Ruth Levy Gottesman, born in 1930, is an esteemed American educator. She has made significant contributions to the field of educational psychology and has a remarkable career history:
Education
Ruth graduated from the Friends School of Baltimore in 1948.
She later attended Mount Holyoke College and completed her bachelor’s degree at Barnard College.
Her academic journey continued with a master’s degree in developmental education and a Doctor of Education in human cognition and learning from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Career Highlights
In 1968, Ruth joined the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) at the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC).
At CERC, she developed widely used screening, evaluation, and treatment procedures for individuals with learning disabilities.
Ruth founded the Adult Literacy Program at CERC in 1992 and played a key role in establishing the Fisher Landau Center for the Treatment of Learning Disabilities in 1998.
She is a professor emerita in the Department of Pediatrics (Developmental Medicine) and currently serves as the chair of the board of trustees at AECOM.
Philanthropy and Historic Donation
Ruth and her late husband, David Gottesman, have been philanthropic leaders.
In 2008, they donated $25 million to AECOM, which led to the creation of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research, the Ruth L. Gottesman Clinical Skills Center, and the Faculty Scholar in Epigenetics.
Following David’s passing in 2022, he bequeathed a portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway stock to Ruth.
In a groundbreaking move, Ruth announced a $1 billion gift to AECOM in February 2024. This extraordinary donation ensures that tuition will be free in perpetuity for all future students at AECOM, making it the largest gift ever made to any medical school in the country.
Personal Life
Ruth and David were married for 72 years until his passing in 2022.
They have three children and reside in Rye, New York.
Forbes valued David’s estate at $3 billion at the time of his death.
Ruth Gottesman’s legacy extends far beyond academia, leaving an indelible mark on medical education and the lives of countless students. Her commitment to learning and compassion is truly inspiring.
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