When the University of Washington hired William Gerberding away from the University of Illinois to become president in 1979, it received a bonus: his wife, Ruth.
The Gerberdings went on to spend 16 years at the University, the longest run of a single president in school history. Ruth, who coordinated and hosted hundreds of events with students, faculty, donors and visiting luminaries, quickly became known for her style, wit and steady hand as one of the UW’s most visible representatives.
As Bill ran the University, Ruth ran Hill-Crest, the state-owned mansion and 1.5 acres of grounds that comprise the president’s residence. She was an unpaid employee, but her responsibilities were vast, centering on building public and private support for the UW. A parade of people came through their home for meetings, dinners and celebrations. She once told a reporter, “It doesn’t seem like there’s anybody left in Seattle who hasn’t been here.”
Tallman Trask, a former UW executive vice president, met the Gerberdings in the early 1970s and worked with them at UCLA and at the UW. “Ruth was one of my favorite people ever,” he says. “Smart, friendly, musical and highly literate. I never met anyone who didn’t like her. She brought all that to life at 808,” the street address for Hill-Crest.
John Coulter, a UW Medicine administrator for nearly 30 yeas, attended events at Hill-Crest and joined the Gerberdings at Husky football games. “Ruth was the perfect hostess,” he recalls. “She was incredibly smart, had very high standards and was one of the nicest people.”
Ruth, who died Aug. 12 at the age of 93, also leaves a legacy of volunteerism and community engagement. (Bill died in 2014.) She served on the boards of the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Chamber Music Society and volunteered at UW Medical Center-Montlake. “Ruth was full of life, vibrant, outgoing and gracious,” says Mimi Gates, former director of the Seattle Art Museum. “She had a big laugh. Her passion was classical music, especially piano music. Ruth also had wonderful sense of humor and a dry wit.”
We are grateful for all she did for the UW and the community.