Ruth Janis Dolby (née Ficksman), aged 85, passed away in Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Born on March 5, 1939, Purim Day 5699 in Boston, she grew up in Winthrop. A graduate of Simmons College, she began a career as a 2nd grade teacher and instilled in her own children and grandchildren the value of reading, spelling and grammar. Later in life, she began a career in medical billing,which eventually led to having her own consulting business in billing, coding and documentation,beginning in the mid-1990s. She was passionate about helping physicians and clinicians in large practices and small navigate the many requirements of documenting visits with their patients. Ruth was providing training sessions and sharing documentation with clients as recently as a few weeks ago.
Ruth leaves three children, Nadine Dolby, Barie-Lynne Rosensaft and Derek Dolby, as well as six grandchildren: Natalie David, Malkey Rosensaft, Surie Rosensaft, Rifky Rosensaft, Aron Zalman Rosensaft and Claire Rosensaft and a son-in-law, Stephen David. Ruth treasured her relationships with her children and grandchildren, checking in with them, and loved speaking with her grandchildren as they did their homework, made their dinner or showed her what new clothes they had recently purchased, which she called a “fashion show.” She shared many Pesach sedorim and Thanksgiving meals (with too many pies) with her grandchildren. Ruth also treasured her relationships with her many friends and colleagues, including learning about what they were doing and what was going on in the lives of their children and spouses. It was a joy for her to maintain these relationships with the friends she had just made as well as with friends from her teenage years and college days.
Ruth loved to cook, always looking for the latest recipes or something new. She also enjoyed visiting Tanglewood during the summer, attending local concerts and the theater.
Ruth was known for her sense of humor, which was often self-deprecating, as well as her vibrant personality. For example, Ruth regularly liked to tell her son that she wouldn’t interrupt him at work unless it was for something important, like a problem with the television. Also,while FaceTiming her grandson one day when he was outside waiting for a friend to meet him, Aron Zalman looked up from his phone into the sky for a moment and Ruth said “What? Is your friend arriving by plane?!” Ever focusing on priorities, before her recent surgery, she was emphatic about keeping her hair appointment even though she was in much pain when walking.
A graveside service will be held at 11:45 am on Sunday, February 16, 2025. All who will be attending will meet behind the administration building at Sharon Memorial Park 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, MA 02067. A luncheon will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Hadassah: The Women’s Zionist Organization of America or Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP).
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