shared my idea for a
street art event, St.ART. Ruth generously
wrote the first check to launch
our successful nonprofit event that
many in spa contributed to.
Often, we would have late night
calls to discuss an article she was passionate
about, a hot topic at the time
like joy or flow, and many times she
would mentor me on leadership and
our capacity to give back. But it’s our
conversation on resilience I most remember,
where Ruth spoke with me on
the natural human ability to bounce
back. While our industry icon has
chosen to move on, my friend and her
teachings will remain with me forever,
especially in our world today. n
JUNE 2020 ■ PULSE 31