In Memoriam

• Howard J. Abramson, ALB ’90
• Katherine T. Houser, ALM ’92
• Dorothy M. Maher, ALB ’83
• Ruth Belt Robinson, ABE ’67
• Catherine G. Minahan, ABE ’71
• Dr. Ilona Ricardo Kinzer, former foreign language instructor
• Dr. Delba Winthrop, former government instructor

Recalling Ruth Robinson and Catherine Minahan

by Ruth V. Gove, ABE ’67

Ruth Belt Robinson

Ruth Belt Robinson, ABE ’67, RN, wife of the late Charles Robinson of Newton, Massachusetts, died on May 8, 2006. She is survived by two daughters and their husbands, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and two brothers.

During her years in nursing Ruth became aware of the many difficulties that nurses encountered. She and her friend Gertrude Perlman labored for years at the State House supporting bills to remedy the deficiencies of our healthcare system.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Extension Studies, Ruth became interested in improving the plight of the elderly in need of mental health services. In January 2006 the Massachusetts Aging and Mental Health Coalition presented Ruth with its first award for pioneer work in this area. One of Ruth’s last projects was to develop a plan with Dean Michael Shinagel for providing Extension School scholarships for students in the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Inc., program, which was successfully implemented after her death.

I met Ruth in September 1959 on my first day of class, in the first year that the bachelor’s degree was offered at Harvard Extension School. Ruth had attended the Harvard summer program for high school seniors as a girl and fell in love with Harvard. She was excited to be taking courses during the year, and she knew a lot about the faculty. For seven years Ruth became my unofficial academic advisor. Recently, we agreed that those years of working for our Extension School degrees were among the best in our lives. How excited we were to listen to erudite professors, discuss the ideas after class, and imagine our futures together. Realizing that we were absolutely simpatico, we embarked upon what would become a 47-year friendship.

After graduation Ruth was active on the Harvard Extension Alumni Association’s (HEAA) steering committee. Civic pursuits also took much of her time, but gradually her diabetes impaired her vision and her general health. In spite of that, Ruth remained active, fighting for the needy almost until her last breath.

Catherine G. Minahan

Catherine G. Minahan, ABE ’71, of Belmont, Massachusetts, wife of the late Joseph Minahan, died on May 29, 2006. Although they had no children of their own, their lives were enriched by close relationships with nieces and nephews and, recently, grand nieces and nephews.

Catherine and her husband attended many of the HEAA functions together, including social gatherings on Commencement day. They enjoyed going to their summer home in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which she maintained after Joseph died.

When Catherine enrolled in Extension courses during the 1960s, she worked in Widener Library. Her office overlooked Harvard Yard—a perfect vantage point for the many amusing events below. For many years after graduation, she worked as an executive secretary. She was active in the Belmont Women’s Club and the Court St. Elizabeth CDA, and enjoyed playing bridge with her friends.

Every year after receiving her Extension degree, Catherine remained active in HEAA. She served as corresponding secretary, recording secretary, and as a member of many committees: the Alumni Bulletin editorial committee, the nominating committee, the archive committee, the banquet and hospitality suite committee, and the steering committee. She gladly gave 35 years of loyal service to the association.

I will miss driving to Belmont at 6:30 am with Catherine on Commencement day, getting on the Harvard Square bus, meeting Ella Smith at Weld Hall, and working together to set up the Extension School hospitality suite. Over the years these were mostly joyous sunny days, but even the rainy days found us happy, giving it the Old Harvard Try.

The respect and admiration that were extended to Catherine by everyone speaks to her character. An unusually large number of alumni at the banquet this year asked about her and were visibly saddened at the news of her death.

Catherine Minahan was buried by the church in Belmont where she was baptized and married, and where her husband was buried.